“This is my first trip to Costa Rica and they ate me alive.” How many times have I heard this statement? There may be more species of insects in Costa Rica than anywhere on the planet, but they are not a big problem for those who live here over time. You may see a “gringo” who has just arrived covered in bites, but you rarely see a Tico (Costa Rican) with bites. Even a gringo who lives here over time seems a lot less bitten. Maybe it’s onions and garlic that are in most dishes.
Anyway, “did something bite me last night?” I will mention the most common itchy teethers. These are the small black ants that are about 1/2 centimeter long, the large mosquitoes and especially the small ones and the purrujas or no-see-ums.
Little black ants are everywhere, on the walls, on the plants, in the lot that you might be looking to buy. Warning! Never stand in the same place in a lot or on a road. When you look down, you may see a swarm of ants crawling at your feet. Suddenly you panic, try to sweep them away, and too late they all seem to bite you at once. Sometimes spraying with a water hose will get them out faster, but don’t expect to be bitten by a few. Same with your hands – touch a plant and you can expect to find that your hands are harboring some ants. Now if you do get bitten, try not to scratch or the itch will drive you crazy. Sometimes I have found that applying a little red soil near where the ant bit immediately removes the itch. You may need to moisten the soil to apply it. A veterinary cream called Panalog can also relieve itching. Otherwise it will itch, you will feel the urge to scratch until it stops and then the itch will return hours later. This scenario can happen for several days.
There are several other ants that sting. One is very small, yellowish, and appears almost transparent. I think it belongs to the fire ant family. It feels like a pin that keeps itching / stinging for an hour or so. This is the ant that Ticos like to avoid. Another ant is the leaf cutter ant. Don’t let these bite you. They will draw blood and hold on with a strong death grip. This is a woman to watch out for. All males, having appeared with the queen, are dead. Finally, army ants are said to bite. It is best not to get in their way and leave them with the task of cleaning up dead insects and ant eggs. Costa Rica has many species of ants; I am only highlighting the most common teethers.
Next on my list are Purrujas, no-see-ums, or sand fleas. These little ones are found along beaches, coastal roads, or near mangroves. They like to go out in the evening and can stay all night until the heat of the day haunts them again and they hide. Once you find yourself in an area where no one sees you, you can be mercilessly bitten. Plan on itching for about three days. Sulfur powder dusted on clothing or ankles helps deter these no-see-ums from biting. Also, if you know you are going to a hotel or restaurant on the coast, always wear long pants and long sleeves. Again, panalog can deter them or stop the itching once they bite on you.
At the bottom of my list are mosquitoes: the very small and aggressive ones called Sancudos, the normal mosquitoes, and the ones that transmit diseases like malaria and dengue. However, because Costa Rica has a fairly well balanced ecosystem that is not totally spoiled by chemicals, bats, snakes, frogs, praying mantises, and birds do a remarkable job of containing mosquito populations. For example, a small bat can catch and eat 600 mosquitoes per hour. Yeh! Again, garlic may be the reason why Ticos and those who live here over time are rarely bitten.
Whether you’re renting, housekeeping, or just visiting, there are several remedies that help with the itch or prevent the bites in the first place. To prevent in the first place, keep the lights off as much as possible, sprinkle your clothes with sulfur or pyrethrum powder, or avoid restaurants or hotels near the beach. Find a Costa Rica rental away from the beach. Other solutions include the application of cedar oil, rubbing alcohol, rosemary oil, Mexican vanilla, citronella oil, Avon’s “Oh So Sweet” and cactus juice lotion.
You have been bitten and now you want to stop the itching. With your fingernail, make a line across the bite and cross that line with another line crossing the first one. If that is not successful, add more lines by creating a lattice pattern. Solutions that can help include: rubbing alcohol, witch hazel, aloe vera gel, lemon juice, lavender oil, a baking soda paste, or sticky toothpaste.
