Sadly, half of Virginia is low lying.
My back yard has no standing water, and there is none within a quarter mile of the place, yet the little fuckers are everywhere. If I go out there for ten minutes wearing shorts, my legs get chewed.

Strangely enough, they only really seem attracted to my legs.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 14 Sep 2011, 15:42, 2 replies, latest was 14 years ago)

They must be your best feature

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 14 Sep 2011, 15:44, Reply)

I tend to think
it's because they're lazy little bastards who can't be arsed to fly more than two feet above the ground. If I stand out there wearing boots, socks, jeans and no shirt I'm fine.

(Of course my neighbors might argue with that, but that's a different matter.)
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 14 Sep 2011, 15:53, Reply)

I'm horrifically allergic to the little bastards.
Once bitten, I swell up faster than Chompy's knob once he catches a glimpse of a semi conscious woman.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 14 Sep 2011, 15:44, Reply)

Oooo!
that's REALLY swollen then!

If I get bitten I itch for an hour or so, then it fades- but for that hour I'm a doubled-over scratching cursing ball of venom.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 14 Sep 2011, 15:54, Reply)

Lucky you.
I've come back from holidays with two week old bites that have persisted for months afterwards.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 14 Sep 2011, 16:00, Reply)

My immunity was hard won.
I spent the first eighteen years of my life being chewed every summer by Adirondack black flies and deer flies. (Google for them to read the tales of woe from others. They have been known to drive strong men mad.) After a period of years you develop a resistance to the bites, so your body can throw off the effect more quickly than most.

I don't recommend the experience.

I can, however, recommend Burt's Bees insect repellent. All herbal, inoffensive smelling, but very effective!
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 14 Sep 2011, 16:06, Reply)