A question for any other gardeners out there

[jacey]

We're trying to grow vegetables this year and BB is buolding raised beds but the last few days while turning over an ancient compost heap (20+ years of grass cuttings, well rotted) and emptying the plastic kitchen waste compost bins he's come up in timy itchy lumps that look like bites. Any idea what pests might cause this?

Comments

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Last year the entire staff came up in long welts across their midriffs and I was convinced they were making it up, until I investigated what they claimed were the offending boxes of herbs and got it myself. We found that the culprits were probably straw mites - invisible, float through the air and cause very itchy skin. They actually eat the things that eat grass and some herbs.

More info here:

http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page1196.html

Not sure whether this is what B has got, but it sounds like it. It was really unpleasant but didn't last - presumably as the little bastards died off.