I need Mosquito Repellent!

[Brainchild]

We bought some tikki torches from wally world, with some lamp oil with citronella(sp??) in it. Not sure how well it works though, I'll get back to ya if it ever quits raining

Looks good on paper

Burning camel dung is highly effective, Martoch.

Smelly, though. Keeps ppl away as well.

So that's what it takes eh Mick??

[blackwatch]

make sure that you use sprays that contain DEET, mosquitos are also attracted to potassium in the blood, so make sure you dont eat any bananas before you go out.

here is some good info from uc davis
http://cecalaveras.ucdavis.edu/mosq.htm

What About DEET?
DEET was developed by the US government in 1951 after testing 11,000 compounds for their effectiveness in repelling insects. It is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an insect repellent and no other substance has been found to be more effective. Repellents with DEET are used by an estimated 200 million people worldwide each year, including 100 million individuals in America. According to a bulletin issued by the EPA in 1989, less than 10 reports of adverse side effects are received annually, and most of these stem from repeated use on children, which manufacturers like Tender Corporation strongly advise against.
Beginning in 1985, a consortium of companies that manufacture and market products with DEET began conducting DEET health-effects studies, including short-term, long-term and human exposure studies. To date, 34 such studies have been done and no unreasonable adverse effects to people or the environment have been found from the suggested use of DEET. When reactions to DEET are reported, they are generally limited to eye irritation from inadvertent exposure to the eyes and infrequent skin reactions from sensitive individuals.

"The bottom line is that DEET repellents can be used confidently by following label instructions," says Bush. "In a study by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, only 0.16 of 1% of calls made to the Poison Control Centers over a five-year period involved DEET products. Of those, the majority were inconsequential. And of these few reported calls, no correlation was found between the number or severity of reported incidents and the concentration of DEET in products."


Risks from Insect Bites and Stings
Everybody has experienced the annoyance of itching insect bites. But some insect bites result in far more serious problems. Approximately 100 Americans are reported to die each year from insect bites or stings. However, the true number is probably much higher since researchers are convinced that an unknown number of deaths attributed to natural causes are actually caused by insect stings. For example, a severely allergic reaction to bee stings can masquerade as a heart-attack.
Lyme disease is one of the better known insect-spread diseases; it is carried by ticks, mostly commonly the deer tick. While highly treatable in its early stages, if undetected Lyme disease can cause serious long-term disabilities, including arthritic joints, severe headaches and abnormal heartbeat. Cases have been reported in 49 states; the disease is most common in the Northeast and upper Midwest. The Centers for Disease Control reported approximately 13,000 new cases nationwide in 1994, a 58% increase from the previous year.

Besides Lyme disease, ticks also transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever and several forms of encephalitis. In addition to the Eastern equine encephalitis mosquitoes also spread other forms of encephalitis. Even common house flies and horse flies can transmit serious diseases, such as anthrax, tuberculosis, tularemia, tetanus, typhoid, dysentery and cholera.


Choices in Repellents
The problems posed by insects, then, certainly warrant using protection when engaging in outdoor activities, particularly if you live in areas known to be infested with disease-carrying bugs. DEET has been proven effective against many types of pests, including mosquitoes, chiggers, ticks, fleas, biting flies, biting midges (commonly called no-see-ums), and gnats.
"Used according to label instructions, DEET is a perfectly safe and highly effective way to protect yourself from insects," says Bush.




The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has notified industry that all single-use insect repellent formulations of DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) are eligible for re-registration provided labeling is amended as specified by the agency. DEET is the active ingredient in most insect repellent products sold in the U.S. and is widely considered preferred and only scientifically proven effective protection against biting insects.

EPA approved continued use of currently available DEET insect repellent products after a comprehensive review of 11 years of extensive independent research into potential DEET human and environmental toxicity. In its evaluation, the agency concluded: "_normal use of DEET does not present health concerns to the general U.S. population;"

DEET is "not classifiable as a human carcinogen" and "_no toxicologically significant effects in animal studies" could be identified;

Despite some allegation that DEET use can lead to adverse health effect, "the incident data are insufficient to establish DEET as the cause of the reported effect;"

"The application of DEET insect repellents to the skin and clothing can help prevent bites form ticks and other biting insects that may cause disease."

EPA postponed a formal re-registration decision on dual-use DEET insect repellent/sunscreen products until it has "solicited the views of various governmental agencies and other groups." Combination DEET/sunscreen products will remain available at the retail level and consumers should be assured that combination DEET insect repellent/sunscreen products are safe and effective when used according to label directions.

The agency's decision is particularly important and good news for American public health in light of the widely recognized climatic impact of El Nino will create larger than normal insect populations in the U.S. this year. Experts warn that those lager populations will lead to an increased risk for the diseases that mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, biting flies, fleas, chiggers and no-see-ums (biting midges) can carry. Those serious, potentially deadly diseases include Eastern equine, Western equine, St.Louis and La Crosse enciphalitis, Lyme disease, malaria, dengue fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis and Babesiosis.

In the DEET re-registration eligibility document, EPA outline additional labeling requirements for DEET insect repellent products, such as, requiring the word "DEET," not the chemical name (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), be listed under "active ingredients". As it has for more than two decades, the DEET industry will work closely with EPA to further improve product labels to ensure continued appropriate use of DEET insect repellents by people of all ages

http://www.bug-spray.com/DEET.htm

[Sweet]

the latest technology on mechanicall repellants is suppose to be pretty effective but it's a bit pricey. It's at Sam's fer about $200.
The idea is an attractant CO2 based pulls em in then they're trapped. I'm sure there's alot more info avail on this unit. will try ta look into it when I wake up....

[Tarp2]

Some of the best protection I have used in the deep backwoods is Cutters brand liquid. I also use generic liquid purchased at Military surplus stores, only because it contains higher amounts of DEET. It may not be appropriate for children, and you have to be careful, it will fog certain plastic lenses(what does that tell you?).

In windless conditions, the burning mosquito coils placed strategically will work well. I use citronella, but it is only marginally effective.

Tarp

[skybolt_1]

A little home remedy my mom taught me is to use Skin-So-Soft lotion on your exposed body parts... It's an oily stuff with the o-so-wonderful SSS smell. In my neck of the woods (MA) the bugs seem to loath it and if I've got it on not only is my skin silky and smooth, but bug-bite free...

skybolt_1

[vass0922]

I just read this in another forum... so I DIDN"T make them up!! lol dont' blame me

Use Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets...Best thing ever used in
Louisiana..just wipe on & go...Great for Babies

Bob, a fisherman, takes one vitamin B-1 tablet a day April through October . He said it works. He was right. Hasn't had a mosquito bite in 33 years. Try it. Every one he has talked into trying it works on them. Vitimin B-1( Thiamine Hydrochloride 100 mg.)


If you eat bananas, the mosquitos like you, - something about the banana oil as your body processes it. Stop eating bananas for the summer and the mosquitos will be much less interested.


This is going to floor you, but one of the best insect repellents someone found (who is in the woods every day), is Vick's Vaporub.


Plant marigolds around the yard, the flowers give off a smell that bugs do not like, so plant some in that garden also to help ward
off bugs without using insecticides.


"Tough guy" Marines who spend a great deal of time "camping out" say that the very best mosquito repellant you can use is
Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil mixed about half and half with alcohol.


One of the best natural insect repellants that I've discovered
is made from the clear real vanilla. This is the pure Vanilla that is sold in Mexico. It works great for mosquitoes and ticks,
don't know about other insects.

[Brainchild]

The skin-so-soft my mom used to use,and swore it worked, but us being boys would never put that stuff on, SO I don't know by fact that it works

How about the big citronella candles in a bucket you light and set arounf the patio/deck/yard.They do work, but thier coverage isn't very big.

[Sweet]

how about some bat houses? purple martin house?