Well, the rain is gone, but the skeeters are now out in force!!! They love to eat me up..They dont bother my DH!! We have access to a commercial sprayer..and did spray about 2 weeks ago..Not sure what he used..But since yall are Texans AND gardeners..Any recommendations??
Mosquitos on Steroids
Are you asking about something for you to use? If you find out, let me know! They will try to get any inch of me exposed. I use Off Botanicals lotion but sometimes it doesn't work and I have to give in and use the DEET stuff. Not many choices when it comes to West Nile or DEET. Someone did send me a few names of products to try tho. I think it was on a thread in organic gardening. I'll try to look for it.
I recently found some small roll on type bug balm from Badger at the Salvation Army store for 25 cents. It was all natural. I rolled it all over me one evening and didn't get bit a single time. It had a very pleasant smell to it. I went back a few days later and bought all they had. If anyone is interested in some, I'll be happy to put one in the mail to you. Just Dmail me with your address.
Janet
Turbo,...those marsh skeeters are tough.....DEET can be purchased at most sporting goods stores....keep in mind that the pure forms of deet can irritate your skin....be sure to read instructions when preparing to apply. I buy a small pump-spray bottle of DEET from Academy and spray it on a paper towel and lightly wipe it on ....works great. The smell of DEET doesn't bother me at all....some folks may not like it......but if you consider the Karankawa Indians that use to roam the TX coast
used other unsavory preparations that probably kept the skeeters off just because of the smell........a faint odor of DEET can't be all that bad! :~)
This message was edited Oct 17, 2006 11:52 AM
I heard Repel with lemon eucalyptus worked as well as preparations containing DEET in some study they were talking about on NPR.
Please tell me what "Repel" is....I've seen this name mentioned before...
That's it Brigidlily, and you're the one that told me about it! I totally forgot about it until this thread.
I found it online at drugstore.com
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=75477&catid=10&brand=25541&trx=PLST-0-BRAND&trxp1=10&trxp2=75477&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-BRAND
IF the link works, there are some good reviews at the bottom.
Oh trust me! I use a repellent. Still, sometimes they seem to find the 1 teeny spot that I missed! I have used bout any and everything..I am not picky..The altertative, West Nile, is not an option! But dang these things are just so huge!!
Thanks Konkrete / Brigidlily...I'm gonna try it!
Turbo....
Long pants, long sleeved shirt (probably needs to be canvas)
a pith helmet with a head/helmet-enveloping net (like the bee keepers use) and gloves would be real comfortable this time of the year. lol :~) I'm joking....sort of....'cause we use to do a lot of wade fishing up & down the coast....and literally had to wear all the above except the gloves,....to keep the Marsh skeeters off....they would swarm you by the hundreds and when
hundreds or thousands of those things are flyin'/swarmin' you...
that high pitched whine in unison was an eerie sound. After the sun rose a bit higher,...they would mostly disappear 'til dusk....and we'd shuck all of it....troublesome,...yeah,...but worth it!
I'm scared to go too far into my beds because I'm afraid of the skeeters! When I do I have to spray on the high power stuff or I might not come out alive.
I've also always wanted to try the mosquito net pants and shirt that you can buy from Carol Wright. It's way too hot here for me to wear long sleeves or pants but I've learned why having a pair of overall's would come in handy. I just saw some at Wal-Mart so I might have to buy some just for gardening.
LOL! Yep..the battle with skeeters CAN get crazy.BUT...the good news is, with the cool front that has come down this way, they are staying well hidden! Hopefully, it will be a colder winter down here this year. Last year was just so mild, the mosquitos just didnt get their just due! Lots of folks in the area have had a major infestation of sand fleas as well..Oh well, that's the sorta things you just kinda have to learn to deal with, living on the coast!
Hope all is well in yall's world!!
I use Repel for the skeeters...it's main ingredient is lemon eucalyptus w/ other natural ingredients and I have found it to work the best for me...they love my blood! I've tried so many products and I swear by Repel. I first found it at Wal-Mart.
This weather is enuff to make a woman go nuts! HOT today..gonna be cold tomorrow..the mosqitos were out by the droves this evening..It was horrendous..I am going to WalMart in a little while..Gonna look for Repel. Lord knows I have tried everything else..Yall ever heard bout using the dryer sheets? I have even tried that!!! they just like me..the bugs..but I have had enuff of this mess! Oh...and calling them ugly names..does no good either! LOL
I've never heard of Repel, sounds better than Deet. The dryer sheets are for those little annoying gnats.
That makes sense..but some genius told me it worked on skeeters..and me, gullible..or desperate..tried it..Those things feel gross when you rub them on your skin.
I have also heard that rubbing lemon balm leaves on your skin will work too, but I think Repel worked the best. Its soooooooooo windy right now maybe all the skeeters will get blown away, all the way to the Gulf!
Lemon balm, huh? I happen to have some..but like you say..it's so windy and cool, havent had any problems with the beasts today..I saw on the weather by Friday, we are going to back up in the high 80s..Still, I have my Repel that I bought AND Lemon Balm..I am ready to do battle if necessary!
Sounds like you're good to go! No blood loss today, huh?
The weather is nuts! Hot..cool..Hot..cool..and all the rain in between..After the last rain..48 hours later..couldnt even go outside! Even the "old timers" down here were talkin bout how they had NEVER seen the mosquitos that bad!!! It was THE worst yet!! Thank God, it has cooled back down some and we have no rain in the forecast for several days!!!
I got the Repel..even then, with the last bunch..AND long sleeves AND jeans..I was LUNCH! I had to stay in! oh! I also got some Mosquito Dunks and put them out..As of now,..again...for the time being..I am ahead in the battle!!
with this rain, and the colder weather coming (well, probably), they're coming out and they are HUNGRY. I was visiting a friend in Groves yesterday and my wrists and hands must have had little targets painted on them that only mosquitos can see. well, it's a reason to love winter -- fewer mosquitos!
Hey yall! Guess what? Lemon Balm works GREAT!! An added bonus is that it made my skin so soft!!! I used a balm made by Burt's Bees..oops! Can I do that? If not supposed to mention specific names..sorry..my bad..but it still works great!..Havent been on a lot lately! SOME one has to to supervise my DH as he builds me a greenhouse!! I am so excited...Thanks for all the posts on this..Now, I gotta get to bed..Almost 3 a.m.!! My bed is calling my name..........................................
Randa
Here is something I bought this week and I am absolutely delighted with it. It is by Burt's Bee, who is famous for his lip balm. It is their Natural Insect repellent, made with soybean oil, eucaliptus oil and lemongrass oil. I was doing some planting today and could see a a battalion of these monsters coming my way. So, I rushed indoors to apply and returned to the mosquito infested area. Not one bite!
I love the scent. My husband refuses to use OFF, but he is agreeable to using this product. He thought the scent was nice also.
Voss..Thanks for this tidbit of info. I am a huge fan of Burt's Bees Products..How I missed this one..dont have a clue..but now that I know..next time I load up on Burts, I will pick some of it up!
With the arrival of somewhat cooler weather, the bugs have diminished somewhat..especially in the evening. We are able to sit out on the patio without the constant buzzin in our ears!!
Voss, where did you get that? I like Burt's Bees products.
I got it at Enchanted Gardens, but here is a link w/ a store location option.
http://www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/FindStores?langId=-1&storeId=10101&catalogId=10751
Hey..Most CVS stores are carrying the Burts products these days!
Walgreens has some too but not the insect repellant, I love the natural stuff. Thanks voss! I thought maybe you found it at a store, didn't think of looking at their website.
enchanted gardens is a nursery near my house. You see BBees products at the most unlikely of places. I have seen them at restaurants (by the cashier). I wouldn't be surprised if Arbor Gate carries it if not they could probably special order it at no extra charge. I think I paid $7.50. it is oily like some suntan lotions but you don't have to apply a lot for it to do its job.