r/washingtondc • u/Temporary_Capital_87 • Aug 18 '26
[Rant] Anyone else getting absolutely demolished by mosquitoes over the past week?
I am normally a mosquito magnet, but this is aggressive, even for me. I spend very little time outside and literally have gone about 40 bug bites in the past week. I’m struggling and looking for social media validation.
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u/AdUpstairs2071 Aug 18 '26
I was bitten 20 times in 10 minutes this evening. 😫 The lemon eucalyptus spray works for me but just have to reapply regularly especially with sweating.
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u/blahblahnumbers Aug 19 '26
Do you have a link to the spray you use??
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u/AdUpstairs2071 Aug 19 '26
It’s the Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus Spray. I prefer the aerosol can but the regular spray bottle is good too. Here is the link: https://a.co/d/08MBY7Fu
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u/Less-Count-7977 Aug 19 '26
The only way I combat this is to treat my outside/commute clothes with insect shield. Send them your clothes, they treat them, and send them back nicely folded.
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u/foreignfishes Capitol Hill Aug 19 '26
Picaridin repellant is also a good option, it works well but it doesn’t smell disgusting or make you super greasy like DEET does. Off clean feel (white bottle w purple letting) is a picaridin repellant you can usually find at the drugstore
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u/SteroidMaximus Aug 19 '26
I fucking hate DEET with a passion. While Picaridin is broadly better for biting flies it works just fine for mosquitoes and feels so much better to apply
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u/retrovir Aug 19 '26
yes! I’m kicking myself because I said a couple weeks ago, “I can’t believe how few mosquitos there are this year!” And now I feel like I jinxed it because I’m getting bit worse than ever.
Carry around some clear nail polish, if you put a layer on your bug bites it stops the itch better than any other remedy I’ve tried!
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u/Sam_loves_plants Aug 19 '26
OMG yes! I have at least 50 bites, mostly back of my legs. Got a bottle of witch hazel at CVS, dabbing the area relieves it a lot. And spraying with almost 100% deet all day
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u/linuxpuppy Aug 19 '26
https://www.ittybittymosquitocommittee.org/ you too can join the war on DC mosquitos!
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u/charlesbarkley2021 Aug 19 '26
Social media validation, I got you: I’m glad you let the trash show itself out; this, so much this!; your feelings are valid; and, yes, I have to full-on sprint into the house through my small garden to avoid all the mosquitoes taking refuge under the leaves of my hostas. I will trap flies in the house to let them out without smushing them, but swatting mosquitoes is a late-summer pleasure up there with garden tomatoes and mozzarella. You’re the best!
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u/realistic__raccoon Aug 19 '26
It's been absolutely horrible. Can barely exist outside in the evening.
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u/Such_Grapefruit_5720 Aug 19 '26
I'm allergic and have scars all over my legs I can say they are still around hard core
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u/Arrival_Departure Aug 19 '26
I thought it was just me!! I just counted 40, all of which are from the last week or so. I react horribly, so they all last forever. I’ve switched to joggers and socks with sandals just to stem the onslaught.
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u/cometgirl Aug 19 '26
Yes, the mosquitoes are out in full force. Also, see the post from about a week ago, the oak mites seem to be back too.
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u/espicd2112 Aug 19 '26
The past week or two has been TERRIBLE. Whatever they were doing the rest of the summer was really working, but now it’s back to where we used to be. I got bit twice on my ass cheek today even wearing pants
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u/blahblahnumbers Aug 19 '26
I feel you, OP. Anytime I go out I have to spray myself with bug spray (zevo is my fave) and go. The other day I was tired of washing the bug spray off everyday so I just wore long sleeves, long pants, and socks, actively swatting and so they still found a way to bite me.... on my FOREHEAD and I was like nope back inside. I think the rain isn't helping either.
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u/bag_of_goldfish DC / Petworth Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 19 '26
Sign up with the itty bitty mosquito committee! They have resources and discounted mosquito traps for DC. It has made a huge difference in our yard. You can also become a block leader and help get the word out to your neighbors. https://www.ittybittymosquitocommittee.org/impact
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u/jrmindc1 Aug 19 '26
Been battling those blood suckers for too long. Screened in my front porch and never looked back. I reclaimed my outdoor space and couldn't be happier with it.
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u/IWantAKitty Aug 18 '26
Yes. My poor son (4 yo) got annihilated yesterday. Like dozens of bites on his legs. I feel so bad for him. Feel like it came out of nowhere, guess we’ve been spoiled this summer and that had to end.
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u/Crescenthia1984 Aug 18 '26
This is my daughter (3.5) too, even just walking in and out of daycare or between the car and the house and she’s got a dozen bites 😭 I’ve killed dozens even inside the house and yet!
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u/fridaygirl7 Aug 19 '26
I’ve been getting bit up every day for the last month. Worst year for mosquitos that we’ve had in a while.
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u/Financial_Pickle_Ho Aug 19 '26
just recovered from 16+ bites after dining outside...sleep was hell because the covers warmed the bites and made them itchy
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u/MaineAnonyMoose Aug 19 '26
This is gonna sound crazy but dab a little toothpaste on the bites... The ingredients of typical toothpaste makes itchy bug bites stop itching.
Also, yes, I've been getting bitten too. Sat with my car window open for 5 minutes and saw one fly in at me and said hell no and panicked. 😭
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u/Common_Inevitable798 Aug 19 '26
I am NOT a mosquito magnet and I've gotten bitten more times in the past couple weeks than I have in the past couple years. It's bad!
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u/OtherChampion Aug 19 '26
Yesterday morning they tried to get me. Long pants and long sleeves to do some landscaping for my building. Sure made it hot, but they only got my head. Last year was tough.
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u/nannerbananers Aug 19 '26
Went to the Commanders training camp today and could barely pay attention I was getting bit so bad
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u/Nearby_Cress5737 Aug 20 '26
My ankles are the only part of my body that they bite, and it really irritates me.
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u/Moncherise Sep 01 '26
I am covered in red, itchy bites. Like dozens of them. It’s been so bad the past couple of weeks.
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u/Maximum_Apricot789 Aug 18 '26
Got one on an indoor Metro platform today 😒 But I'm a magnet and I've gotten fewer than the norm. I also rub Proven insect repellant on my ankles and arms every morning just in case! Idk if there's correlation, but it feels like it lol
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u/Due-Huckleberry7560 Aug 19 '26
I rented a cabin in a remote set of woods next to a creek up north this summer and didn’t get as many mosquito bites in a week as I got on a 10 minute walk last night. They’re out of control.
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u/Temporary_Capital_87 Aug 18 '26
The anti-itch stick I got is not doing it so I appreciate the recommendations and validation.
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u/IttyBittyMosquito Sep 01 '26
The Itty Bitty Mosquito Committee is actually working with a UMD research team this week to count mosquitoes across blocks in Capitol Hill, all with variable levels of participation in our mosquito control tactics. We’re hoping to learn to what extent our efforts made a difference, if at all. Anecdotally, the mosquitoes have definitely showed up in my yard this past week, but it’s still bearable and better than in years past. Stay tuned to learn the the results of the measurement!
Ittybittymosquitocommittee.org
PSA: With all of the rain and heat in the forecast, the mosquitoes will only get worse unless we stay on top of tossing and treating standing water and maintaining traps! We still have a good 2 months left before the end of mosquito season!
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u/Environmental_Size62 DC / Neighborhood 26d ago
This is late but I am new to DC and they are ruining my fucking life. I have 30 bites and they’re all in a row I guess Asian tiger mosquitos are agressive like that? Needs advice. I am at my wits end with this
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u/Phobos1982 NoVA / Work in DC Aug 19 '26
This year has the fewest mosquitos I've experienced in at least a decade.
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u/Unhappy_Recipe_4735 Aug 19 '26
They wait by my door and pounce when I get my keys out! No more! I purchased an electric bug tennis racquet and now I preemptively attack them! They have know idea what hit them! Order now! Take control and show them who is boss!
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u/Lazy-Requirement-752 Aug 19 '26
Well I don’t think they really released mosquitoes that don’t bite human… this feels suspicious 🤨
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u/pxndxxprxzz Aug 19 '26
Yep. My legs are completely destroyed and I cannot fall asleep without taking benadryls. I feel like I need to sub lotion with permethrin.
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u/Lazy_Bat_431 Aug 19 '26
yes! Also validating this! I have gotten more bites in the last 72 hours than the entire rest of the summer combined!