Citronella is definitely working for me this year. I have hardly been bitten at all. Used Buzz Away bought from a local 'natural' store.

Blackfly bites bring me out in large itchy swellings but I do not react so badly to mozzies. Don't forget to spray hats and chairs - OH got bitten badly through a mesh chair

It's certainly abnormally bad over here in Vancouver. It's putting me off doing the yard, or at least that's my excuse.

Thing is it's so bleedin' hot and dry I'm not sure where they're finding the water pools and the like to breed in?

I remember 10 or 11 years ago the river level was unusually high on the lower mainland and mosquito eggs that had been dormant for years hatched as a result. Maybe same again?

I hear you on this one, Edmonton Mozzies are on the warpath!

I never got bothered by them before in the West End but they are everywhere I have lost count of my itchy bites but i'm sure I have about 20 now

does the citronella work for those blackfly as well?

I also read somewhere that taking vitamin B1 100mg daily for about 3 weeks before entering a bug infested zone is supposed to make your blood undesirable to female mozzies.
dont know if its any good when the season is in full swing though. would be interested hear from anyone who has tried it.

apparently so does eating lots of garlic but that just means no other bugger ... human / insect or animal will come near you either!

lol sounds like a plan !

Hmmm I eat loads of garlic, douse myself in citronella and the DEET containing mosquito repellents - and the buggers still bite me!

I must smell irresistible to them for some reason... I only have to go outside to call the kids in for dinner and I will get a couple of bites.

We've switched to using Muskol this year and find it more effective than the brand we were using last year (think it was off).

I have to take clarytin all through the summer as I react quite badly to bug bites. I also have a box of benadryl to deal with more severe reactions like my arms swelling up to twice the size. I'm hoping a few years down the line and I won't have to take the medication all through the summer.

what is that in your avatar ... looks like a rabbit with no eyes or something ... just curious is all

erm...just what have you done to that poor dog in yours ?!

It's a rabbit and he did have eyes :-). Must be the unflattering camera angle.

what dog?

it must be ...

Here's part of mthe answer to the mosquito biting problem. Don't drink alcohol or beer. It must be correct as part of the study was done in UK.

http://www.healthzone.ca/health/news...-how-you-smell

i can react pretty bad to bites and find that taking cetirizine (zirtek) every day really helps with the reaction and i barely notice them. when i forget i really itch!

I recently used pharmacy first in the UK and bought 6 months supply of zirtek substitute for 5pence for 30 tablets plus £3.95 delivery. they're a bit more expensive now (14pence!!) here is the link

i'd definatley recommend those going over soon in taking these with them!

on a side has anyone tried the vitamin B1 patches? do they actualy work or is just hype?