Mosquitoes!

[Kunzite]

Does anyone have a tried and true way to repel mosquitoes? My toddlers love to play outside but we're all covered in bites now. I'm hesitant to use DEET on the kids but in the past I haven't had much luck with anything else. My 2 year old and I just sat on the porch swing for about 5 seconds and already had to come back inside because we got swarmed.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Avon Skin So Soft is said to keep off the mosquitoes. I've never used it, but I know a lot of peopl who do. (I go stright for the deet and just try to remember not to lick myself while I have it on. )

ETA: I just look at a few more articles and they say that the effects only last about 9-10 minutes, so if you and the kids are going to be out for any period of time that's not really a good option. Sorry!

 

[packrat]

Dad sent me a link to this a few days ago http://www.consumersearch.com/insect-repellent/off-familycare-insect-repellent-i-smooth-and-dry

I've not tried it, but it's been so dang wet for so long and now it's hot and humid so the mosquitoes are out in full force. I thought about one of those things you clip on that says it creates a bubble of repellent around you..not sure if those work either but can't hurt to try I guess.

 

[iLander]

Deet is really the only thing that works, according to consumer reports.

Mosquitoes will rarely travel more than a couple of hundred feet from stagnant water.

You need to find the water and get rid of it. Even a tiny bit (bird bath, plant pot, anything) of water will attract mosquitoes.

If you can't empty out the water, you can use these

http://www.summitchemical.com/mosquito/mosquito-dunks/

They are so safe, you could eat them (you'll vomit, but you won't die) but they disrupt the mosquito life cycle. They are harmless to fish, animals, birds, etc., and they last for 30 days. I use them because my neighbors have retention ponds and they are excellent! I sneak into their yards and plop them in there. I guarantee they will reduce the 'squitoes in your area. You can get them a home depot, lowes, lots of places.

From their website;
Mosquito Dunks®
Kills Mosquitoes before They’re Old Enough to Bite!® The Mosquito Dunks® are America’s best selling home owner mosquito control product. The only product with BTI, a bacteria toxic only to mosquito larvae, that lasts 30 days and treats 100 square feet of surface water.
Non-toxic to all other wildlife , pets, fish, and humans.
Simply apply Mosquito Dunks® to any standing water, or water garden.
Kills within hours lasts for 30 days or more.
Labeled For Organic Gardening by the USEPA.
Highly effective low impact product

They are biting you because they are females and want to breed. They need your blood and standing water to breed. Go to the source and kill them before they bite.

 

[NewShiny]

I would like to know this too! Our pedi said to use the stuff with DEET in it b/c it's the only stuff that really works, and to have the little one(s) take a bath after they come indoors. We do this most days. I also use skin so soft repellant, but it's not as good. I never had to deal with mosquitoes growing up, but now that we live in the south its a constant battle!

Has anyone ever had their yard sprayed or treated? I wonder how long it lasts.

 

[JewelFreak]

I don't like treating my yard at all, for anything, except spot treating plants where needed. Sprays for mosquitoes also kills beneficial insects as well as bugs important to bird diets. Not good for other wildlife either. Garden companies say it's organic so it's ok -- organic does not mean it won't harm some critters; it only means it has a minimum of man-made chemicals.

I tried Skin So Soft & it did nothing for me -- but my blood is mosquito candy. iLander's suggestion is good, or DEET, that's about all there is, as far as I know. They are miserable here in the south!

Or you could borrow DH. They never touch him, maybe it will rub off!

--- Laurie

 

[missy]

Timely topic. I am the only one in my family that mosquitoes seem to love. Truly love. I can go out for 5 minutes in the evening and come inside with a dozen or more bites if I am not protected. Seriously. It is very frustrating because I cannot go outside in the daytime without sunblock and I cannot go out in the evening or dusk or dawn without bug repellant.

So, last week I got tired of spraying deet on my body and I did some research and found a concoction that so far seems to work. I have only used this a handful of times so far so I cannot guarantee it is a good alternative to Deet but it is worth trying because it seems to be working so far (knock wood). Here is the formula from Prevention. It's called Buzz off Oil...love the name. I got the oils from Whole Foods and I am using almond oil as the base. It actually smells good to me (eucalyptus smell) though my mom thinks it stinks. My dh loves the smell too. Hope it helps you!

http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/natural-essential-oils-repel-insects

Buzz-Off Oil
¼ tsp lemon eucalyptus essential oil
⅛ tsp geranium essential oil
⅛ tsp lavender essential oil
Put almond oil in a bottle, add essential oils, and shake well. Apply a small amount to your arm and leave on for 30 minutes to make sure you're not sensitive to any of the ingredients. If you have no reaction, then apply to exposed skin every 3 to 4 hours when outdoors. Avoid contact with the eyes, mouth, and nose.

 

[iLander]

I don't like treating my yard at all, for anything, except spot treating plants where needed. Sprays for mosquitoes also kills beneficial insects as well as bugs important to bird diets. Not good for other wildlife either. Garden companies say it's organic so it's ok -- organic does not mean it won't harm some critters; it only means it has a minimum of man-made chemicals.

I tried Skin So Soft & it did nothing for me -- but my blood is mosquito candy. iLander's suggestion is good, or DEET, that's about all there is, as far as I know. They are miserable here in the south!

Or you could borrow DH. They never touch him, maybe it will rub off!

--- Laurie

Hi Laurie,

I'm with you, I'm very careful about all the critters, especially butterflies and frogs. Our yard is actually a certified habitat. I should start a thread on that one day, so others can do it. Hmmm . . .

On the dunks, they don't kill any other insect. They are actually a bacteria that gets only into a larval mosquito's digestive system and disrupts it's food processing, so they can't feed and then they die. They are really a remarkable product. And incredibly effective, I can attest to that, we've used them for many summers now.

 

[kenny]

Wouldn't you love to trap them before they can get near you?

Look at all these yummie guys, just waiting for soy sauce and chopsticks. Yumm.


I have a friend with one of these 'Mosquito Magnet' things.
I like the idea because I try to avoid using chemicals or poisons on my body or yard.
The machine emits a scent and carbon dioxide, which is what we exhale that attracts mosquitos.

The bugs think they are flying towards a meal, but then get sucked in and trapped in a netted bag.
It uses a tank of propane gas and batteries or AC power.

They ain't cheap but my friend lives in a mosquito infested part of the country and swears by this machine.

They have various sizes depending on how large your property is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLSxr2vy5-0

 

[monarch64]

I will NOT use DEET--it melts nail polish off your fingers and toes, how can that possibly be ok to put on your skin??? I will ONLY use permethrin. You can treat 4 garments with one can of it, or you can buy pre-treated clothing. I've done both. It really is the only thing that has ever worked for me. I have a bandana, a long sleeved shirt, long quick-dry pants, and I treat a few pair of socks every summer. Permethrin is not readily absorbed by the skin. So while it is still a chemical substance, I feel better about using that than DEET, and I sure as hell don't want to risk getting Lyme disease or West Nile.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

My neighbor rubs dryer sheets on himself, and it works for him. I tried it and it didn't help me. The only product that works for me is Deep Woods Off, but it creeps me out to put that stuff on myself. If people liked me as much as mosquitoes do, I would be the most popular person in the world.

 

[LibbyLA]

There's a dry spray version of Off that smells nice and doesn't feel icky when you apply it. I can't remember the name of it but you can tell from the name that it's dry. We have a camp in the woods that is thick with mosquitoes and we live in Louisiana where the mosquitoes are so big they have their own cabin crew!

liz

 

[Kelinas]

DEET for mosquitos,
Skin so soft for gnats.

I grew up using military field grade Deet. works wonders.
came to the states and bought a house that had tons of no-see-ums in the summer, and I'm horribly allergic to them (softball sized welts and knots, easily infected)
MIL got me both the original skinsosoft and the repellent version.
both are great, the original has a odd 1960 aftershave scent to it though

 

[bebe]

I was just researching this last night. A friend of ours bought a unit from ThermaCell and swears by it. They offer several styles, handheld and hanging lanterns. There is a battery operated light source and that heats up a small square "felt" pad that
emits the propellant. I'm going to buy several to set around our patio and pool area when we have friends over. They are not cheap - 30.00 for the lantern (I think) and then you have to buy refills. So not something to use everyday but for the times when
you need large overall protection - maybe this would help. I wouldn't want to breathe the vapors though !

 

[rubybeth]

I have a friend with one of these 'Mosquito Magnet' things.
I like the idea because I try to avoid using chemicals or poisons on my body or yard.
The machine emits a scent and carbon dioxide, which is what we exhale that attracts mosquitos.

The bugs think they are flying towards a meal, but then get sucked in and trapped in a netted bag.
It uses a tank of propane gas and batteries or AC power.

They ain't cheap but my friend lives in a mosquito infested part of the country and swears by this machine.

I live in Minnesota and there's a joke that the mosquito is our state bird, and what with all the water we have, it's not far off the mark. My dad has a Mosquito Magnet like kenny mentioned above. He's got a 1/3 acre of yard, and has the Mosquito Magnet right next to an above-ground 20 foot swimming pool. It helps significantly, though it doesn't completely rid the area of mosquitos. They can spend much more of the evening on their deck and patio since getting it. After he got it the first summer, neighbors commented that the mosquitos hadn't been as bad that year, so he got to explain why and take some credit.

 

[chrono]

I am a mosquitoe attraction and am leery of using any products containing Deet. Natrapel works very well for me, even in the muggy tropical countries where insects are the norm. As with all other products, do not spray this directly onto skin but on your clothes.

 

[missy]

Ugh! I just heard on the news that this summer will be an awful one for mosquito haters. There seems that there is a new stronger breed and many more of them too.

ETA: It's called the Asian Tiger mosquito and they are very aggressive and attack at any time of day and need very little water to survive. And they are multiplying at very fast rates.

 

[diamondringlover]

I avoid going outside I was out in the yard one night for literally less then 3 minutes I came back in with 5 bites on my feet and ankles..mosquitoes just love me....