The Horticulturalist

So, I'm being eaten alive by mozzies while my children and husband don't seem to react much to the bites.

I was out in the garden last night (with citronella bands on my ankles) and still got bit by mozzies and fireants on my feet. The problem is when I go to bed and the bites get hot and itchy.

I've tried various creams but havn't found any that provide instant relief. I ended up sleeping with my feet sticking out of the bed after finally taking some Piriton to try and get some relief.

I don't want to be covered in deet all summer, and I hate the smell of citronella, is there any other way to keep these critters at bay?

ann m

Marmite or gin. In any order.

another bloody yank

Applied internally or externally?

ann m

Either. Eat it, drink it, or dab it behind your ears - the choice is yours.

The Horticulturalist

mixed together and applied as a paste? Maybe if I'd had a wee G&T I'd have slept all night.

srah

Mozzies either like you or they don't. One of the joys of living in a humid area...makes for very long and miserable seasons.

Make sure you have no standing water in your yard as the mozzies love that. It's a case of trying the many products on the market and seeing if any suit you.

Kar98

Mozzie:



Mozzie:



Skeeter:

another bloody yank

If you don't like deet, I've heard there's a lotion by avon that works, can't remember the name though. For treatment of the bites, there's a product called "After Bite" that contains ammonia, it works well.

Here are some other tips I found.

http://tipnut.com/over-40-mosquito-b...h-relief-tips/

Rete

You can try one of these:

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/azna...a/mosquito.htm


PS My daughter in MS has the front walkway lined with Heather and I can sit out there and never get bothered with mosquitos. Heard lavendar does the same.

Kar98

Try this:



The 25% deet ones are good for up to 6 hrs. The ones in the orange bottles are more like a powdery aerosol, as opposed to the green ones which leave an oily residue on your skin.

I live in east Texas, and we've got billions of skeeters. That stuff works.

Bluegrass Lass

I've been thinking about something like these cuz the skeeters like the taste of me too (damn buggers):

http://www.mosquitomagnet.com/

http://www.buyhardwaresupplies.com/?...Number=7199532

that way you don't have to live covered in deet.

do some googling for mosquito magnet or mosquito traps, etc cuz I think there are a few products like these out there.

Jerseygirl

Why would you put that stuff on your skin? It melts plastic!!

I've posted info about the product I use before...I've used it for about 6 years and it's the only thing that works for me. If I miss a tiny patch of skin with creams and sprays the mozzies/midges/horseflies/deerflies get me there. I usually clip it onto the waistband or if I'm sunbathing in the pool I clip it to my swimsuit.

http://www.lentek.com/bite-shields.html

Google and see if you can get it cheaper...I think someone on here got one from Amazon a few months ago.

meauxna

Avon = Skin So Soft
They make a whole line now, but back in the day I used to use the bath oil. It's particularly good against sand flies. However, I had a good result with their spin off line when we were in Bonaire (and a million thanks to the woman who gave me some).

I make a eucalyptus oil spray; 99% DEET Jungle Juice melted the flooring in my house.. I thought I'd better not put it on my skin anymore.

Hummingbirds. You need more hummingbirds in your yard.

PS: I've never found an after-bite product that works. Some of us are just too allergic. I even had this device that gives an electric shock that only worked for a while. It was a fun party trick though.

ChocolateBabz

The Avon lotion is called 'Skin So Soft'. I haven't tried it but have friends who swear by it for chasing away the 'midgies' in Scotland.

It's really strange my hubby and son get bitten badly and react to the bites really badly but the biting critters don't seem to like me

The Horticulturalist

Doing my best re the hummingbirds, they are in town, but have not arrived at our house yet!

The problem with the topical anaesthetic creams is that they don't have enough of the anaesthetic in them to work. Back in the day when I was a nurse I used tubes of Lignocane gel to get some relief from sunburn, it worked a treat. I don't think they sell that at Walgreens though!