No-see-ums or no-see-ems are easily one of the most annoying pests on the planet.

When the weather is perfect and all you want to do is be outside – 72 degrees, warm breeze… You step outside and immerse yourself in the glory of nature, and then BAM!

It feels like a small razor cutting through your flesh. Then another, then another. They bite your arms, then your legs and scalp burn. These bites immediately start to itch as you hit the “cloud” of dust that is, in fact, a swarm of the tiniest and most cheeky pests out for your blood… it’s the dreaded No-see-em!

There are ways to avoid No-see-ems.

• Wear a hat, long sleeves, and tuck pant legs into boots.
• Avoid sunset and sunrise, which are their favorite times to swarm.
• Avoid irrigated grass (athletic fields, golf courses, public parks, and your own backyard) as well as the edges of marshes.
• Stay inside and don’t enjoy the perfect weather!

But these are not really solutions, they are avoidance techniques. You may be able to find safe, ‘green’, all-natural pest control products that can control these biters. Be sure to use products that have clear instructions and DO NOT CONTAIN SYNTHETIC CHEMICAL PESTICIDES. You don’t want these getting on your skin to begin with and they have been shown to be exceptionally ineffective with No-see-ems. (There are some big producers of pesticides who claim that nothing can control them – Ha!)

Once you have located your safe, all-natural pest control product, follow the application instructions. You will likely be told to apply to all exposed skin as needed. Make sure you have a product that is okay to use in and around your hair because these biters especially like to bury themselves in your hair.

If you want your entire property to be free of no-see-ums, you’ll have to dig a little deeper to find options that treat your entire yard. Automatic pest control through your irrigation comes to mind, so do your research and find the best solution for you.

Or you can treat your yard yourself using a backpack sprayer or hose-end sprayer. Be sure to find an environmentally safe product that controls No-see-ems but won’t harm beneficial creatures like bees and butterflies. A truly safe product can also be administered along the edges of the salt marsh to make it happen!

The key to keeping No-see-ums away is to prevent them from breeding near you. A personal pest control product creates a small bubble of protection, and treating the garden creates a much larger bubble of protection.

It is possible to outrun these miniature monsters – you just want to be safe for yourself and the planet in the process.