Mosquitoes
Jan 12th 2010 | 11:33 pm
#31
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4
From: Canberra
Re: Mosquitoes
Hmmmm ... here's my 10c worth ...
Mozzies don't "go" for any particular individual as far as I know. I thnk the thing is some people are more sensitive to their saliva than others (allergic, if you like). That includes me btw!
If you're like me then every time they prick you, you'll react. A "normal" person probably won't, but might occasionally do so if the mozzie continues to work on them to the point where they actually manage to suck some blood. I'd guess in that situation the insect really starts to pump a bit more saliva in to prevent coagulation.
I used to be in the OK camp but joined the real sufferers thanks to an infected bite ... while back in London
There are two things you can do. In my experience and opinion, of course ...
Prevention/deterrence. Those little sonic devices you can clip to your belt are awesome. They send female mozzies fleeing! You don't have to worry about males - they feed on nectar (as do non-pregnant females).
Cure. Really simple, but if you notice you've been bitten, wash the bite with normal soap and water asap. For quite a while after biting, there's basically a hole in your skin, containing a small amount of mozzie saliva. Remove this and you won't get itchy and the hole will close over. Works for me 90% of the time. If the swelling process has started the hole will narrow down or even close, trapping some of the saliva and you'll get the familiar large red itchy welt.
Since a trip to that rather nifty plantation (Tuesday, Thursday?) in northern NSW, I've also become quite a convert to tea tree oil. Applying some of this to a fresh bite if no soap and water is available often does the trick just as well.
Hope this helps!
Mozzies don't "go" for any particular individual as far as I know. I thnk the thing is some people are more sensitive to their saliva than others (allergic, if you like). That includes me btw!
If you're like me then every time they prick you, you'll react. A "normal" person probably won't, but might occasionally do so if the mozzie continues to work on them to the point where they actually manage to suck some blood. I'd guess in that situation the insect really starts to pump a bit more saliva in to prevent coagulation.
I used to be in the OK camp but joined the real sufferers thanks to an infected bite ... while back in London
There are two things you can do. In my experience and opinion, of course ...
Prevention/deterrence. Those little sonic devices you can clip to your belt are awesome. They send female mozzies fleeing! You don't have to worry about males - they feed on nectar (as do non-pregnant females).
Cure. Really simple, but if you notice you've been bitten, wash the bite with normal soap and water asap. For quite a while after biting, there's basically a hole in your skin, containing a small amount of mozzie saliva. Remove this and you won't get itchy and the hole will close over. Works for me 90% of the time. If the swelling process has started the hole will narrow down or even close, trapping some of the saliva and you'll get the familiar large red itchy welt.
Since a trip to that rather nifty plantation (Tuesday, Thursday?) in northern NSW, I've also become quite a convert to tea tree oil. Applying some of this to a fresh bite if no soap and water is available often does the trick just as well.
Hope this helps!
Jan 12th 2010 | 11:47 pm
#32
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: Mosquitoes
It's Thursday Plantation. 
Jan 12th 2010 | 11:53 pm
#33
Thread Starter
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 673
From: Hampshire - soon to be somewhere between Brissie and Gold Coast!!!
Re: Mosquitoes
Hmmmm ... here's my 10c worth ...
Mozzies don't "go" for any particular individual as far as I know. I thnk the thing is some people are more sensitive to their saliva than others (allergic, if you like). That includes me btw!
If you're like me then every time they prick you, you'll react. A "normal" person probably won't, but might occasionally do so if the mozzie continues to work on them to the point where they actually manage to suck some blood. I'd guess in that situation the insect really starts to pump a bit more saliva in to prevent coagulation.
I used to be in the OK camp but joined the real sufferers thanks to an infected bite ... while back in London
There are two things you can do. In my experience and opinion, of course ...
Prevention/deterrence. Those little sonic devices you can clip to your belt are awesome. They send female mozzies fleeing! You don't have to worry about males - they feed on nectar (as do non-pregnant females).
Cure. Really simple, but if you notice you've been bitten, wash the bite with normal soap and water asap. For quite a while after biting, there's basically a hole in your skin, containing a small amount of mozzie saliva. Remove this and you won't get itchy and the hole will close over. Works for me 90% of the time. If the swelling process has started the hole will narrow down or even close, trapping some of the saliva and you'll get the familiar large red itchy welt.
Since a trip to that rather nifty plantation (Tuesday, Thursday?) in northern NSW, I've also become quite a convert to tea tree oil. Applying some of this to a fresh bite if no soap and water is available often does the trick just as well.
Hope this helps!
Mozzies don't "go" for any particular individual as far as I know. I thnk the thing is some people are more sensitive to their saliva than others (allergic, if you like). That includes me btw!
If you're like me then every time they prick you, you'll react. A "normal" person probably won't, but might occasionally do so if the mozzie continues to work on them to the point where they actually manage to suck some blood. I'd guess in that situation the insect really starts to pump a bit more saliva in to prevent coagulation.
I used to be in the OK camp but joined the real sufferers thanks to an infected bite ... while back in London
There are two things you can do. In my experience and opinion, of course ...
Prevention/deterrence. Those little sonic devices you can clip to your belt are awesome. They send female mozzies fleeing! You don't have to worry about males - they feed on nectar (as do non-pregnant females).
Cure. Really simple, but if you notice you've been bitten, wash the bite with normal soap and water asap. For quite a while after biting, there's basically a hole in your skin, containing a small amount of mozzie saliva. Remove this and you won't get itchy and the hole will close over. Works for me 90% of the time. If the swelling process has started the hole will narrow down or even close, trapping some of the saliva and you'll get the familiar large red itchy welt.
Since a trip to that rather nifty plantation (Tuesday, Thursday?) in northern NSW, I've also become quite a convert to tea tree oil. Applying some of this to a fresh bite if no soap and water is available often does the trick just as well.
Hope this helps!
Jan 13th 2010 | 8:32 am
#34
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 623
Re: Mosquitoes
Hi
We are going over for our reccie in March to Perth, Sydney and Gold Coast. My 7 year daughter old is unfortunately always bitten by mozzies over here and so I am wondering what it is like in Oz for mozzies? I have a feeling that Gold Coast will be the worst of the three what with the humidity.
Can anybody advise something suitable for prevention of mozzy bites please that's suitable for a 7 year old without using chemicals?
p.s. she hates marmite
Thank you all in advance
We are going over for our reccie in March to Perth, Sydney and Gold Coast. My 7 year daughter old is unfortunately always bitten by mozzies over here and so I am wondering what it is like in Oz for mozzies? I have a feeling that Gold Coast will be the worst of the three what with the humidity.
Can anybody advise something suitable for prevention of mozzy bites please that's suitable for a 7 year old without using chemicals?
p.s. she hates marmite
Thank you all in advance
