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[Martin (Admin)]

Can anyone recommend from personal experience a good mosquito repellent?
 I've read somewhere that you can even help the situation buy what you eat or drink.... OK, what?

[ronkh]

Can anyone recommend from personal experience a good mosquito repellent?
 I've read somewhere that you can even help the situation buy what you eat or drink.... OK, what?

I suppose it depends on how much you drink. If you get totally legless then you shouldn't have a worry.
Food wise, perhaps a very hot curry and see what happens with any after effects. I,e the f##ts. A natural repellant! 

[malcolmfrary]

Usually whatever the local pharmacy sells for the job.  The locals know their own mossies better than we do.
Dom Rep, lots of Cuba Libre applied internally.  Cyprus, Brandy Sour.  This contains lemon juice, so probably counts towards one of your daily five.

[Garabaldy]

Where is it you plan on going martin?

[Stavros]

Jungle formula thats the stuff that works in Scotlamd Martim,where you going??



Stav

[barryfoote]

Okay Martin,

From a man who lives with them during our long hot summers.....

Eat plenty of garlic. They don't like it and can taste it on the skin.

Don't go too near still water as they breed in it.

Use Citronella candles when sat outside. they are very effective.

Use any spray containing lemon. You can buy it to spray on the arms and legs and even to apply to the ground around where you are sitting.

Stick to any of these rules and you should be fine. I rarely get bitten by the blighters and when I have been it is because I have broken the rules...
Barry

[Martin (Admin)]

Jamaica, to see my Mum & Dad.

[Garabaldy]

my only experience with them has been on the west coast with scotland.  Sitting round the camp fire was usually a good solution as they hate the smoke.  Barrys advice sounds good though.

[nhp651]

as footski says, citronella from a chemist. but you can also buy it in liquid and spray on form and smells like lemon. hence its name. works very well. good luck, neil,

[dougal99]

Martin,

I always found 3 or 4 pints of lager kept them off me, oh and an air conditioned bar 

Doug

[BarryM]

Martin,

Special Forces, the Marines and Scottish forestry workers are reputed to use Avon's 'Skin So Soft' Dry Oil Body Spray. Fortunately, the smell is quite mild and so you won't get any funny looks and may be able to pass yourself off as SBS. I've tried it on walks on the West Coast of Scotland where midgies can bore through armour plate and had good results. The secret seems to be to reapply a coat at regular intervals.

Regards

Barry  M

[logoman]

a second vote for the AVON stuff.

[DARLEK1]

What about a flame thrower?
 Paul???

[tonyH]

AVON thirded. We sent a scout troop up to the highlands a couple of years ago with the stuff and it really worked if applied fairly often as Barry noted.

Happy swatting

[RickF]

Martin,

The DSM suffers terribly with mossie bites and has found that the only thing that works is a good spray down with DEET - at least 50% strength. We have investigated all the other "old wive's cures" - eating special foods, vitamins, yeast extract etc, and taken medical advice, which dismisses all of them out of hand. We also utilise an electric "mossie-zapper", burning tablets, in the room at night.

Off to India next month - must remember to restock.

Rick

[andyn]

http://www.cadetdirect.com/order1.php?pg=854

This stuff is so powerful, it can melt clothes, take the die out of them, melt plastic, and make a general mess of everything. It'll even keep the missus away if you put enough on....

It's 100% pure DEET...

Follow the directions EXACTLY, and write a copy of them, "why" I hear you ask, because it melts the label stuck to it

[Roger in France]

First you guys should be told that Martin does not drink alcohol. You also need to know that some of the products you recommend are not readily available in some parts of the world. As for the advice about what the locals use, I often find that "locals" are less bothered by the local pests and/or a tolerance is built up.

I agree that plenty of garlic eaten and rubbed on the back of the hands and neck helps. Especially the latter for midges in Scotland which I have found to be worse than mosquitoes. I find citronella candles pleasent when sitting still in the evening but I have my doubts how effective they are unless you "kipper" yourself in the smoke, then as somebody said, any smoke will do. There are also repellant coils for burning but again - unless the air is almost still and you are enveloped in smoke, not a lot of use.

I also believe that individuals vary in their attraction or repulsion of mosquitoes, probably something to do with the pheromones exuded or just the level of good honest sweat. It also seems to me that mosquitoes vary by region and season.

I suffer particularly badly if bitten but my wife, bitten by the same bug (or its relative) just has a mild, momentary itch.

In France I use a pump spray "Off" (imaginative name, eh?) and it works for me but I guess, Martin, you just will have to experiment a bit or failing that just bask in the love of your family and forget about the bugs!

Roger in France

[barryfoote]

Well Martin,

After reading all of the above, you must be more confused than ever....I know I am and I live in a region where mosquitoes are in abundance........Oh and I don't get bitten by the devils......well not very often anyway..

[Martin (Admin)]

Mayhem to the rescue again gentlemen, thanks.

I've now heard quite a few people talk about this Avon (calling!) Skin So Soft stuff working as an unexpected mozzie repellent
and low-and-behold my Mrs magiced one up out of thin air last night on request! I'll take a couple of bottles methinks, last time I was in JA
I nearly ended up in hospital with the bites. 'Jungle formula' & eating garlic also come with personal recommendations so I'll take those too.

True, I am Almost teetotal but not quite. Me and the Mrs take turns when drinking, it her turn this lifetime...... 

[Colin Bishop]

You could always wear a Burka Martin....

[BarryM]

Let us know how you got on, Martin.

Have a good time.

Barry M

[dreadnought72]

The successful midgeater machines convert propane into damp, warm CO₂, which screams "breakfast" to the simple-minded blood-feeding bu99ers that live up here in the west coast of Scotland.

So, Martin, you won't have a problem with bites if you don't breathe out. 

Andy

[dave301bounty]

I knew it . That,s where i,ve seen you . Martin. bathing in the pool at the Mirimar Club in Kingston.  and mossies don,t like ,,Mount gay rum  .

[Martin (Admin)]

"Martin. bathing in the pool at the Mirimar Club in Kingston"... Yep, that's me, I was conversing with James Bond!

Mount gay rum? I thought 5 Sovereign rum was the one to drink?

[dave301bounty]

Martin.. if i can swim and drink Mount gay in the Mirimar .so can you . We are just as good as  James ....?  You go out there with your missus .have a good time ,  and think of us lot still in this cold and most unfriendly weather .Say hello to Kingston for me please .loved it when i was there ..