me against the Mosquitos

[cmM]

Okay.... Unsuccessfull attempt to shoot some bird photos today. There is this one lake somewhere near where I live. It's not part of a forest preserve, no cars, no people, nothing except birds and other animals. It's a wildlife heaven. Well I tried to get there, but I, oh my God there were millions of mosquitos, and it seemed like they were all following me, and I got bit countless times.

Please, someone help me. How the h*ll do you deal with this? I need to get down to that pond, there are just too many birds over there not to take pictures of. :)

[daaaveman]

One interesting idea:

Mosquito-proof clothes kill bugs before they land

An Australian chemist has invented clothes with built-in mosquito repellent.

The repellent is applied to the fabric, which then stays bug-proof for 50 washes.

In tests, most mosquitoes died before they even touched the cloth. http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_464897.html


Or another alternative:

http://www.akanorak.com/ - Also a light-weight version available.


Combined, they'd be the perfect answer.

[Conk]

Deet!

[Jemmind]

Are you allergic to bug sprays such as Off?
Avon makes a mild spray from their skin so soft line.
Wal-mart also sells these things that look like a strechy cord to wear around your arm to get them away, but I don't know if or how they work.
Julie

[cmM]

I have never tried any bug spray....
I guess I should. I don't have any allergies (at least none that I know off) so I think I should be fine.


Is that stuff efficient by the way ?

[robertwgross]

At certain times of the year, mosquitos can be a bad problem for backpackers in California. We tend to wear long thin clothing and a hat. Over the hat goes a mosquito net head-bag. The bill or brim of the hat keeps the net material away from your face slightly.

Then to the whole works, clothing, netting, and everything, you spray some DEET repellant. The exception is to avoid getting much directly on your skin, especially your fingers. You will be handling a camera, and the chemicals in DEET can be quite agressive toward some plastics and coated metals.

---Bob Gross---

[cmM]

At certain times of the year, mosquitos can be a bad problem for backpackers in California. We tend to wear long thin clothing and a hat. Over the hat goes a mosquito net head-bag. The bill or brim of the hat keeps the net material away from your face slightly.

Then to the whole works, clothing, netting, and everything, you spray some DEET repellant. The exception is to avoid getting much directly on your skin, especially your fingers. You will be handling a camera, and the chemicals in DEET can be quite agressive toward some plastics and coated metals.

---Bob Gross---
That helps. Thanks. I will try that as soon as I can.

[Laziferous]

I feel your pain. I went for a walk through a park a few days ago, and was being harassed by biting flies. I put up with them for about 3/4 of a mile, before I got frustrated enough to just turn around. I went back to my truck, doused myself in OFF, and prepared to hike... but of course it was getting dark then, so I just went home :?

They usually aren't such a problem around here, and I don't bother to use it, but some areas (marshes) are much worse. I normally only spray OFF on my shoes, and up to my waist to keep the ticks off of me. Although that doesn't help for those flies that love to bite my head and face :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Scottes]

I was out the other day and sprayed 100% Deet on my arms, hands, neck, and ankles. This resulted in a single bite, even though the mosquitoes were so thick that I was breathing through clenched teeth to strain them when breathing.

However, I found that Deet on the hands wore away the sticker on my tripod, and my hands were blue...

If you can find it - if it even exists - I'd recommend some sort of bug repellent in a stick (like deodarant) for exposed skin. And a spray can for ankles and clothing.

Hat and net sound like a plan to me...

[cmM]

Oh yea... I'm getting all these. Plus a flame thrower on the side just in case... :P

Either way, I found it out the hard way, and I hope people who read this thread won't have to. I have many bites on me... If you wanna go out there (especially in wet areas, near ponds, rivers, etc...) take all the necessary means to keep these suckers away.

[arogop]

For the really bad spots (like most of Wisconsin Minnesota and Manitoba) get the deep woods off that is in the blue can. That has the highest concentration of Deet. Something like 30%. Then use the green cans which is about 25%. The orange cans are about 15% and the kids stuff is at 5%.

[Scottes]

Another tip... Get a little tube of toothache medicine that's 20% benzocaine. If something does bite you and the itch drives you crazy this will help. The gel stuff seems to be better because it sticks better.

[HKMonkey]

I agree with arogop. I am originally from Minnesota (where the mosquito is the state bird) and I always used Deep Woods Off. Did the best trick for me. I needed it, too, because they seemed to love biting me! :x

Funny thing, though... Since moving to Hong Kong, I've participated in a war-game with airsoft rifles (like paintball, but plastic pellets). We were playing in a bamboo forest and the mosquitos were horrendous. The local Hong Kongers came out with tons of bites, and I only had one. Guess they don't like white meat here! :wink: