What do you do about the dang mosquitos?

[Rosalind]

I've coated myself in DEET and still gotten bitten...with the added bonus that the bugs get stuck in the ooze of bug spray and then can't fly away.

We put up a bat box and make sure there aren't standing puddles around. Also have some citronella tiki torches, and a geraniol-based bug spray for working outside. DH still gets bitten, but I'm convinced it's because he's a smoker and whenever he exerts himself at all, he pants. The skeeters can smell the CO2 you exhale. I breathe slower and rarely get bitten.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

I've been taking B supplements as 'mosquito repellent' for 3+ years now and it works for me --- no bites this summer or last.
The 1st year I tried it, I started part-way into mosquito-season and wasn't good about remembering to take it every day --- same the 2nd summer.
(Haha, can't work if I don't remember to take it. )
Doesn't repel ants, tho, they still bite.

Lisa

 

[serendipity22]

B supplements... Hmmmmm.... I'm taking them and I definitely have less bites on me than my child. Maybe I should start feeding him B supplements.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

It's worth a try.
As a small child, one of my sibs had a terrible reaction to mosquito bites and the doc recommended garlic oil capsules. That poor child sweated garlic the whole summer and I don't think it helped much as a mosquito repellant --- but it was a repellant for most everything else, whew... sorry Mel

edited to add:
"I've seen those with type B get bitten about 30x as often ..."

I have to remember to ask Mel about her blood type. I couldn't tell you at them moment what MY blood type is (I think O --- after the doc has checked for rabies, he can remind me which o I am).


What I've been using is a Super-B Complex and 1000 mcg of B-12 daily. It's supposed to be 'good for me', but the main thing to me is the 'mossies' buzz around but rarely land on me, and don't bite

Lisa

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

We use a "mosquito magnet" it burns propane to create CO2 which the little buggers are attracted to. when they get close enough they are sucked up into a net that you can take out and kill them all at your leasure. It takes a little while to begin clearing your property but it makes a big difference. I swear by them.

 

[mourninglory]

We've wondered about those mosquito-magnet-propane dealies. How many would it take to cover 13 acres of swamp land?! I have watched the infomercial/home-shopping shows, and they sound amazing. I just wonder if they could be effective for other than mostly high & dry acreage or yards.

 

[peepsnbunnies]

I also have a mosquito magnet. It works here for me too. I used to have to mist all the critters with permethrin spray every evening and I know that was not the best for them, but I would go out to check on them and the mosquitos were so thick around the chickens and bunnies. A number of years ago before I got chickens, I purchased mosquito netting from a military surplus store and I would put it over the rabbit cages each evening and take it off each morning. That got to be labor intensive. This mosquito magnet machine really makes a dent in the mosquito population. There are still a few around, but you can be outside now without being eaten alive.

 

[Wooden_Pony]

I just read in a magazine. I think it was Family Handyman??

That if you are going to be sitting outside and relaxing that you should run box fans that are sitting on the floor on low speed because it blows the CO2 you are making away from you so the mosquitos have a harder time locating you.

We tried it out the other night when all our friend's were over for a BBque. It worked GREAT I am normally eaten alive I have only one bite!

 

[Chelly]

Quote:
Yeah, I'm an O neg - and my son is also O neg - they eat us alive!

My hubby and daughter don't have it AS bad, they're O pos.

I guess when the mosquito's have an choice they choose ME

 

[WoodlandWoman]

We use a fan on the front patio, when the skeeters are bad and we're working on a project out there. Or even in the shed, when the DH is doing something down there after a hatch. It really helps. We crank it up, though and they just aren't strong enough flyers to make any headway!