Ankle bites... perhaps fleas? I also seem to recall you said you were in Gold Country last month and there's a lot of biting insects up there. As for the alcohol wipes, as an allergy nurse explained to me, it only works long-term if you catch the bite before your body starts the reaction, which is pretty rarely. Otherwise, it's just the cooling sensation that helps temporarly relieve the itch.

Nancy, I used to get those bites on my feet and ankles.Scratched myself silly, and have the scars to prove it. It was horrible. I can only think it was something in the lawn.... although my dog has never had fleas, something from the grass was getting to me. I don't have the problem anymore, but if you are having it now, I hope I don't get the itching back this summer!

As for mosquite bites, I rarely get them. Unless I am up at Bass Lake or somewhere like that.  Maybe because I smoke they just don't like my smell. (heck, I don't like my smell, wish I could get the strength to quit!).

Nancy, that dog looks like a little woofie...

That's for vampires silly.  :-)

Seriously, my neighbor swears the fabric softener sheet pinned to the shirt works.  And it smells better than garlic breath.

I have not been bitten yet. I eat a piece of garlic at night before going to bed. The aroma seems to keep them away.

Woof, when hubby was in the army I came back from GA with the tops of my feet bleeding and scarred scarred for years from chiggers.  The just about ate my little dog up too.  Nasty little buggers.  (No pun intended)

As far as I know we don't have them here.

I tried the alcohol and while it made it feel better it still itched.  I'm using OTC  Hydrocortisone Cream 1% maximum strength anti itch cream (all on the tube..lol) and it's helping a lot.

I'd like to know where I'm getting the bites and what they are.  I just started having the welt on my foot too.  Same leg.

Nancy, I'm not sure if they have 'em here, but "chiggers" were little red bugs in the grass that would bit your ankles.  This happened a lot when I lived in Chicagoland.  Their bites were more little red pimple like than how a skeeter bite gets bigger when you scratch it....

Steve,

  You sure are an early bird! I talked about that around 5:40am.7 total bites!! These suckers are ugly too.Like "woofwoof" was saying in the post,I too have sworn I had West Nile before and now I'm really scared.Dean and my husband Jake both think I am ridiculous for assuming the worst,but they haven't felt the BITING pain. LOL.

I tried the alcohol thing that "gsisola" recommended,but it may be too late,I'm going to try some hydrocortisone tonight.I also just put DEET on the shopping list.From what I am reading here though,it must stink! Rach

Ohh... you bet !! I always get tore up by these little critters.... Friday night I got eaten alive while sleeping.... I woke up and went out to ask my wife... who was still awake... to give me a little back rub... and she said they were numerous and large indeed.... and yes Nancy I have quite a few on my ankles and calves... not quite 2 x 2... but numerous... what I have found kills the itch the best... and somewhat prevents future attacks is rubbing alcohol on a couple of paper towels and rub it on you everywhere... it really does stop the itch and almost makes the bites disappear... do this as soon as you feel the first itch... it really does help.

I have several bites on my upper ankle/lower calf area and have no idea what they're from.   It's about a 2x2 inch red area with several welts inside and they itch like crazy.  Now and then they sting like crazy too.  I'm trying to leave them alone but now and then it overcomes me and I have a fit of scratching.  After a lifetime of skeeters one thing I know..it's not from them.  Maybe spiders?  It's been a week now and it's no better.

Blake, you really should use DEET when you're out golfing.  West Nile can be serious business.  

Woof, the DEET wipes are great, but require reapplication more frequently than a DEET spray.  If you're uncomfortable with using DEET before bed, try Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.

THERE BACK!   I let the kids sleep in our lil trailer out back with some friends this weekend.  Of course with them running in and out of the backyard, and forgetting to close the screen door, there were some "skeeters" in the house.  I know, because I heard them buzzin' around my ear when I was trying to sleep.  Plus I woke up with three bites from head to toe.  And I woke up with possibily two dead skeeters in my hair.

Last year I swear I had a case of West Nile.  I didn't have the fever though.  Just extremely stiff neck (on top of what pain I have there already) and felt like doo doo for 10+ days .  Like meniginistis.  I just rode it out.  Because there's nothing you can really do, is there?

We got some of those DEET wipes out in the trailer.  Kind of like a handi wipe....good stuff.  I just don't want to put it on before bed, lol.