I Hate Mosquitoes!
Sometimes, I think that I am a human mosquito magnet. I could be in crowd of a thousand people, and I would be the only one that is getting bit.
I worked out in the yard today, and I was bitten so many times that it is even difficult to write this Blog while scratching my welts. I use some top-of-the-line, jungle-quality DEET, but somehow, the mosquitoes find the one spot that I missed. I wear bland-colored, long sleeve shirts, long pants, socks, and a hat. I don't wear deodorant or cologne when I am working outside. I have an impenetrable beard and wear glasses.
I sound pretty, huh? They still get me...fleas and ants, too. I must excrete some powerful insect-attracting pheromones.
I read that mosquitoes bite people if they eat bananas, so I have given up my favorite, potassium-laden fruit. I take a multiple vitamin that is high in vitamin B, thought to be distasteful to mosquitoes.
I bought one of those electronic mosquito repellents that emit a high-pitched whine; and I have even worn TWO of them. It didn't help.
I have used Avon Skin So Soft, another purported repellent, but alas, this was not helpful (My skin did get soft, however, making it even more desirable for my biting nemeses). So far, my best defense is to just wait until the land and then slap ‘em to death.
Since I also have tinnitus, I think I always hear them buzzing around me. My neighbors, seeing this constant waving and slapping, must think I have a serious mental disorder. One pair of breeding mosquitoes can have up to 3,000 offspring, so I take pleasure in knowing that each mother mosquito that I kill (only the females bite), I take out a thousand or so of the kids.
Several years ago, we were visiting some friends in northern Minnesota, the home of some of the biggest, meanest mosquitoes on Earth. Since we were sleeping out near the lake, I planned on using some industrial strength DEET.
I completely covered my body (so I thought), and the next day, I had multiple bites on my eyelids! Short of having several trained bats sitting on my shoulder at all times, I am at a loss to find a solution. As a matter of fact, I built a bat house in order to encourage these voracious mosquito eaters.
Mosquitoes also bite more during a full moon. I don't like to go outside during a full moon because of my bats. I am not sure one isn't going to turn into Dracula. If mosquitoes love my blood, I am sure going to attract Dracula.
I have scoured the area for standing water (none), and I do use mosquito chemicals in the fountains. The most logical source of these pests may be a small lake located less than a mile away.
According to mosquito experts, these insects can travel this far...especially if they smell ME. Mosquitoes are attracted to heat, lactic acid, and exhaled carbon dioxide, but there is nothing I can do about that. They would probably bite me if I was dead.
Mosquitoes are the most dangerous insect in the world. They kill more people than any other creature on this planet.
Mosquito-borne illness, such as malaria kills millions of people every year, mostly in Africa. Mosquitoes cause encephalitis, including West Nile. They carry yellow fever, dengue fever, and even heart worm that could hurt my dogs. Both of my Shelties take heart worm preventatives. Mosquitoes do not carry HIV.
As soon as the weather in this area hits a consistent 100 degrees and the mosquito population wanes, I will need to stay in the house early in the morning and at about 4 PM, the time they seem to start tracking me down. Fortunately, California is usually dry. Mosquitoes bite more in humid weather.
For the twelve or thirteen bites that I have right now, I am rubbing in some hydrocortisone cream and taking an antihistamine for the itching. And yes, I am strategically scratching them from time to time. It just feels good.
I am not a big fan of bug-zappers since they seem to catch more beneficial insects than mosquitoes. I do have two of them (different types) that I have tried. The only thing that I have not tried is those thousand dollar commercial mosquito machines that hook to a propane tank. Mosquitos dislike citronella (we have a lot of those things), but so do I.
Although I know that DEET is safe, I still don't like the smell. DEET is the most effective mosquito repellent out there, and you can even use it on children over the age of two months. Consumer Reports listed some of the best ones in an issue earlier this year. I bought the ones that were highly recommended, so I will let you know.
I seemed to be getting a headache. Damn, I bet it is encephalitis!
Related Topics:
Links to Information about Mosquito and Mosquito-Borne Disease
Technorati Tags: mosquito, mosquito bite, DEET, mosquito repellent, west nile, malaria
I worked out in the yard today, and I was bitten so many times that it is even difficult to write this Blog while scratching my welts. I use some top-of-the-line, jungle-quality DEET, but somehow, the mosquitoes find the one spot that I missed. I wear bland-colored, long sleeve shirts, long pants, socks, and a hat. I don't wear deodorant or cologne when I am working outside. I have an impenetrable beard and wear glasses.
I sound pretty, huh? They still get me...fleas and ants, too. I must excrete some powerful insect-attracting pheromones.
I read that mosquitoes bite people if they eat bananas, so I have given up my favorite, potassium-laden fruit. I take a multiple vitamin that is high in vitamin B, thought to be distasteful to mosquitoes.
I bought one of those electronic mosquito repellents that emit a high-pitched whine; and I have even worn TWO of them. It didn't help.
I have used Avon Skin So Soft, another purported repellent, but alas, this was not helpful (My skin did get soft, however, making it even more desirable for my biting nemeses). So far, my best defense is to just wait until the land and then slap ‘em to death.
Since I also have tinnitus, I think I always hear them buzzing around me. My neighbors, seeing this constant waving and slapping, must think I have a serious mental disorder. One pair of breeding mosquitoes can have up to 3,000 offspring, so I take pleasure in knowing that each mother mosquito that I kill (only the females bite), I take out a thousand or so of the kids.
Several years ago, we were visiting some friends in northern Minnesota, the home of some of the biggest, meanest mosquitoes on Earth. Since we were sleeping out near the lake, I planned on using some industrial strength DEET.
I completely covered my body (so I thought), and the next day, I had multiple bites on my eyelids! Short of having several trained bats sitting on my shoulder at all times, I am at a loss to find a solution. As a matter of fact, I built a bat house in order to encourage these voracious mosquito eaters.
Mosquitoes also bite more during a full moon. I don't like to go outside during a full moon because of my bats. I am not sure one isn't going to turn into Dracula. If mosquitoes love my blood, I am sure going to attract Dracula.
I have scoured the area for standing water (none), and I do use mosquito chemicals in the fountains. The most logical source of these pests may be a small lake located less than a mile away.
According to mosquito experts, these insects can travel this far...especially if they smell ME. Mosquitoes are attracted to heat, lactic acid, and exhaled carbon dioxide, but there is nothing I can do about that. They would probably bite me if I was dead.
Mosquitoes are the most dangerous insect in the world. They kill more people than any other creature on this planet.
Mosquito-borne illness, such as malaria kills millions of people every year, mostly in Africa. Mosquitoes cause encephalitis, including West Nile. They carry yellow fever, dengue fever, and even heart worm that could hurt my dogs. Both of my Shelties take heart worm preventatives. Mosquitoes do not carry HIV.
As soon as the weather in this area hits a consistent 100 degrees and the mosquito population wanes, I will need to stay in the house early in the morning and at about 4 PM, the time they seem to start tracking me down. Fortunately, California is usually dry. Mosquitoes bite more in humid weather.
For the twelve or thirteen bites that I have right now, I am rubbing in some hydrocortisone cream and taking an antihistamine for the itching. And yes, I am strategically scratching them from time to time. It just feels good.
I am not a big fan of bug-zappers since they seem to catch more beneficial insects than mosquitoes. I do have two of them (different types) that I have tried. The only thing that I have not tried is those thousand dollar commercial mosquito machines that hook to a propane tank. Mosquitos dislike citronella (we have a lot of those things), but so do I.
Although I know that DEET is safe, I still don't like the smell. DEET is the most effective mosquito repellent out there, and you can even use it on children over the age of two months. Consumer Reports listed some of the best ones in an issue earlier this year. I bought the ones that were highly recommended, so I will let you know.
I seemed to be getting a headache. Damn, I bet it is encephalitis!
Related Topics:
Links to Information about Mosquito and Mosquito-Borne Disease
- Mosquito Control
- Mosquitoes and West Nile Virus
- West Nile Virus Home page
- Malaria and Mosquitoes
- DEET and children
- WebMD Editor Cherie Berkley's first-hand account of malaria's devastating toll in Africa
Technorati Tags: mosquito, mosquito bite, DEET, mosquito repellent, west nile, malaria
31 Comments:
I, too, have tried just about everything. My husband and I enjoy sitting outside in the evening. Why do the mosquitoes love to feast on me and totally ignore him? I dread seeing summer come around anymore. I'd rather stay inside at night and be bite free.
i'm sure you tried every thing. did you ever try mosi-guard. active ingredient is citriodiol
I've had WONDERFUL success keeping those pesky mosquitoes away by taking a garlic oil caplet every night at bedtime - the stronger, the better. If the aftertaste bothers you as it does me, take it right before bed with some milk and you shouldn't have too much trouble. I was always the one person in the crowd the only mosquito in the room would find and bite over and over - even through my clothes. After taking garlic on a regular basis, I've actually watched mosquitoes land on me, start to take a taste and fly away. It cracked me up!!
Here is the only thing I have found to solve the mosquito problem:
A mesh suit that really works. I have the hooded jacket and the pants.
http://www.probuy.net/products/BJACKET1.html
Another site that explains why we are plaqued:
Original page:
http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/90/100719.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are You a Mosquito Magnet?
Experts try to crack the code behind why mosquitoes like some humans more than others.
By Elizabeth Heubeck, M.A.
WebMD Feature Reviewed By Charlotte Grayson, MD
After those nasty bites try putting deodrant on the welts, I use Degree Solid and it takes the itch out of many different insect bites. I too am an insect buffet, so I spend very little time outside. Give it a try.
I awoke this morning with seven big mosquito bites. Sometime during the night the mosquitoes had a party. Someone told me to take olive leaf extract. I was told that the more bitters you put in your diet, the more repulsive you'll taste.
Those 1000.00 machines only work on certain breeds of the pests.
A friend of mine was telling me that in Alberta people throw a couple banana's in the outer areas of where you will be outside and it keeps the mosquitos away. I tried it the other night after being bit, after about 10 minutes didn't see a mosquito again, it could be that its not the oil coming out of your skin that the mosquitos like its the actual banana. give it a try what can it hurt, worked for me!!!!
I live near the marsh in Charleston, SC. The marsh mosquitoes get so thick in the summer they can pick you up and carry you away!!! I find that Cutters mosquito repellent works best for me.( FYI- Did you know that the Carolina Wren has been replaced as the state bird of SC by the mosquito?)
Toothpaste. Put a dab of toothpaste on the bites. That works far better than any cream or ointment to sooth the itch.
For bites of any sort - wet the area with water or beer or even your own saliva, shake table salt on it and rub hard. The first thing that happens is that it really feels great and then you realize it doesn't itch any more. Let the salt water dry on your skin. I also saw this work on a bee sting. I have shown many people this routine and it has worked 100% of the time.- ZOOMER
In 37 years I have had exactly two mosquito bites and two episodes of no-see-um bites.
All four were emergency because I am SEVERELY allergic. Almost did not live through the no-see-um bites last July. It took 6 months to regain the use of my fingers, etc. (It was looking like I had ALS - imagine that - from a no-see-um bite!!) Anyway since I could die from the bites of these creatures, I am glad they do not like me. Why do they not like me? Well, I am a smoker, I do wear deodorant, I bathe in Avon skin so soft, and in the summer I switch my perfumes to spicy ones instead of flowery ones. Being a female I love my perfumes. This summer I am going to try Victoria Secret's Amber Romance body spray. It better work against the no-see-ums or I may be dead.
abozak@telus.net
Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
P.S. Regarding the 37 years .... I would also like to state that I am very anemic, and have been since birth. Maybe that is why the bugs do not usually bother with me. Anybody else out there that is anemic with a story to tell?
I am literally deathly allergic to mosquitos, so of course they love my flavor. I have found that using a paste of aspirin and water on them will actually reverse the allergic reaction. leave it on till it dries and no bite, not even a little hole!
Mosquitoes love me and i get quite a few bites. If I'm going to be outside for any period of time I spray with Avon Bug Guard which works very well. If i'm just going to do smething quick outside I don't take the time to spray me down so I will get bites, what I do when I come back inside is put Asorbine jr on my bites and believe it or not they go away.I don't have itching or anything they just disappear. I'm not sure exactly how this comes about, it may be some interaction with my body chemistry but give it a try what do you have to lose.
Add me to that list of people who have tried everything to avoid the mosquito bites. I envy those who do not get bit! Right now I have a softball sized bite on the back of my leg. I am pretty good about not scratching but hot (and I mean boiling hot) water in the shower feels good hitting it. The one that bothers me most is the one on my childs face. Its huge and starting to swell his eyes and nose area. Its hard to get him not to scratch and Ihave given him motrin for the swelling but no luck so far. I am worried it will get bigger or possibly harm his eyes. I can't wait till summers over!
My son just got a mosquito bite at night and by morning, the nose and eye area swelled up. I took him to the dr and she recommended Benadryl every 4 hours. It didn't help much. Now 24 hrs later, it looks pretty much the same....still swollen. I can hardly see his eye hiding underneath the fat lids. The dr gave me a prescription for antibiotics just in case. Does anyone know how long this swelling takes to go away?
I also got a mosquito bite (or what seemed to be one) on my cheek on Sunday night. I had two others on my thigh. One on my thigh swelled up to 3" in diameter by morning. The one on my face felt sore and itchy when I woke up the next morning. As the day passed, my entire cheek was swollen down to my jaw and up to the eye socket. I took benadryl, applied ice and cortisone cream. Nothing seemed to help. Today, Wednesday, the swelling had gone down. I woke up with minor swelling that had migrated towards the inside of my eye and nose area. This evening, I finally look like a normal person again. This was very strange for me, since I've gotten bites on my face before and nothing like this had ever happened. I've never even had an allergic reaction to anything before. So from the time I was bitten, it has taken 3 whole days to recover from the swelling. The itching is not localized to the bite, but is across the whole area that was swollen. I wonder if there is a difference in types of mosquito bites.
Arrid creme deodorant is tops for treatment of any little infested areas ; I use it for Fever Blisters / Herpies ; gone the next day . Lotts of G A R L I C and O N I O N S in the diet is the best deterent ; Vitamin B will help ; During the M O S Q U I T O E season stay away from Sweets ! the little blood sucking Female Mosquitoe Loves Sugar ! If there is an Equestrian / Horse Event going on in your Community Double up on the Protectants ; Make sure there are no soggie places near your home mud is a haven for the Mosquitoe ; besure you are applying Protectants that Deter the West Nile Carring Species of Mosquitoes . I`ve heard that not all Mosquitoes carry West Nile ! I use alott of Good Ole WD-40 ;around things like swing sets ;Parked equipment like Trailers and Campers spray WELL under the Wheel Wells and behind Bumpers too Spray any Weather Stripping with the WD-40 ; My wife spent 21 days in the Hospital in September this Year with West Nile ! I do all of the above mentioned and she has not been a believer until now ! The Garlic and Onion will also aid your Heart and Respiratory systems too ! I believe this .
I have very good luck with taking a Vitamen B1 pill every day starting in March and continue through to October. So far the pesty little things stay away from me. I have done this for two years now and it works for me.
There is an all-natural bug repellent that works wonderfully for mosquitoes, fleas, chiggers, etc. You will smell like an Italian vinegarette for a while, but that is far superior to the bugs I deal with. I too am a magnet. So much so I have considered "renting" myself for bar-b-q's and parties. I live in Alaska, where the saying is "We don't have one single mosquitoe! They are all married with very large families!"
Here is what works for me (yes, they will still buzz around some, but they don't seem to want to bite.)
It's called Vinegar of Four Thieves. You can read about it and order the herbal mixture from www.bulkherbstore.com I HIGHLY recommend it.
Hope this helps!
for chigger bites paint over the spots with nail polish this will smother them and clear the bites up and will also stop the itching
For mosquitoes, the following has worked for me: eat about 3 to 4 cloves of pickled garlic. You will smell like an Italian restaurant for quite a while but I did not suffer from any bites the entire muggy, damp evening here in Florida.
I am worried about my grandson.When he gets bitten he swells up like a balloon.It takes more than a week to lose the swelling.Does anyone know what we can give him to make sure he don't get sick?
AAUGH! I HATE mosquitos. I live in Florida, mosquito territory. A few years ago when I took an allergy test, it showed a VERY VERY minor allergic reaction to cats (i still love them and I have 2) and to pretty large reaction to mosquitos. My bites are twice as bad as yours, whoever you are.
The one thing that seems to work on me is a Bounce dryer sheet. I know it seems random, but I swear by it. Take one out, rub it all over your body and toss it in your pocket. You are good to go.
Hi!
The best thing for bites I've ever used is sold in Health Food Stores. It's called StingStop by Boericke & Tafel, of Santa Rosa, CA. I went to look at a house for rent and got 35 bites in 5 minutes. I almost drove off the road itching all the way home. I put this on and they stopped itching right away. About 24 hours later, they itched a little and I put some more on. That was the last time I felt them. Good luck!
something that seems to keep the mosquitoes mostly at bay, unless i am dripping sweat in the garden, is 100% peppermint oil, and (optional) tea tree oil.
I fill a mister bottle with cool water and add 4 or 5 drops of peppermint oil. sometimes a drop or two of tea tree.... give it a good shake, close my eyes, and mist everywhere! rub in vigorously and one more spray. Plus you smell minty fresh and it has a nice cooling effect on the skin
how large are welts usually? i have a large welt on my ankle and it is pretty much like perfectly round. i have a scab too but its like tiny and not always in the middle. so my welt on my ankle is about 3 or 3.5 inches in diameter. is this a common bite or is it infected? or is it not a mosquito bite? thnx for the help!
You dont have to suffer. Thermacell works great at keeping 'skeeters' away!!
I am a believer in Thermacell as well. I set it next to me as I work in the yard and lay it aside the patio table as we sit out in the evenings. We now have our yard back!
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