ianp

can anyone offer any sound advice on how to avoid being eaten alive !!!!!!!!!
We have been in Ozz for four months now, we've tried the zapper, the Mosquito coils, the Citronella candles, the Sandalwood mosquito sticks, we've even sprayed ourselves with "Rid", and taken to eating vegemite but alas nothing works,is there anything out there that really does work, or will the bites deteriorate in time when we build up a resistance to them?????

We would be grateful for any comments

Thanks in advance

Kath and Ian

mlbonner

I feel for you!! I suffer from the same problem.... there's nothing unusual about my friends getting a bite or two and me a bite or 10 while sat outside. The past couple of times I've been wearing aeroguard/rid and still got bitten!

I've been told the usual; vegemite, garlic, parsley as well. I've also been told that Vitamin B Complex works. I keep meaning to buy some to try it. I did some 'google' research on this and there are mixed results... can't hurt though can it!

FWIW, I rarely got bitten in the UK, have been here on and off for two years now and the bites have got not decreased

SunshineGirl

I take Vitamin B and garlic and have never (touch wood) been bitten.

Friends of ours in QLD recommended this to us.

Jimbo9

I think they only go for Permanent Residents. When you take out citizenship they leave you alone unless you spend 365 days outside australia in the next 2 year period........

Multicoloured Crocodile

Garlic is the answer but unfortunately doesn't just get rid of insects!
It's a good idea to take it as it's also got untold health benefits so you can't lose really.

Scossie

LOL...

I get bitten now and then, but when the buggers see Gillian, they phone all their freinds to arrange a meal, meet for a drink beforehand, & browse the "Gillian" menu!
(arm, leg, foot,)! Leg below the knee seems to be the Chef's recomendation!

When we go for an evening BBQ, Gillian goes through about half a can of mozzie spray before we leave the house!!!

Doesn't exactly smell like cK1, but at least it stops her from suffering.

We've recenty heard that having a drink of Berocca every day does the trick, & keeps the wee b#stards at bay!

Will keep you posted on how that goes.....

debsy

I very rarely get bitten. It was the same also when I lived in the med. I do eat a mediterranean diet with plenty of garlic and flat leaf parsley

SunshineGirl

Yes, I've also heard that mossies don't like the olive oil and lemon that is common in the Med diet.

jwatsonoz

put up with it

your reaction to being bitten reduces significantly each year. I've only been here a year and a half and my bites are much less painful and smaller this summer than last.

The locals tell me that you will only feel the bad ones after living here sufficiently long enough

Vegemite Kids

I'm semi allergic to mozzies and have tried literally everything.

Nothing works!!!! I'm currently sitting here with 14 bites on one leg, 11 bites on the other, plus about 6-8 bites on each arm.

Thats with copious amounts of garlic, vitamin B and aeroguard !!!! (plus red wine and chololate port - just in case )

What I can recommend is the SOOV liquid gel. It takes the itching out almost immediately plus gets rid of the lumps and bumps.

I've given up trying to stop the bites and just apply a huge amount of SOOV on the hour every hour Expensive but effective !!!

Siren & Brian

Cover up. Wear loose clothing.

jwatsonoz

The best thing you can do is rub your body in sugar water (1 table spoon per litre of water)

heading downunder 2002

Our friend who had lived in Oz over 30 years told us to get citronella oil and dab it on yourself before going out, hubby still got bitten (they seemed to love him) but certainly not as bad.

we were also told that the longer you live there the less likely you are to get bittten as your blood gets thinner living in a hot climate and the mozzies like newly arrived migrants as our blood is still thick from living in a cooler climate,don't know if this is true but we didn't see many Australians covered in bites?

Susan

jad n rich

Its got a lot to do with when you go outside, they 'hit' on dusk, and come out wanting fresh blood to feed on. The 45 mins or so just before it gets dark is the worst, of course once its dark they are out there but the intense biting is usually dusk, avoid it, stay inside thats why aussies dont get bitten there inside. People still get bitten after a lifetime here you dont become immune to them and it only takes one bite to pass on ross river etc so dont worry about herbal remedies hit the rid and cover up.

wombat42

Mossies are only a problem during summer and it depends where you live. There are almost no mossies at all where l live, the worst places are near rivers or lakes where they breed. The best way to stop them getting into the house is to have flywire aroumd your windows, which will stop most but not all. Get rid of any places nearby where they could breed such as old fish ponds, water tanks or anything with water in it. Perhaps you could spray your house with fly or insect killer sprays once a day, some good ones ar low irritant and will kill all insects for 48 hours after use. If all else fails perhaps you could sleep under mosquito nets.