AJM Dream Gardens in Durham

Martin Boyle answers:Eliminating midges from your garden area!

Knowing why type midges would help. If the lawn is the culprit, could be a robust thatch layer (dead grass parts on the soil surface) could be providing a breeding or at least resting spot. Cleaning out the thatch might help.

Also try insecticidal soap. It is harmless to people and plants unless misapplied (read label) but rather nasty on soft bodied insects.

Here’s a site from Australia that might help:

Midges

The Midge Fact File

Biting Midges are not sand flies;
They are present on all continents except Antarctica;
The adults are about 1 – 2 mm long, much smaller than the related mosquito;
Generation time – ie life cycle from egg to adult, is probably not less than eight weeks;
Estuarine Midges do not breed in the grass, trees or in soil or sand in the garden. They only harbour in these areas;
They are not known to be vectors of any human disease in Australia;
In overcast humid weather, they are known to bite all day and night.
Only the female bites: She needs a blood meal to fertilise her eggs. They are known as pool feeders because they use their proboscis like a saw to create a tiny hole in the skin into which a pool of blood can flow. Saliva is injected into the pool to help the flow of blood. It is this saliva that causes the allergic reaction and itching.
You should remember that Biting Midge numbers increase around the time of the full and new moons. It is advisable not to plan outdoor functions that coincide with these times.
Biting Midges can penetrate ordinary fly screens.

Useful Tips

Personal reaction to bites varies from a slight redness which disappears in half an hour or less, to severe inflammation. If you react rapidly and the swellings are small, you are reasonably immune so treatment may not be needed. Swilling and itch will soon go away.

For these less severe cases, the following tips may help reduce the effects of bites:

A hot bath may provide temporary relief;
Anti itching creams or lotions from the chemist are quite effective. Do not apply them when the skin is broken;
Some insect repellents also give relief to the bite, providing the individual’s skin is not sensitive to the repellent.
It has been observed that Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Hydrochloride) taken over a period of more than 30 days before exposure to midges, can reduce the severity of some people’s reaction to bites. (This is not true of everyone and consult your doctor before taking any vitamins)
However, if you react hours or days later to a bite, whether you felt it or not, your immunity is poor and you are likely to be more severely affected. If your reaction is very severe, see your doctor.

How you can protect yourself?

Anything you can do to reduce humidity, increase light and air movement will make your house and garden less attractive to midges.

Closely mown lawns, sparse vegetation around your house and minimal surface water in the garden will decrease humidity, increase air movement so as to minimise the resting places for midges.
Avoid gardening or watering in the afternoon and early morning.
Increase air movement in the house by using electric fans can effectively create an area unsuitable for Biting Midges as their activity reduces in wind speeds over 6-8km/hr.
Spraying residual (surface) insecticide on your flyscreens will help deter midges from entering your home.
Burning mosquito coils inside can also reduce numbers.
Most insect repellents are effective against midges and should be used whenever you are outside the house, alternatively an equal part mixture of baby oil, Dettol and Eucalyptus oil is useful.
Long sleeve shorts and long trousers made of closely woven materials give good protection. When gardening, a hat and gloves are also a big help.
Reducing Midge Activity in your Yard

To avoid the heat of the day, midges hide underneath the leaves of the plants and shrubs in your garden. These areas can be treated by applying a fine mist of insecticide on the leaves.

Reminder: Re-apply the insecticide after heavy rain or when midge activity increases.

Chemical Control Tips:

Natural Insecticides (ie. Pyrethrum) are available from most plant nurseries and hardware stores. Pyrethrum has little residual capacity, so applications may be needed on a regular (weekly) basis during problem periods.
Chemical Insecticides (Common garden sprays- Diazinon, Fenthion and, for a longer lasting effect, Permethrin) are effective.
Organic InsecticidesIf you are reluctant to use chemicals in your garden, organic insecticides can be made up and applied. These will be capable of killing the adult midges, however repeated applications may be necessary.

Some Useful organic insecticide formulations are:

Garlic Spray

85g unpeeled garlic
2 tablespoons mineral oil
600ml water and 7g of soap dissolved in solution
mix solution and place in trigger sprayer.

Derris Spray

120g soap in 4.5 litres of water solution
mix in 60g of derris powder (from garden suppliers) mix additional 4.5 litres of water
dilute entire mixture in 12 litres of water and place in trigger sprayer.

Out Door Repellents

Gardening or hosting a barbecue?- Parrafin oil or perfumed lamp oil can be mixed with either Citronella or Lavender oil and burned in ‘Polynesian’ bamboo lamp burners placed upwind of your activity.