Aloha,
Somewhere (I think it was on Daves, but can't find it now) I read about using a Listerine mounthwash spray to keep mozzies from biting. We don't have too much of a problem in Kihei, but the few we do have just love Frank and my Mom. They both tried the spray and neither had so much as one little nibble. It seems a much less expensive and perhaps safer way to go than using OFF...I am hoping that some of you guys who really do have mosquitos the size of Zero planes will try this and let us know the results.
The thread also noted that they sprayed the door frames of their house and their deck area before a party and were mozzie free the whole evening. I wish I could remember where I read it and give credit to the person who shared this info - it could have been on any number of garden sites as it has been very quiet at work and I essentially have 8 hours a day to fill - LOL!
Whoops! Can't spell repellent this morning!
This message was edited Jun 6, 2009 6:21 AM
Mosquito repellant
I'll give it a try, we have the mozzies to test with :) I will say that most of those homegrown remedies have not worked when I tried them. Bounce sheets do seem to help some but now we mainly use them to wipe the dogs down, leaving one tied fetchingly to their collars. So far we've found 2 ingredients that work well, DEET and Icaridin. They are available in different strengths and formulas almost everywhere. We use Autan but there are other brands.
I told some a while back that we use it here instead of poisons and you can spray on anything. I use it because I'm allergic to so much and they make big whelps on me that itch so bad. It works for me when off hasn't.
Anyone ever try Citronella Grass (Cymbopogon nardus) tea?
I tried citronella spray and candles but they come to the candles and circle like wild indians about to attack. Nothing works 100% but the mouthwash in a spray bottle works pretty good and isn't poison. I've tried skin-so-soft bath oil,it works a little in the woods area, but not for long.Tried bounce fabric softener sheets but not much good either on our whoppers we get. I tried deet,(off) stinks and doesn't help either. Last year and this year, we're being carried off by horse flies that bite or sting as soon as they hit you. NOTHING seems to help with that problem.
Horse flies are awful and lots of people are allergic to their stings.
Off makes a new product that you carry on your person rather than spray on your skin. Does anyone have experience with it?
At the moment I use the Avon skin so soft spray in the green bottle which blessedly is unscented and works pretty well, but I would prefer not to have to spray anything on my skin.
I am presently using the new fangled thing that Off has out. So far, so good. Mosquitoes only though. Still get bit by gnats, ants and no-see-ums. It is very pricey. $9.99 + tax for the darned thing. Then $.4.99 for two refills of the chemical which is eeeny-tiny...and had to replace the batteries on one of the two I purchased. DH says that is because I am outside more than the 12 hours recommened on the box. Several years ago I invented a complete suit to wear over your clothes made of very fine mosquito netting.
It was too hot to wear very long.
Would you believe it? It is now on the market as the "Bug Baffler". In the back of several gardening magazines and also offered in the new "Territorial Seed" catalog.
We found this thing at Home Depot last year that cost 100.00 and you sit it in your yard and it repells mosquitos for 1/2 mile. For 150.00 it would repel for 1 mile. I'm not sure if it is electric or runs off some kind of gsp, but heard it really works. I have seen them set up in some yards where kids are out playing summer and they seem to be enjoying the yard. I haven't tried it, didn't have the money at the time. Might try it this time.
We investigated that contraption a few years back when they cost $500. Finally decided it would be like the bug-zapper. More like a lure to bring them in from the hinterland.
Maybe I won't try it this year!Ooowww.
I heard that too, and even tried it...I wasn't impressed...but..still...check www.snopes.com and most of the time they'll shed some light on it.
I'm trying a new product, a new thing I heard about at my Birthday party last weekend.
http://www.clearchoiceh2oh.com/choice-lawn-2.html
they are not finished with their website yet..but my friend said they had a lot of happy people who used it. Still, my motto is ..if it sounds too good to be true....uh huh...Anyway, it works in a system or can be hooked up to the hose and sprayed like other stuff. It's a repellant, not a bug killer...composed of lemon grass, Cinnamon and garlic oil all known for the repellant properties...I will receive my gallon on Saturday and be testing it over the next two weeks..will post results..and my thoughts..etc.
This message was edited Jun 11, 2009 7:20 PM
Anxious to hear how it does. Keep us posted.
I will, I'm rather anxious too.
The owners were very nice and have gone over my expectations in answering questions, even were going to deliver the stuff themselves to check out the type of garden and make recommendations..so on that level, I'm very impressed with them already. From what I understand, this is a frequent application type thing, which is why they have a system they can install that frequently sprays the substance. It's all chemical free, and not under any government restrictions, and they say it's very butterfly and good critter friendly...
even better.
Because of the bugs we are inside looking out many times when it is so pretty. I hope this works for you. I am next in line if it does.
PK
Me too. I really am a skeeter magnet and get huge welts from thee bites. I have tried many things and none have worked really well. I have had moderate success with spray catnip, believe it or not.
I was looking into those propane CO2 contraptions too, but was not convinced it was worth it.
Okay...I will keep a detailed journal like I did with the Seaweed Diaries
I like the Co2, and have one, unfortuneatly in the south here the technique doesn'e work on the West Nile mosquito..so..it's been on the shelf. Those little buggers are very determined and have excellent dodging abilities
Amazing how all these new repellents have been tested by a major university, or the Federal government, etc.
So the West Niles ones are not attracted to it?
No, apparently they find their victims via another format than the exhaled breath
GPS?
right!?
...I could be wrong in exactly how ...but I do know that the Co2 thing does not attract them..that much I retained when I read the info.
The ones I worry about here are the egypti that carry dengue, mainly they bite in the daytime and at dusk. I'm not too bothered by bites, I used to get a huge reaction but I've found that now that I'm older they don't welt like they used to. Still, it's not the bite it's the disease that I worry about. Since we had our first big rains they are around more and we're spending more time inside in the evenings.
Don't you just wish there was a way to just suck all of the mosquitoes and other blood suckers and disease carriers up and off the planet? It's my dream.
Yes, or make them infertle
We are on the low side of Mosquitos..we are in a heat wave, and it's evaporating everything, including our puffy tropical clouds...it's rare during this time of year not to have tons of white puffy clouds floating accross the sky..but they are dried up.....
A lot of my neighbors swear by the Buzz Off system but I suspect it is because they shelled out many thousands to have it installed. They have to justify that somehow. LOL
http://buzzoffmosquito.com/
It seems we have gotten all your rain rj, and it has brought out gazillions of the little bloodthirsty devils. At least it is too hot for the no see ums.
Yeah, these guys put in systems too, but what I liked about it was the flexibility NOT to, although I'm quite sure it works much better with the system...we pooor.!
arrgghh..it's hot...97F...our low tonight...79F, I was up at 3:00 AM deep watering.
Ouch - 97!! You have my sympathy, rj.
There are tornado warnings everywhere. Looking at the garden is very scary. Not a single leaf is stirring. That is not a good sign. Have lived through 3 tornadoes in this very house. Not fun. The circumstances are favorable for a tornado. My granddaughter is the lead in a ballet tonight in Decatur. The weather man keeps showing how close this storm cell is to them. My son and DIL is there as well. Actually a lot of people I hold dear to my heart. This is somewhat late for these storms here. Nature is all off kilter.
PK
I usually don't complain..but then it's usually August with these types of temps.
hmm..and usually we get all the stuff that passes through Dallas.....it just disapates..
the stuff you got slammed with yesterday evaporated by the time it got here last night
Hope you and the family stay safe Christi...
Yes, tornadoes are frightening. I hope those you love are safe.
Got the gallon of stuff yesterday- whew, anyone offended by the smell of Garlic should not use it.
It has-
Garlic oil
Cinammon oil
Lemon grass oil
Castor oil
Cedar oil
Haven't used it yet as the Heat has pretty much taken care of the mosquitos