Some Ideas for Mosquito Avoidance

[Amish Country]

I called down to the Everglades National Park and talked to one of the park personnel about what they do in that area to help prevent mosquito bites. This is what came out of the conversation:

The person I talked to used bug repellents with Deet.

The person I talked to had developed sensitivity to Deet and when it was inevitable that they had to go out in mosquito weather they sprayed their clothing not their skin.

Repellent may have to be reapplied every 6 to 8 hours or more depending on how much they sweet.

They mentioned some people down there do use Avon Skin So Soft. The person I talked to did not like the smell of it and did not use it.

They also wore long sleeves and baggy lightweight clothing along with socks and shoes. Bugs cannot bite skin they cannot get to. They said if they sweet heavily the material would stick to their skin and they would get bit. They said that mosquitoes had trouble biting them thru really thick blue jeans.

A sheet of Bounce Fabric Softener in the pocket did not work for this person.

They used mosquito netting at night and sewed shear fabric to the netting to keep out the no-see-ums before the invention of No-see-um screens.

Head nets and Bug shoo jackets were also mentioned.

They tried staying out of the shade and grass to help avoid getting bitten. They said the mosquitoes do not like hot and they would mow their grass in the hot sun. Heat stroke and dehydrations were conditions they also carefully monitored for.

They stated they used chlorine tablets in their pond to kill mosquitoes and frogs. - I am not sure this is legal or recommended in all areas. This is the first time I have heard of using chlorine to kill mosquitoes in water. (I also assume this is on their private property and not in the park)

They mentioned in their area the local government could be contacted to request mosquito straying if the bugs get too bad.

They got rid of stagnate, standing water around their home whenever possible.

They mentioned staying in doors as much as possible when the bugs were very bad. Also they checked for and patched holes in screens etc. where mosquitoes might get in.

Please bump this to mosquito/bug bite prevention if more appropriate.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Some Ideas for Mosquito Avoidance

Amish -

Can you call him back when you have time and ask about the chlorine tablets and why kill the frogs?

 

[lamrobertson]

Re: Some Ideas for Mosquito Avoidance

WE get alot of mosquitoes here. Lots of people use the Avon skin so soft. Two things that we found out is that if you eat bananas you get bit alot. One of the workers at the daycare told me that a few years ago. I also find that if I take a vitamin B supplement they don't bite me. Another strange one I read that works.

We have a spray from the health food store too that we use. I dont' like the idea of using deet on my daughter.

 

[tropical]

Re: Some Ideas for Mosquito Avoidance

Female mosquitos are invited to search the victim to byte from the CO2 in the respiratory emited exausted gas.

 

[Amish Country]

Re: Some Ideas for Mosquito Avoidance

Chlorine is poisonous to frogs.

Excerpt from:

http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Your-Frog

"Always keep clean bottled water in a dish big enough for the frog to submerge himself completely. Tap water (even well water) should not be used. Frogs do not drink water, they absorb it through their skin. The chlorine and trace minerals in tap water can poison your frog over time."

 

[tropical]

Re: Some Ideas for Mosquito Avoidance

Chlorine is poisonous to frogs.

Excerpt from:

http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Your-Frog

"Always keep clean bottled water in a dish big enough for the frog to submerge himself completely. Tap water (even well water) should not be used. Frogs do not drink water, they absorb it through their skin. The chlorine and trace minerals in tap water can poison your frog over time."

"They stated they used chlorine tablets in their pond to kill mosquitoes and frogs."

The intention of those folks was obviously to kill the frogs from the pond.

 

[Amish Country]

Re: Some Ideas for Mosquito Avoidance

I got the impression the objective was to get rid of the mosquitoes not the frogs. The death of the frogs was an unfortunate aftermath of having to use the chlorine to get rid of the mosquitoes. If I can remember correctly what they said was "The frogs come with the mosquitoes". Which makes sense. Frogs eat bugs.

In the Everglades on hot summer evenings mosquitoes can hover in gray clouds, so numerous they can actually cause an irritating whining hum that can easily be heard thru tent walls. You might be amazed how fast a tent camper can be erected with the help of a few million hungry mosquitoes.

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Some Ideas for Mosquito Avoidance

I make a tea from fenugreek and I don't get bitten.

Fenugreek mentioned here http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58401

 

[tropical]

Re: Some Ideas for Mosquito Avoidance

I make a tea from fenugreek and I don't get bitten.

Fenugreek mentioned here http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58401

Thank you Sally for the tea tip (BTW, the link debates the eggs/larvae).

Ehm, maybe out there wasn't be enaugh tigers?

___

"I got the impression the objective was to get rid of the mosquitoes not the frogs. The death of the frogs was an unfortunate aftermath of having to use the chlorine to get rid of the mosquitoes."

A.C., that obviously change the matter.
If the pond isn't for drinking water purposes, in the absence of chikung., the frogs are more welcomed maybe.

 

[mixin]

Re: Some Ideas for Mosquito Avoidance

I see India is trying a non-toxic strategy. I suppose just about every kid here who ever had fish for pets, had guppies.


http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/06/stories/2008030650080100.htm
MADURAI: The State health machinery has decided to deploy two fish varieties on the field in its onslaught against mosquitoes to prevent vector-borne diseases.

As per a plan chalked out by the Directorate of Public Health (DPH), permanent fish hatcheries would be created in the network of Primary Health Centres and health sub-centres where the two non-edible fish varieties would be reared and supplied to public places/residential buildings on demand.

?The fish varieties- Gambusia and Guppies- will be effective in checking the mosquito larva. The DPH through it?s nine zonal offices in the State would set up small hatcheries and also protect the existing natural hatcheries,? S. Elango, Additional Director of Public Health, told The Hindu on Sunday.

To start with, the DPH expects to construct 1,500 fish hatcheries in malaria-endemic districts and with a particular focus on 11 municipalities/urban areas.

Dr. Elango was reviewing the implementation of ?Our health is in our Hands? State-wide project in Madurai, Dindigul and Tiruchi districts that was aimed at creating awareness on prevention of both water-borne and mosquito-borne diseases.

Explaining the reasons for choosing fish as a medium, he said that the two varieties are very active, low cost, eco-friendly and would swiftly eat away the larva of mosquitoes. The fish would be given in a sachet to the people and subsequently it could be grown, he said.

 

[tropical]

Re: Some Ideas for Mosquito Avoidance

Thanks, mixin.

"As per a plan chalked out by the Directorate of Public Health (DPH), permanent fish hatcheries would be created in the network of Primary Health Centres and health sub-centres where the two non-edible fish varieties would be reared and supplied to public places/residential buildings on demand.

“The fish varieties- Gambusia and Guppies- will be effective in checking the mosquito larva. The DPH through it’s nine zonal offices in the State would set up small hatcheries and also protect the existing natural hatcheries,” S. Elango, Additional Director of Public Health, told The Hindu on Sunday."

From the above statements, and:
"The State health machinery has decided to deploy two fish varieties on the field in its onslaught against mosquitoes to prevent vector-borne diseases."
I can figured out that the term "mosquitoes" included the spreader of chicung. - the "tiger".
That further means the tiger can leave eggs/larvae in larger water areas, where is natural to see the Gambusia or the Guppies, not only in very small ponds like wroted previously in one FT thread post.

That move would be of some help, but it alone can't resolve the problem, because of the mudded places without enaugh water for the fish, and the many vasted container-like plastics, and so on.