Mosquitoes

[ATREYU]

Now that the play season seems to be in full swing, the mosquitoes seem to know this too. Just wondering what everybody uses for protection and prevention.

One thing that I know is that eating banana's is one of the woorst things one can do when one spends a lot of time in the bush. There is something in the banana's that they can smell, and are attracted to. On the opposite side, there are a few foods that have the opposite effect and they seem not to like the taste of us.

When going out, I like to use a repellent that has at least 12% DEET in it. I think the pumps are best asopposed to aerosol sprays. Less loss on spraying. Scented deodorants, colognes, and aftershaves are merely spice to them.

A buddy of mine claims that Vic's Vaporub works too. How he found that out, I'm not asking him.

[Lord Jebus]

Just so you know though... DEET causes cancer (just like everything else in this world that is man-made) I only use repellant if the the sqeeters are REALLY bad... otherwise I just deal with the itching... Westnile doesn't scare me either..
I can't remember what the stats are but something like only 95% of people will be severely affected by westnile.

the rest of us might get a cold.

[Mike the great]

deep woods off......... when i was in gagetown (the swamp), we used 1 bottle every 4 days. We basicly covered our selves in it 24/7. Kept the bites to about 1-2 a day.

[Raw Deal]

Muskol... non aerosol. period

[Drake]

I use Moskol 100% DEET (its actually 95% DEET). Works pretty good.

DEET isn't a carcinogen in humans, and while it is slightly toxic (especially if ingested or inhaled, which you really shouldn't be doing, btw) it's safe if used infrequently.

As for West Nile Virus, its not 95% (that's huge); an estimated 20% of infected people will develop west nile fever (a flu-like condition) and only a small percentage of those (less than 1% of all people who contract West Nile Virus) will develop the really severe symptoms we hear about.

You always want to be on the lookout for dead birds and stuff, though; if you see a dead bird, it's a dead bird. If you see two, it's probably a coincidence. But if you come across three, you're probably safer assuming there's a potential problem.

Oh and for those mosquitos that sneak a bite in anyway, Tiger Balm works well at iliminating the sting, the itching and the "swelling" (the little lump the bite causes; I guess it's called swelling -- if you're really SWOLEN, in the traditional sense, you probably want to seek medical attention. Specially if you aren't certain what bit you.)

[Lord Jebus]

Sorry... You're right... I made a typo... meant to say "would not be affected..."

But yeah... I just use lots of after bite... never tried the tiger balm trick yet though... might have to go get me some of that stuff... although I think it's pretty hard to come by nowadays... all I can ever seem to find if deep cold or something similar.

[made Man]

We have them here?

[Greylocks]

DEET and airsoft gun's ABS plastic and rubber dont mix. Same for goggle's plastic. DEET melts it all or severely destroys the finish.
Keep that in mind with your choices.

[The Saint]

Originally Posted by Lord Jebus

But yeah... I just use lots of after bite... never tried the tiger balm trick yet though... might have to go get me some of that stuff... although I think it's pretty hard to come by nowadays... all I can ever seem to find if deep cold or something similar.

Can't be that hard to find, just go to any Chinese drug store. Heck, most T&T super markets have a drug section that would probably carry them.

[Nuck]

westnile is like getting the flu, to may people are dumb and over reacted when there was an "outbreak"

when Im at the cottage, I use deep woods, lots of it, not because you have to, because I like to see the squiters drop out of thin air when the come within 5.5 feet of me lol.

when Im airsofting, I usually just roll in the mud as Im usually the type to rush, so Im basicly always moving and they dont tend to bother me for the most part, however If its more of a scenario based game, Ill load up the deep woods.

[oueleric1]

I find that if i sit next to the fire, in the smoke, it tends to keep them away.

[Kwaidan]

I remember a while ago they had some kind of wrist band or something that emitted a high frequency that repelled mosquitos. I've always been curious as to whether those things (prolly not since I don't hear about them)... has anyone tried it out? Can anyone confirm whether it actually works??

you can get those noise-makers all over the place in many styles...Some work....but not the $1.99 ones from Crappy-tire, they dont seem to be at a high enough frequency...but one of my in-laws had one this weekend out at the lake, cost her over $60 she said, and you couldnt tell if it was on or not(cheap ones, you can hear), and hers did work, she didnt get a single bite all weekend.

[Lisa]

Mosquitos will travel 40km to find their victims. Determined little bastards. They also seem to go after certain people leaving others alone...

[Man Solo]

I live in the deep wood and the bugs are a pain in the... well pretty much everywhere. My dad just bought this crazy contraption that catches them. It Makes smells that the bugs like, they fly twards it then get sucked in and just stay there until they die. After one day they was about 500-1000 dead mosquitos.

:grin: