Bugs

[scheherazade_79]

I'm being bitten alive in this hot weather Do we have mosquitoes in the UK? Because I'm sure I saw one land on my arm last night. If so, that's bad news because my blood is regarded as a delicacy in mosquito circles. I once went to Milan and got chased out of a park by a swarm of mosquitoes. It was weird - the flew straight past everyone else and targeted me.

What's the best insect repellant? Any suggestions, anyone?

 

[Songcatcher]

Eat garlic.

No joke.

 

[SummerMorning]

Garlic keeps away all kinds of bloodsuxxxors.

 

[scheherazade_79]

... Is there anything else I could try? I'm single and looking. What if I meet the woman of my dreams, then make her pass out from the fumes?

 

[impressive]

I've read that attractiveness to bugs is related to (a) body temperature; and (b) the amount of protein in your diet.

For (a), folks used to take a dog along. A dog's body temp is slightly higher than a human's, so the bugs target the dog. Seems rather cruel to me ... but the dog's fur would probably be adequate protection for the gallant canine.

For (b), I think it was HIGHER protein consumption that made one more attractive to blood suckers. Along these lines, I would guess that making oneself more acidic (adding more cranberry or citrus juices to your diet) would be a deterrent -- as protein tends to nudge us toward the basic.

Absolutely none of this has been verified (by me). It's just something I read that stuck in my brain.

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

well, they say that fabric softener sheets can help avoid those little bugs...that and skin so soft by avon. i dont believe a word of it.

 

[Dar~]

Skin so Soft is awsome. It works wonders. I also recently purchased the repellent wipes that are like the little handi wipes. They are awsome also.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I'm being bitten alive in this hot weather Do we have mosquitoes in the UK? Because I'm sure I saw one land on my arm last night. If so, that's bad news because my blood is regarded as a delicacy in mosquito circles. I once went to Milan and got chased out of a park by a swarm of mosquitoes. It was weird - the flew straight past everyone else and targeted me.

What's the best insect repellant? Any suggestions, anyone?

the US marines, manly men one and all, use skin so soft at Paris Island to rpell sand fleas and other bugs.

 

[impressive]

the US marines, manly men one and all, use skin so soft at Paris Island to rpell sand fleas and other bugs.

Sweet smelling Marines.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Sweet smelling Marines.

Yeppers.

 

[Scrofulus Scriv]

Mosquitoes in the U.K.? You betchum, Red Ryder! I got eaten alive in Surrey one summer. The World Health Organization has found mosquitoes--in differing numbers and different species--in every country on earth except Antarctica.

If you’re nervous about DEET-based repellents (which have a good safety record in general but do have adverse effects for some individuals) you might try “Bite-Blocker” which is manufactured by Consep, Inc. in Oregon. It’s an organic mixture of soybean oil, geranium oil, and coconut oil. As you might expect with all those oils, the stuff feels a bit greasy when you apply it, although not egregiously so. On the plus side, it’s completely safe and extremely effective. The University of Guelph (Canada) did extensive testing and found that Bite Blocker gave 97% protection for three full hours after application.

I don’t know about availability in the U.K. but Bite-Blocker easy to find in the U.S., Canada, and most of Europe, so I would assume the same is true in your ‘hood.

Good luck from a fellow “bug-diner.”

 

[mismused]

delete

 

[SeaCat]

Yeah you have them and let me tell you they are the waker cousin of the famed Skeeters we have down here. As the sun goes down you can see the critters scurry for their burrows while hearing a low hum as the squasrons take off from their hidden bases scattered around the area.

Now the Florida Skeeter is a small little critter with an extremely sharp nose. It's rumored that these 'Skeeters which travel in large groups are able to stick it to even the thickest skinned animals around driving even the 'Gators underwater and making them irritable. Getting caught by one of these leads to an attack by the rest of the group. Somthing like giving money to a panhandler on Broadway.

The Texas 'Skeeters are a bit larger, don't travel in packs quit as large but are even more aggresive. They have been known to chew their way through Nylon Screens which is why you only see the metal screens in Texas.

Of course the worst of the lot is the rare HillBilly 'Skeeter. It stalks among the poorest areas of the mountains and attacks the unwary. It travels alone but doesn't need the help of a pack. Being the size of a large dog it has been known to push it's way through screens of any type and suck the brains out of it's victims. (Could be why you see so many people with torn screens just sitting and rocking on their patios.)

The only known defense against 'Skeeters is moving someplace cold, like the Arctic where you'll be safe as long as some do-gooder doesn't start making little fur coats for the buggers.

Cat

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

. . . What's the best insect repellant? Any suggestions, anyone?

Keep a pet bat.

I haven’t had a chance to verify it personally, yet, but they tell me that the mosquitoes above Lake Superior can drain a full-grown man in thirty seconds.

Still, they are not that dangerous because you can always hear if one is around. When they are not buzzing through the bush they land on the trees and bark.