Best Mosquito Repellents?
Aug 24th 2013, 5:40 am
#16
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
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Re: Best Mosquito Repellents?
I have spent a huge amount of time on this, in the last few months as i work in a malaria area in Africa and i am responsible for the well being of my camp. When i arrived we had an instance of 35% malaria - So, 35% of the camp had had malaria per month. We have not had a case now for a month.
So, these are the official guides:
Avoid dark clothing - mozzies are attracted to it.
Avoid smoking - they follow CO2.
Wear long sleeves / trousers
Sleep under a mosquito net - you can buy them in lots of places in Perth and i would assume most other Oz cities
Get rid of any standing water - so if you have a pot plant outside, check it doesnt have a pool of water at the base.
Repellant. A DEET based repellant is the only proven thing that keeps them off. The best brand is Bushmans. Here i use the 80% version. But that is excessive for Oz. I would recomend the 20% version.
So, these are the official guides:
Avoid dark clothing - mozzies are attracted to it.
Avoid smoking - they follow CO2.
Wear long sleeves / trousers
Sleep under a mosquito net - you can buy them in lots of places in Perth and i would assume most other Oz cities
Get rid of any standing water - so if you have a pot plant outside, check it doesnt have a pool of water at the base.
Repellant. A DEET based repellant is the only proven thing that keeps them off. The best brand is Bushmans. Here i use the 80% version. But that is excessive for Oz. I would recomend the 20% version.
Aug 24th 2013, 7:31 am
#17
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Aug 24th 2013, 8:03 pm
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Location: Brisbane
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Re: Best Mosquito Repellents?
This one: https://www.bushman-repellent.com
Cool, thanks. It's the same I have here at home. The green one. Bought it for camping but haven't used it yet. Will test it no doubt soon.
Aug 24th 2013, 11:34 pm
#19
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Re: Best Mosquito Repellents?
It's way better than the other stuff on the market, I've tried loads & only Bushman's keeps sandflies at bay all day.
I was concerned about the 80% Deet content rumours about it being carcinogenic etc. It's safer than not using anything lol Dengue, Ross River virus etc are on the increase up here.
Aug 24th 2013, 11:35 pm
#20
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Re: Best Mosquito Repellents?
Aug 25th 2013, 2:30 am
#21
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Re: Best Mosquito Repellents?
I use the green one for around the house/garden, step up to the brown 40% for general fishing. I keep some 80% for dawn or dusk fishing in creeks when the sandflies are so thick that you have to fight through them. There's a can of both in the Ute & the tube of strong stuff stays in my tackle bag.
It's way better than the other stuff on the market, I've tried loads & only Bushman's keeps sandflies at bay all day.
I was concerned about the 80% Deet content rumours about it being carcinogenic etc. It's safer than not using anything lol Dengue, Ross River virus etc are on the increase up here.
It's way better than the other stuff on the market, I've tried loads & only Bushman's keeps sandflies at bay all day.
I was concerned about the 80% Deet content rumours about it being carcinogenic etc. It's safer than not using anything lol Dengue, Ross River virus etc are on the increase up here.
Aug 25th 2013, 6:13 am
#22
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Joined: Jul 2013
Location: Old Bar Beach, NSW near Taree
Posts: 372
Re: Best Mosquito Repellents?
Move to an area where mozzies are rare. I live on the NSW Mid North Coast and despite quite extensive inlets, wetlands etc I haven't even heard that "Annoying little trumpet in the ear" for over a year.
You don't mention your location in the side bar but if you are in Queensland you don't stand much of a chance.
You don't mention your location in the side bar but if you are in Queensland you don't stand much of a chance.
Aug 25th 2013, 7:02 am
#23
Happy migrant
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Newcastle , NSW
Posts: 6,756
Re: Best Mosquito Repellents?
I got bitten badly in Fiji by sand flies, I had a horrible reaction and was sore for nearly 10 days.
That was on the one night that I forgot to put on the repellant.
That was on the one night that I forgot to put on the repellant.
Aug 25th 2013, 7:09 am
#24
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Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Adelaide
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Re: Best Mosquito Repellents?
I've been bitten by a mozzie this afternoon cutting the back garden - so far (touch wood) haven't reacted as badly as when we first arrived - did apply bite cream as soon as I came in though so hopefully it'll stay that way
Aug 25th 2013, 7:31 am
#25
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Cardiff > Sydney > Brisbane
Posts: 145
Re: Best Mosquito Repellents?
Repellents with picaridin in have been demonstrated to be as effective as DEET. I'm not too happy about using DEET a lot, though not sure if the rumours of it being carcinogenic are based on any truth. The 'natural' alternatives (like citronella based repellents) are not as good as DEET/picaridin so I don't bother with them.
Make sure you've not got any standing water around which mozzies can breed in - it only takes a tiny amount of water!
Make sure you've not got any standing water around which mozzies can breed in - it only takes a tiny amount of water!
Aug 25th 2013, 8:33 am
#26
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Re: Best Mosquito Repellents?
Aug 25th 2013, 8:47 am
#27
Just Joined
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Re: Best Mosquito Repellents?
I but this from amazon and it works a treat. I have read somewhere that the marines use it. I used to get eaten alive and touch wood it works on me. Avon dry skin oil
Aug 25th 2013, 9:56 am
#28
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Re: Best Mosquito Repellents?
Deb has a very bad reaction to them & comes up in large ugly looking blisters. I just get a small red mark that itches for a couple of hours
Aug 25th 2013, 10:39 am
#29
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Re: Best Mosquito Repellents?
Repellents with picaridin in have been demonstrated to be as effective as DEET. I'm not too happy about using DEET a lot, though not sure if the rumours of it being carcinogenic are based on any truth. The 'natural' alternatives (like citronella based repellents) are not as good as DEET/picaridin so I don't bother with them.
Make sure you've not got any standing water around which mozzies can breed in - it only takes a tiny amount of water!
Make sure you've not got any standing water around which mozzies can breed in - it only takes a tiny amount of water!
I've tried Repel-it which is a picaridin based product. It worked with mossies but appeared useless against sandflies, I was covered in red spots after a fishing trip.
I did try kidding Deb that beer had excellent repellent properties. Carlton Mid drinkers do suffer a lot less bites than Fourex Gold drinkers in an extensive study I carried out a while ago.
Aug 25th 2013, 11:36 am
#30
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,138
Re: Best Mosquito Repellents?
The rumours sprung up prior to the internet when people confused DEET with DDT. Nowadays you can look up Deet & find the full chemical composition ditto DDT which is a proven carcinogenic.
I've tried Repel-it which is a picaridin based product. It worked with mossies but appeared useless against sandflies, I was covered in red spots after a fishing trip.
I did try kidding Deb that beer had excellent repellent properties. Carlton Mid drinkers do suffer a lot less bites than Fourex Gold drinkers in an extensive study I carried out a while ago.
I've tried Repel-it which is a picaridin based product. It worked with mossies but appeared useless against sandflies, I was covered in red spots after a fishing trip.
I did try kidding Deb that beer had excellent repellent properties. Carlton Mid drinkers do suffer a lot less bites than Fourex Gold drinkers in an extensive study I carried out a while ago.