Mozzies - out in force - how do you stop them ?

[cuthbert]

I have never been bitten so badly as my last trip recently . I use just about every mozzie repellant going but they just eat me alive .

 

How do you stop them ? Even had a beauty of a bite on my arse , much to the delight of the massage girls .

[Catamaran]

Here in the States, people recommend "Skin So Soft". I think it is an Avon product,

not usually available in stores. Other than that I've used "Off", "Cutter" and "Repel".

Maybe incense would work in a room. Also, I've read somewhere, that certain plants act as

a repellent.

 

http://gomestic.com/gardening/five-plants-that-repel-mosquitoes/

 

Seems I may be lucky, as I'll be there in January, which should be considerably drier.

[The Storm]

"Repel".

 

 

Do NOT buy the 100% DEET Repel - it is just plain nasty and also toxic if you use it too much.

[saintphil]

I have never been bitten so badly as my last trip recently . I use just about every mozzie repellant going but they just eat me alive .

 

How do you stop them ? Even had a beauty of a bite on my arse , much to the delight of the massage girls .

WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE ENGLISH SCOTISH THING, I HAVE TAN MOST OF THE YEAR ROUND , AND LOOKING AT YOUR LOCATION I IMAGINE YOUR FAIR SKINNED , LIKE MOST OF MY SCOTS FREINDS. GET A BIT OF A TAN THEN THEY SEEM NOT TO BOTHER YOU, WELL THEY DONT BOTHER ME. OR 2ND THROUGHTS STAY WHITE THEN THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BITE YOU THAN ME

Edited October 28, 2009 by Matrix
No need for shouting

[Hole]

Maybe saintphil is onto something here.... This may explain why the mosquitos leave the Thai people alone and attack us falangs.

Its off to the beach for me today

[Anokanite]

Try vitamin B1, It put's off an oder they don't like. They go through the body fairly quick, but usally taking them once, shortly before dusk, works pretty good.

good luck

[cheang]

the avon skin so soft works well. I like the sports sunscreen with insect repellant in it. Keeps me from looking like a lobster and will even keep the Canadian bush mozzies off me. They are the size of vlutures and will carry you away kicking and screaming to drain your blood!

[Catamaran]

@ cuthbert,

 

here's the link to the Avon site:

 

http://www.avon.com/1/3/skin-so-soft-repel-mosquito

 

but then read this:

http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/skeeters.asp

 

Always be on your guard...

 

Hope that helps.

Edited October 28, 2009 by Catamaran

[Jack_41]

I took Odourless garlic tablets a couple of weeks before and during my trip to DR last year.

That and 60% deet spray worked a treat. A fellow I hung out with got Dengue fever after getting bit during the day we were out - not to be taken lightly.

[bart77]

thats one thing i dont get much, mozzie bites at all,a few little red marks that all on my legs or ankles,my friend got a awful bite in 2008,it was the first time i seen a bite so bad,what was going through my head was he has cancer his ankle was so black,i got a fright,but i think the reason the mozzies dont bother me is because i sweat alot,drinks too much beer.

[prak]

Do NOT buy the 100% DEET Repel - it is just plain nasty and also toxic if you use it too much.

I agree its nasty, but it works. When the mozzies are thick, I use 100% on my feet and ankles (which for some reason they seem to target relentlessly on me), and it keeps them completely off for hours - and its honestly the only thing I've found that will really work for a good amount of time. Tried all the new plant-based repellents, tried the vitamins, but nothing keeps them off like DEET.

 

I wouldn't recommend it regularly, but if you are out somewhere where the buggers are flying in force, I think you're better off taking your chances with the DEET than letting the mosquitoes give you whatever they are carrying.

[irishstu007]

Petrol works all right on the mozzies.

[cuthbert]

Thanks for the advice guys , I am more confused than ever now.

 

I am not light skinned and only live in Scotland , not Scottish . I also have a tan most of the year .

 

However I do eat bananas . I will try the vitamin B tabs and maybe some garlic .

 

Heard some disturbing comments also about Deet . Seems like it is nasty stuff .

 

On the West Coast of Scotland when the midges are out in force diesel works well , but never get a barfine smelling of diesel .

[Catamaran]

Anything can be toxic if you use too much of it. You should be fine with whatever product works,

especially if you use it for a short period, unless you have an allergy to it.

 

I believe it is the CO2 that mosquitoes are homing in on. That is not only coming out of your lungs,

but also from your skin. Your skin is actually the largest "organ" of your body, but many people

don't think of it that way.

 

Ankles make for an attractive target, cause the skin is thinner there.

[swinging_rich]

If you're worried mostly about mozzies in your hotel loom, and this is a problem if you're near a pool sometimes, in europe you can buy something you plug into the wall socket - emits an odourless vapour that works a treat, and you don't have to cover your skin in something which is bloody toxic - once had a bottle of jungle formula leek, it stripped the paint off the bottle so be warned, this is strong stuff.. don't know if thai supermarkets sell a similar plug in device? ..anyone?

[lexdiamond20]

Does it matter what time of the year it is For instance, they are only abundant here in the US during the summer months.

[yogi100]

I agree its nasty, but it works. When the mozzies are thick, I use 100% on my feet and ankles (which for some reason they seem to target relentlessly on me), and it keeps them completely off for hours - and its honestly the only thing I've found that will really work for a good amount of time. Tried all the new plant-based repellents, tried the vitamins, but nothing keeps them off like DEET.

 

I wouldn't recommend it regularly, but if you are out somewhere where the buggers are flying in force, I think you're better off taking your chances with the DEET than letting the mosquitoes give you whatever they are carrying.

 

Mossies lurk in dark places, so when you sit at a bar or table they are down by your feet out of the light, this is why they mainly attack ankles and knees and they will normally bite where a bone acts as an anvil so they can puncture your skin more easily. I find that any Deet based repellant works and as I am allergic to their bites I have to take special care. I never go out at night which is when they are active without spraying my lower legs and elbows. Apparently they inject a coagulant which stops you bleeding and it is this that causes the itching. Even if they do not irritate you one bite can give you very nasty illnesses such as Dengue fever which Jack41 mentioned. I also have two electric tab burners which give off the vapour in my room which work a treat. Also I keep a spray and give the bathroom a spray every day.

 

All the supermarkets sell the electric tab burners and the mossies here are duty all year round.

Edited November 2, 2009 by yogi100

[jaha]

I am about to launch a Web site offering prevention against and cure for mossy bites.

We will carry Citronella Mosquito Repellent spray for about 100-120 baht per bottle, not the cheapest repellent but supposedly quite effective and without any nasty substances like DEET. We will have supplies available 3rd week in November. It is a locally manufactured product.

 

We alredy have the cure for existing bites, a Thai herbal skin balm that takes away the itchiness and stops you scratching the bites. It sells for 100 baht a 50mg bottle. An alternative is Tiger Balm that we also carry. These have proven to be very popular gift items to carry back home.

 

PM me if interested.

 

I'll share some Thai bush craft I learnt and have found effective. Some mossy bites are a lot worse than others and cause pain and itchiness for days. What you can do is cut the very tip of the bite with a sharp instrument (like the small nail pliers (not the ordinarhy nail cutters) commonly used here), just the very tip of the bite and just enough to cause a very small amount of bleeding. Then sqeezae the bite hard to eject the anti-coagulant that the mossy injects when biting, which is what causes the skin irritation. Then rub the skin balm onto the bite and the itchiness will vanish. The cut causes a small scar but you alredy had that anyway in the form of a swollen, itchy skin blemish and the scar will heal in a day or two. However, don't get too carried away with the cutting instrument.

[jaha]

I am about to launch a Web site offering prevention against and cure for mossy bites.

We will carry Citronella Mosquito Repellent spray for about 100-120 baht per bottle, not the cheapest repellent but supposedly quite effective and without any nasty substances like DEET. We will have supplies available 3rd week in November. It is a locally manufactured product.

 

We alredy have the cure for existing bites, a Thai herbal skin balm that takes away the itchiness and stops you scratching the bites. It sells for 100 baht a 50mg bottle. An alternative is Tiger Balm that we also carry. These have proven to be very popular gift items to carry back home.

 

PM me if interested.

 

I'll share some Thai bush craft I learnt and have found effective. Some mossy bites are a lot worse than others and cause pain and itchiness for days. What you can do is cut the very tip of the bite with a sharp instrument (like the small nail pliers (not the ordinarhy nail cutters) commonly used here), just the very tip of the bite and just enough to cause a very small amount of bleeding. Then sqeezae the bite hard to eject the anti-coagulant that the mossy injects when biting, which is what causes the skin irritation. Then rub the skin balm onto the bite and the itchiness will vanish. The cut causes a small scar but you alredy had that anyway in the form of a swollen, itchy skin blemish and the scar will heal in a day or two. However, don't get too carried away with the cutting instrument.

[jaha]

Sorry, finger trouble. The post went in twice.

[Catamaran]

Itchy fingers due to mozzy bites, LOL

[bocelli27]

For the complete and guaranteed solution to all your mosquito problems, you need CIMICO:

 

http://www.pattayadailynews.com/showfeature.php?FeatureID=0000001466

[Daveo]

A good tip.

Before you go out, leave a smelly shirt, the sweatier the better in the shower room, likely is that any mozzies in your room will head for there and when you get home shut yourself in with them with an electric tennis bat and batter them.

[The Mentalist]

I always make my own repellant as soon as I get to LOS.

60% kerosine, 30% olive oil, stops the kero burning you skin and 10% lavender oil, or some other fragrent oil you like.

Never had any type of insect bite me with this on.

Even keeps march flies off you here in OZ and them bastards will bite through deet based sprays.

Apply from bottom of short down, seems to me the mossies in LOS are low fliers

Edited November 7, 2009 by luckyphil91

[LOSlove11]

Odourless garlic tabs and Vitamin B1 as the earlier posters said are very effective. Start taking them 1-2 weeks before your trip and every/most days while you are there.Once they are in your blood stream you will be rarely bitten. Got this advice from a doctor a while back before going to cambodia as i didnt want to take malaria tabs.