Mosquito Deterrents

[Quizzical_Squirrel]

So mosquito season is upon us in the North East and I'm their favorite snack.

What's everyone using to fend them off? Sprays? Bracelets?
Has anyone tried the 'Off' battery powered device?

[spkerer]

If they're at the mildly annoying stage/density, I'll often take a Bounce dryer sheet and rub that over my hands and face and then leave it hanging out a shirt pocket. It seems to help and its less worrisome to me than spraying DEET directly on my skin. I have also sprayed DEET on my hat brim.

[cheekychicas]

You may also want to the Avon's Skin so Soft Bug Guard products. We've used the combined sunscreen/bug lotion for the kids since they came out with the product because it does not contain deet.

[spkerer]

You may also want to the Avon's Skin so Soft Bug Guard products. We've used the combined sunscreen/bug lotion for the kids since they came out with the product because it does not contain deet.

I wonder if its an individual body chemistry issue, but when I tried "Skin So Soft" I quickly renamed it to "Skin So Scrumptious" because those skeeters just loved it!

[birdfromboat]

Sir Edmund Hillary preferred scotch whiskey. Drank in proper doses at regular intervals, it allows one to continue in spite of the annoyance of being eaten alive.
I personally don't have a problem so much, but my son is like a magnet for the little killers, he uses a solid stick applicator like a chapstick tube that allows him to get it on his face without spraying and getting it on your lips and up your nose. Eating garlic is popular in Alaska, they are probably the most knowledgeable in the US. The big ones up there can fly through an idling chainsaw and come out with a little varnish on their wings.

[cheekychicas]

Ouch - so what do you use to "skeer" them away?

I wonder if its an individual body chemistry issue, but when I tried "Skin So Soft" I quickly renamed it to "Skin So Scrumptious" because those skeeters just loved it!

[krb]

I always keep a long sleeved shirt and a boonie hat with mosquito net in my car. I also keep some super strong DEET stuff that I spray on my boots, pants legs and brim of the hat and then some non-DEET stuff to use on my hands.

[Todd Lambert]

You can always use it as an excuse to get a long lens - stay in, where it's nice and comfy and use the telephoto to shoot outside!

I usually just spray off with DEET onto my arms and neck. What the hell, I'd rather be comfortable and smell bad!

I've heard/seen people who swear by SkinSoSoft... didn't really work for me.

Maybe, I'll just douse in gasoline or alcohol - lol.

Actually, they say that skeeters locate you by your CO2 emissions - so, if you just hold your breath, that probably will work too.

;-)

[Sparky98]

I have only used products with DEET and it does work. Everything I have read says DEET is the most effective repellent available and most reports I have read said if used properly it is not supposed to be harmful to people. Like a camera review though It just depends on whose report you read.

Be careful when applying DEET products because it is harmful to some paints, plastics, and rubbers. It can discolor surfaces and after enough exposure can make some plastics or rubber sticky. After applying DEET clean your hands carefully to protect your equipment.

[huntersdad]

Cabelas, Bass Pro, Wal_mart sell these little gadgets that put out a "scent" that mosquitos stay away from. Also will not trigger e aresponse form wildlife. Assuming this is for photography use, might be an option.

P.S. If you think it is bad in the NorthEast, head down South.

[nonameowns]

use a flamethrower :p

[gjl711]

I've tried everything and the only thing that comes close to working is Deet. All the other stuff when your out in the woods, with real hungry mosquitoes, and not in the park, with city mosquitoes, fails miserably. ... I have also sprayed DEET on my hat brim.Spraying Deet on clothing does no good at all. Deet masks a pheromone that the skeeters zoom in on and needs to be applies to skin.

For a good read check out the New England Journal of Meds. They tested all kinds of stuff and they also concluded that Deet worked, other stuff didn't. The higher the concentration of Deet, the longer it lasted.
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/347/1/13

[CABINET MAN]

Try a Thermacell. I have had good luck with mine.

http://www.mosquitorepellent.com/

[mckinleypics]

Those stupid battery things are crazy expensive and worthless. My wife went out and bought a ton of them. They might work if there is no wind but I wouldn't waste my money. Cigars work for me.

[SkipD]

Hire a fleet of bats to eat the skeeters. :rolleyes:

[krb]

Spraying Deet on clothing does no good at all. Deet masks a pheromone that the skeeters zoom in on and needs to be applies to skin.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2518096/

From the abstract:
The insect repellent DEET is effective against a variety of medically important pests, but its mode of action still draws considerable debate. The widely accepted hypothesis that DEET interferes with the detection of lactic acid has been challenged by demonstrated DEET-induced repellency in the absence of lactic acid. The most recent hypothesis suggests that DEET masks or jams the olfactory system by attenuating electrophysiological responses to 1-octen-3-ol. Our research shows that mosquitoes smell DEET directly and avoid it.

[DeaconG]

Try a light long-sleeved shirt or windbreaker. If the windbreaker has a drawstring hood, +1 (especially when the sun goes down).

It's the B-52 mosquito season in Florida, half the critters down here eat DEET for brunch...

[Naturalist]

When out in serious mosquito territory, like when I was living in Minnesota, I would wear long sleeve shirts, then use 100% DEET oil on all exposed skin and spray aerosol of at least 40% DEET on all clothing.

Wash your palms of your hands when done prior to using the camera so there will be nothing to attack the finish. I've not had any problems at all.

Now, here in Missouri where the mosquitoes are not constantly harassing you in swarms, I simply spray 40% DEET all over and head on out.

[-EOS-]

Ultrathon by 3M!

I just started using it this year and so far, it has worked very well.

[hollis_f]

A combination of Deet and smoking works wonders.

[neilwood32]

Jungle Formula (http://www.jungleformula.co.uk/) works for me. I tend to get the roll on and so long as I dont forget to reapply it I am fine.

[Tee Why]

I believe the best scientific data shows DEET containing sprays that are sprayed onto the skin is the most effective. I believe long sleeves/covering skin with clothing works. But of course, you are covered from head to toe, this isn't effective.

I also recall hearing that certain colors (I think brighter) attracts them. But if it was me, I'd wear a thin long sleeve shirt/pants and use DEET.

Good luck.

[picard]

why don't you wear a head net ?

Deet is the only way to keep mosquitos at bay.

[picard]

BEWARE that deet breaks down plastics components on lens, lens cap, rubber !

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

BEWARE that deet breaks down plastics components on lens, lens cap, rubber !

And the lettering on the front of my sweatshirt, that subsequently transferred to the back of my camera :confused:

I use the Deepwoods or Off! stuff that is 98% DEET. (not available in Canada, +1 for living in a border town). I find that not much is needed to keep them at bay. And to be on the safe side, I only use the regular (below 30%, as per Canadian laws) when I'm around kids.
Boss just told me today that he uses Watkins bug lotion and loves it... may give it a go and see how it works for me.

[LongDraw]

Buy a Thermacell. It is the real deal.

[Karl Johnston]

I use the netting stuff that you wear; I'm allergic to deet.

I find having a campfire nearby also helps to smoke them away, though, often times you can't make these just anywhere...

[Picture North Carolina]

Buy a Thermacell. It is the real deal.

Doesn't work unless you're a photographer who sits in one place and in addition, there is hardly any breezes.

[yogestee]

Living in a country with a serious mosquito problem, read Malaria and Dengue fever..

When I go out into the remote/rural areas I never travel without a bottle of tropical strength Rid.. I also carry a bottle of Tea Tree Oil (most Aussies know about this) incase I'm bitten,,Tea Tree oil soothes the itch..

A little side note-- Malaria kills more than one million people worldwide.. This makes the N1H1 Swine Flu seem like the common cold..

[hairy_moth]

Hire a fleet of bats to eat the skeeters. :rolleyes:

I know this was a joke.. But bats in the US are dying:


scroll down and read the background first:
http://www.fws.gov/news/NewsReleases/showNews.cfm?newsId=696A33B1-E7C7-37D8-4273755222D4CACA

[Quizzical_Squirrel]

I'm very much liking Edmund Hillary's approach so far! :lol:

And regarding the flame-throwing - could this explain the flash photography books which feature dramatic flame photographs at night on the cover?
There I was thinking they were demonstrating prowess but now I wonder if they're actually just dealing with the prevalent conditions (mosquitos at night) in a most direct manner.

[LONDON808]

M one of the lucky few that never gets a dongel bite
every one else around me will but they stay clear if me - ants don't bite my either - dogs do tho

[rklepper]

I have -->THIS HAT (http://www.tilley.com/detail.asp?catId=1&gender=u&extractBy=CategoryId&id=1&productNo=T4IS)<--. It works a charm, and we have skeeters the size of robins in Iowa (just joking, but you get the idea).