Remedies for Mosquitos

[Menchhofer]

Just thought that since I have noticed an increase in these critters while out estimating and due to the additional rain we have been receiving, I would pass this along with the West Nile virus a possibility. I am going to try the B-1 vitamin.

OK, mosquitos...prepare to be repelled!!!!!
> Use Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets...Best thing ever used in
> Louisiana..just wipe on & go...Great for Babies
>
> Bob, a fisherman, takes one vitaimin B-1 tablet a day
> April through October . He said it works. He was right.
> The odor the tablet gives out through your skin
> (YOU can not smell it) repels mosquitos,black flies,
> no seeum's, and knat's. It does not work on stinging insects.
> Hasn't had a mosquito bit in 33 years. Try it.
> Every one he has talked into trying it works on them.
> Vitimin B-1( Thiamine Hydrochloride 100 mg.)
>
> Kenn said NPR reports that if you eat bananas,
> the mosquitos like you, something about the banana oil
> as your body processes it. (Maybe they need the potassium too- lol)
> Stop eating bananas for the summer and the mosquitos
> will be much less interested.
>
> This is going to floor you, but one of the best
> insect repellents someone found (who is in the woods
> every day), is Vick's Vaporub.
>
> Plant marigolds around the yard, the flowers give off
> a smell that bugs do not like,
> so plant some in that garden also to help ward
> off bugs without using insecticides.
>
> "Tough guy" Marines who spend a great deal of time
> "camping out" say that the very best mosquito
> repellant you can use is
> Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil mixed about
> half and half with alcohol.
>
> mix your own:
> 20 drops Eucalyptus oil
> 20 drops Cedarwood oil
> 10 drops Tea Tree oil
> 10 drops Geranium oil
> 2 oz. carrier oil ( such as Jojoba )
> Mix together in a 4 oz. container. Apply to skin as
> needed avoiding the eye area. Keep out of reach
> of children. Test on a small area of skin for sensitivities .
> Experiment with different percentages of essential oil
>
> from Sharon:
> One of the best natural insect repellants that I've discovered
> is made from the clear real vanilla (not the grocery store
> vanilla extract which is mostly alcohol). This is the pure
> vanilla that is sold in Mexico. It's cheap there if you know
> of someone that lives there or in the US close to the border.
> If not, health food stores usually carry it or can order it
> for you. I use it half vanilla and half water and find
> that it works great for mosquitoes and ticks,
> don't know about other insects.
> when all else fails--get a frog
>
>
>
> Fight West Nile...pass this along to all your friends in skeeter land!!!

 

[Bob Wulkowicz]

Mench,

I have this image of you with a frog on each shoulder and strings tied on their tiny feet to not let them get away. I imagine the strings shouldn't be too long, so you don't end up sitting on them.

"Oh my god", says the about to be victim, "This is a helluva end for a frog!!!"



bobw




PS: Would you be allowed on public transit, claiming they were service animals?

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Hearing all of the press about West Nile has gotten me thinking, sorry about that, again. How does this concern fit with risk management?
This spring at the Shade Tree Short Course an entomologist spoke about insect borne diseases. She said that there were not too many deaths from WN.
Somewhere in the low double digits. Compared to the 40,000 plus killed on highways, the number killed from obesity and smoking, is this a real concern? I'm sure that I would think differently if a friend or family ever were effected, but for now, it seems like it is a low risk issue. Doing prudent things like repellant and long clothing makes sense. Tonight we had a campfire in the driveway. I made it a little smokey to keep the moseys at bay.

Tom

 

[Mattman]

> Bob, a fisherman, takes one vitaimin B-1 tablet a day
> April through October . He said it works. He was right.
> The odor the tablet gives out through your skin
> (YOU can not smell it) repels mosquitos,black flies,
> no seeum's, and knat's. It does not work on stinging insects.
> Hasn't had a mosquito bit in 33 years. Try it.
> Every one he has talked into trying it works on them.
> Vitimin B-1( Thiamine Hydrochloride 100 mg.)

Hey guys,
Speaking of Vitamin B-1, check out Vegemite. I've been eating this stuff for years since my wife (Australian) introduced me to it. It is made from biproducts brewing beer. Mainly yeast. One serving contains fifty percent of the RDA of B-1. So drink lots of ale and eat your Vegemite, mate.
Matt

 

[NeTree]

Nah... just run a 16:1 saw mix... the smoke will keep 'em at bay.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

A little malathion in the mix too?

I tried the Avon SSS and it does not work as good as DEET. side by side blind studies have shown that nothing works as good as DEET.

I ate alot of B complex to for the metabolic boost it gives. Bugs still ate me.

Reed, what can you tell us about any problems with DEET and say melinoma?

 

[Greg]

Here in FL skeeters are always a topic of discussion, recently on the news they spoke about a study that showed repellants with the highest % of deet are most effective. That skin so soft stuff sucks in my opinion. If it doesn't cause some type of cancer you know it is good for nothing!
Greg

 

[Nickrosis]

The integrated approach works here again. Dumping containers that could harbor the mosquitoes in the first place (mosquitos is also an accepted spelling). Using a larvicide with an insect growth regulating mode of action or the Bt subspecies israelensis is reported to be highly efficient within 15 minutes. I bought a box and will find out.

The last line of defense should be thermal fogging or use of a broad label insecticide, in my opinion. Definitely use a repellent, though. I just think that adulticides end up killing too many non-target species unlike a specific larvicide.

Here in Wisconsin, we have the wonderful challenge of the DNR requiring that any application to a water of the state requires a permit. A water of the state is any body of water (size is irrelevant) that is not plastic lined. A clay-lined pond is considered a water of the state because is can allow things through it. Hence, a permit before anything can go in it.

So....the challenge of mosquitoes. I really miss Europe this summer. Not a single mosquito bite the whole time.... ah...

Nickrosis

 

[Jumper]

High deet lotion does it best for me-they just limited the concentration to 30% I believe here-Muskol concentrate used to be 95% and it melted synthetic fabrics on contact. I also read that an application of olive oil on standing water suffocates the larvae, and is biodegradable as well.