Smurfing mosquitos!

[Grant Lamontagne]

I currently have 20-30 swollen and itching mosquito bites following a kayak trip I took yesterday.  I am using after bite and Claritin but I am still feeling like clawing my skin open as I have countless times in the past.

The amusing thing is that other people at the event swore the hippy garlic solution they sprayed around kept all of the bugs away, but my theory is that the bugs were all too busy biting me to think about other people.

At one point I swatted at one mosquito and killed three.

Is anyone else a gourmet meal for bugs?  If so, any suggestions for repelling the little buggers or getting rid of the itch if the repellant fails?

They were biting me right through the Deep Woods Off.....

Def

[Corwyn]

5 days camping in the woods, near a lake... Managed to get:

• 3 wasp stings
• 1 leech bite
• some mosquito bites
• some horsefly bites
• countless red ant bites
• dozens of chigger bites

Fortunately I skipped collecting a viper bite too ...
 

[Crow]

We have so much mosquitos here, that we get immune to them. Still i do not like to get stinged.

One good thing is oily solution. If it is sticky, they do not stay long. Try pine tar mixed with sunseed oil. It is good for everything, heals everythin,  and repells about anything. Sparky and i have discussed pine tar uses earlier somewhere.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Avoiding the viper bite seems like a very good idea!

I'll look into oily pine sap..... one of my problems is that I have amazingly sensitive skin and residue from certain laundry soaps can cause me to break out in hives which is often not much better than the bug bites.

Def

[Crow]

Pine tar itself has some healing and sterilizing features in it. Many use it for tender skin, and with sunseed oil wich has vitamine E, is really good for skin.  i have really dry skin on my hands, so i use pine tar soap, wich helps. I also use pine tar soap for dry scalp couple times a week to make it better.

[jerseydevil]

Ah, the mosquito.  New Jersey's state bird.    Well actually, the state bird is an offensive hand gesture  , but this is a family-friendly forum so we'll stick with the mosquito.  Thomas Edison actually made a short film called Attack of the Jersey Mosquito, with a giant bug attacking a couple.  We grow 'em big here.  Off! is what I usually use, though believe it or not Avon Skin So Soft works pretty good as well!

[zoidberg]

I currently have 20-30 swollen and itching mosquito bites following a kayak trip I took yesterday.  I am using after bite and Claritin but I am still feeling like clawing my skin open as I have countless times in the past.

The amusing thing is that other people at the event swore the hippy garlic solution they sprayed around kept all of the bugs away, but my theory is that the bugs were all too busy biting me to think about other people.

At one point I swatted at one mosquito and killed three.

Is anyone else a gourmet meal for bugs?  If so, any suggestions for repelling the little buggers or getting rid of the itch if the repellant fails?

They were biting me right through the Deep Woods Off.....

Def

Chickweed or calendula, works for the kids.

[detron]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-SZ20t4ld8&ab_channel=Flumperman

[Chako]

I tend to use calamine lotion to help with the itching.

[Gareth]

Ah, the mosquito.  New Jersey's state bird.    Well actually, the state bird is an offensive hand gesture  , but this is a family-friendly forum so we'll stick with the mosquito.  Thomas Edison actually made a short film called Attack of the Jersey Mosquito, with a giant bug attacking a couple.  We grow 'em big here.  Off! is what I usually use, though believe it or not Avon Skin So Soft works pretty good as well!

While I tend not to be bitten very often that's one that some of my more "tasty" friends swear by.

[raistlin65]

Cross in the mosquito bite for me. Apparently there is some scientific basis for it:
http://www.yesbutnobutyes.com/archives/2008/07/mosquito_bites.html

[NKlamerus]

Look into one of these

http://www.thermacell.com/mosquito-repellent/appliances/mosquito-repellent-appliance-in-olive

I bought one for hammocking and it has worked great so far.

[Gerhard Gerber]

Is anyone else a gourmet meal for bugs?

Sweet-bloods  ........they come looking for me in a crowd..

[rebel]

If so, any suggestions for repelling the little buggers or getting rid of the itch if the repellant fails?

I can suggest a good repellant but it is going to cost you. Get a box of good maduro cigars. I recommend a Rothschild size simply for convenience but any large ring gauge maduro will do. Smoke and enjoy. Your pals will be choking from the smoke cloud and hacking and spitting up mosquitos but you will be living large and unscathed and wondering what they're complaining and whooping about.

No joke, this really works. I have tested it in some of the most severe mosquito stomping grounds and I have yet to see it go wrong.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I have had great results from smoking cigars in the past, but for the last couple of years or so they really seem to make me nauseated.  Don't know why.  I love a good cigar but I get dizzy and feel like I'm going to throw up so I have really cut back on them.   That's not a good feeling to be having in the hot sun when you are lifting boats onto a trailer.

While paddling the bugs aren't a problem.  I have a couple of Off clip on things that seem to do a good job of keeping bugs away, but I rarely use them on the water as I usually have a large formation of dragon flies around my boat. 

It's a neat phenomenon as the same things that attract mosquitos (body heat, breath) also attracts the things that eat mosquitoes and I often feel like an aircraft carrier with a fighter escort as the dragonflies fly beside and around me while occasionally landing on the deck of my boat to rest.

Loading and unloading the boats is the big problem, as is walking the dogs and other outdo I r stuff.

Def

[JP]

Eat a bunch of wild leeks (wild garlic, ramps) and then work up a little sweat. That will help to keep them away.

[Reinier]

Is anyone else a gourmet meal for bugs?

Not me. They prefer my wife 

Except horse-flies. On of those bit me two weeks ago though, turned into a bacterial infection. Those horse-flies like me a lot. They must think I'm of the equestrian variety 

[Reinier]

Eat a bunch of wild leeks (wild garlic, ramps) and then work up a little sweat. That will help to keep them away.

That also keeps cheerleaders away

[Gareth]

Eat a bunch of wild leeks (wild garlic, ramps) and then work up a little sweat. That will help to keep them away.

That also keeps cheerleaders away

[JP]

Eat a bunch of wild leeks (wild garlic, ramps) and then work up a little sweat. That will help to keep them away.

That also keeps cheerleaders away

A swarm of cheerleaders?

Where do I sign up?

[Etherealicer]

Eat a bunch of wild leeks (wild garlic, ramps) and then work up a little sweat. That will help to keep them away.

That also keeps cheerleaders away

A swarm of cheerleaders?

Where do I sign up?

Actually the correct word for a group of cheerleaders is "gaggle" and not swarm

[gregozedobe]

Is anyone else a gourmet meal for bugs?

That would be me.   

Mozzies find my ankles particularly tasty, and I also come up in itchy lumps after being bitten. Products with a high concentration of DEET seem to help a bit.  Some say vitamin B12 can make you a less attractive feast, but I haven't noticed much difference after eating lots of Vegemite.

[raistlin65]

Eat a bunch of wild leeks (wild garlic, ramps) and then work up a little sweat. That will help to keep them away.

That also keeps cheerleaders away

A swarm of cheerleaders?

Where do I sign up?

Actually the correct word for a group of cheerleaders is "gaggle" and not swarm

I think the cheerleaders would disagree and say "squad." But gaggle is more to my liking

[raistlin65]

I have had great results from smoking cigars in the past, but for the last couple of years or so they really seem to make me nauseated.  Don't know why.  I love a good cigar but I get dizzy and feel like I'm going to throw up so I have really cut back on them.   That's not a good feeling to be having in the hot sun when you are lifting boats onto a trailer.

While paddling the bugs aren't a problem.  I have a couple of Off clip on things that seem to do a good job of keeping bugs away, but I rarely use them on the water as I usually have a large formation of dragon flies around my boat. 

It's a neat phenomenon as the same things that attract mosquitos (body heat, breath) also attracts the things that eat mosquitoes and I often feel like an aircraft carrier with a fighter escort as the dragonflies fly beside and around me while occasionally landing on the deck of my boat to rest.

Loading and unloading the boats is the big problem, as is walking the dogs and other outdo I r stuff.

Def

Have you ever tried putting on Avon Skin So Soft right before getting out of the boat? Many years ago, I knew guys that used to use the Skin So Soft body lotion for airboating in the Everglades. They discovered it did a good job of masking scent from mosquitos and used to swear by it. That's why Avon now markets a version as insect repellent, and  Off! Skintastic was developed to copy that product.

[Tired_Yeti]

I currently have 20-30 swollen and itching mosquito bites following a kayak trip I took yesterday.  I am using after bite and Claritin but I am still feeling like clawing my skin open as I have countless times in the past...any suggestions for...getting rid of the itch if the repellant fails?

Def

hydrocortisone 1% cream topically (it's an anti-itch medication) and 25mg Benadryl (tablet by mouth). Both these meds are OTC so you can find them at any pharmacy around.


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[Aloha]

Look into one of these

http://www.thermacell.com/mosquito-repellent/appliances/mosquito-repellent-appliance-in-olive

I bought one for hammocking and it has worked great so far.

^^^
This has gotten some great reviews and results.  I'd also suggest Permethrin, it's a synthetic chemical that you apply to your clothes.  Its been used in the military of both US and British troops. 

[Crow]

Look into one of these

http://www.thermacell.com/mosquito-repellent/appliances/mosquito-repellent-appliance-in-olive

I bought one for hammocking and it has worked great so far.

vb

^^^
This has gotten some great reviews and results.  I'd also suggest Permethrin, it's a synthetic chemical that you apply to your clothes.  Its been used in the military of both US and British troops.

This is a good product. My company sells these. Only downfall is, that it mostly works when you stay still, and it is not too windy. It does come with belt holster, but then you usually move, so it takes some off its working.

But when you are still, one of best repellents without smelling disgusting.

[Gareth]

Is anyone else a gourmet meal for bugs?

That would be me.   

Mozzies find my ankles particularly tasty, and I also come up in itchy lumps after being bitten. Products with a high concentration of DEET seem to help a bit.  Some say vitamin B12 can make you a less attractive feast, but I haven't noticed much difference after eating lots of Vegemite.

Errr.....I just looked and it seems like Vegimite doesn't contain B12.  At lest according to Wikipeadia it doesn't.  British Marmite on the other hand has 40% of your RDA in one serving.   I wonder if that's why I don't get eaten.

[gregozedobe]

Is anyone else a gourmet meal for bugs?

That would be me.   

Mozzies find my ankles particularly tasty, and I also come up in itchy lumps after being bitten. Products with a high concentration of DEET seem to help a bit.  Some say vitamin B12 can make you a less attractive feast, but I haven't noticed much difference after eating lots of Vegemite.

Errr.....I just looked and it seems like Vegimite doesn't contain B12.  At lest according to Wikipeadia it doesn't.  British Marmite on the other hand has 40% of your RDA in one serving.   I wonder if that's why I don't get eaten.

My bad.  I was a bit confused as I'm currently taking B12 to (supposedly) help my nerves repair after a case of shingles.  I now  think (re-remember ?) it is vitamin B1 that "may" help.  Vegemite does have B1, B2, B3 and B9 (but no B12).

I'm convinced some people are just more attractive to the biting little smurfs (whether it is their body warmth, odours and or components of breath or a combination of all three I don't know).  What I am certain of is that they much prefer to feast on me than my missus.

I find a cream with anaesthetic in it does help with the itching, while scratching/touching a bite makes it worse.

[Gareth]

I remember reading an article may years ago that suggested that very fair skinned people are less attractive to midges, though it didn't go so far as to say why that might be. 

I'm lucky enough that I really don't seem to get bitten very often at all, but when I do I react strongly.