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Florida Gardening

RANT:Being held hostage by mosquitoes

14 years ago

I cannot walk out the door. I can't walk the garden. I can only work outside for an hr or so in the early morning with deep woods off and long pants. They follow me inside! I have dropped dunks into every water feature and am constantly on the lookout for anything holding water. I hate it.

THIS IS NO WAY TO LIVE!

thanks for listening.

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Comments (32)

solstice98
14 years ago
I'm with you on this. It has been a bad year for them already.

Kate
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katkin_gw
14 years ago
There was an email going around to rub Bounce on your arms, legs and exposed parts and wear the sheet tuck in your belt. I bought some but never remembered to try it.

Also put coffee grinds in the cups of your bromeliads to keep them from breeding in there. If your water barrels don't have lids float a coffee can or something in it to keep the water moving. The female mosquito won't lay eggs in moving water, and if she does the newly evolved one can't get air born. :o)
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fawnridge (Ricky)
14 years ago
I've been watching a commercial on TV for some clip-on device that's supposed to shield you from mosquitoes. Well, you know what they say about gimmicks on TV. This thing probably works in New Jersey but isn't worth a bucket of moldy tomatoes in Florida.

Mosquito Control claims they're going to spray tomorrow evening, weather permitting. Pray for no rain.
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solstice98
14 years ago
I've been really tempted to try the clip on repellant. I may still give it a try even though I don't think it will work - that's how desperate I am. Besides gardening, I walk my dogs every morning and every evening and it's a battle with the mosquits every time.
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whgille
14 years ago
I went to pick figs and grapes at the farm, and because of the heavy rains and the fruit have not been picked, bugs ate me alive!

I am using Aveeno Concentrated Lotion for the bites that I already got and it helps.

Silvia
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karen_florida
14 years ago
If I don't remember to stop and spray on Deep Woods Off every single time I step outside, I spend the rest of the day itching and scratching. EEK! I'm chicken to use the clip on spray though. It's bad enough smearing all those chemicals on my skin, without blowing them up my nose, too. Is there any critter that EATS mosquitoes? And can I keep forty thousand of them for pets, whatever they are? :)
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solstice98
14 years ago
Bats! Wonderful, adorable bats eat millions of mosquitos!
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laura1
14 years ago
dragonfly larva eat mosquito larva.
imagine what the early settlers had to endure, wow!
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SusieQsie_Fla
14 years ago
Hi Guys
I live in the place where mosquitoes originate. I heard the Indian name for my island -Chokoloskee-means "big mosquito house" like it's Candyland or Dollywood or Disney. No wonder very few people can habitate here.

But I am able to garden with the new OFF clip-on thing. As long as I stay in one area for awhile, like trimming my cannas, or standing at my potting bench, etc. it does great on making the bugs leave. When I move around, it takes a minute to clear out the new spot.

I hate spraying myself and I hate the buzzing around my head even with the Deep Woods spray. I use to use the Yard Guard stuff, but it goes away with the wind. So far, the OFF clip on is doing the trick down here. I don't like having it on my pocket, so I put it nearby (fencepost, or sidewalk, or table) and I even turn it off when the bugs clear out after 5 minutes, and it seems to last til I go to a new place.

And the fan part is on the lower part, so it blows down, not in your face. It's still probably not very good for us, though.
But I have so many gardens I am taking care of, I can't NOT be outside.

Susie
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rainy230
14 years ago
I was just thinking about the same thing !! I have some cuttings I really want to put in . The gardens look so neglected. It's not sunny today si I was thinking I might venture out try to cover up. This is funny bit I was actualy thinking of taking some incense outside and burning it near me..I'll try anything LOL
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countrynest
14 years ago
Coffeemom,
Pete and I are on our way to rescue you!
Pete is my new friend who stands guarding by the back porch,eating the mosquitoes. There are none in the back porch. Our little dogs tried to eat him but apparently.
he does not taste good and they spit him out. My son step on him by accident,his guts were coming out,but he heal up.
He continues to stand by the door ,eating all the bugs.
He is brown and lives in the flower pots,during the day.
He is a sapo aka toad,which I named Pete after the horny toad in the movie "Brother where art thow?"
Felix
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cargirl66
14 years ago
I have the exact same problem as Coffeemom. I just bought a bat house to place beside the retention pond or what I call the "mosquito lagoon". Hope they come fast because I'm tired of living in Deep Woods Off also.
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laura1
14 years ago
I have used the citronella (sp) sticks that you burn while working in the shade house. the results are not all in on the effectivness. it makes me feel better. skeeters were only mild when in use so it is hard to say.
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coffeemom
Original Author
14 years ago
Dear Felix,
Can't wait for you and Pete to get here.
I'll leave the light on fer ya!
coffeemom

ps. I love that movie.
now I'm off to put coffee grounds in my broms. INCOMING!!!!
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katkin_gw
14 years ago
Has anyone tried the bounce yet?

Put ammonia on the bites you get, it takes the toxin out.
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countrynest
14 years ago
katkin,
Go to Snopes.com to see that it is an urban legend.
In other words it is false.
Felix
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thonotorose
14 years ago
I have the clip on device, too, and I find it somewhat effective. As Susieqsie stated, it is not that great when moving around and they still will bite my back or lower legs. But there is no longer a squadron of them zeroing in on me when I am out.

Also, they are supposed to work for 14 hours. My indicator says that I have about 5 hours left. It doesn't seem to be as effective as when I first used it. The screen area seems to have a build up of dust, too.

After I walk our Lhasa Apsos, I hang it by the door while I remove the leashes and then let the dogs in. It does seem to drive away the clouds that used to follow us in.

I used a coupon and got 2 for $10. The refills run about $5. All in all, I would say that they are helpful if you must be out there.

Veronica

Here is a link that might be useful: Here's a deal.
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wanda662
14 years ago
You know what's worse? Having one buzz your ear at night! I turn the light on and say your gonna die! Try and find it, you can't.
During the day I'm not bothered but early morning when I walk the dog I can feel them.
Sure hope they can spray soon.
Anyone use Avon Skin so Soft?
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katkin_gw
14 years ago
Hi Felix, what's the legend, the Bounce or the ammonia? If they are saying the ammonia, then they are wrong! In fact, it is the first ingredient in After Bite, a product sold for insect bites. I use the ammonia on all bites, even fire ants and it takes out the sting and itch right away. Now I can't say about the Bounce as I haven't tried it yet, maybe I will this weekend as a test. I don't believe everything I read and need to find out for myself. :o)
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nova_gw
14 years ago
I use Skin So Soft and it works for me but it is very oily and everything sticks to you! I like it but really don't need any help getting dirty. HA-HA! I have tried my "Thermacell" in the yard and it works really well and covers a large area. But it can take 15 to 30 minutes to clear and area when moved and refills can get expensive.

nova
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SaintPFLA
14 years ago
Mosquitos are horrible this year! It's either stay inside or marinate in skeeter repellant!

I am a big ThermaCell fan. The Off product is a copy of the Thermacell. I agree, it does get expensive, but at least it does work. I turn it on, go back in the house to get cocktails or lunch and then go outside. I have three units and strategically place them around the patio. It also helps to spray on repellant as an added protection.

For me, this seems to be the only way to enjoy the yard at this time! And, of course, I broke my yard sprayer-thingy so I cannot even spray for bugs right now!
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countrynest
14 years ago
Katkin,when Pete is not around,I use skin so soft it is oily but it works. Oh, and I was talking about Bounce. We tried it and it did not work.
Felix
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wally_1936
14 years ago
I am just waiting for our next batch of mosquitoes. I understand they say to spray with LISTERINE mouth wash full strength but don't spray your woodwork as it will stain. It is suppose to late for few days longer.
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SusieQsie_Fla
14 years ago
Wally, save your Listerine for your mouth.

Last year I sprayed the stuff so much because I really thought it was working, that people walking by commented on my minty-fresh, not medicine-y, smelling flowers.

I even told everyone to try it, even the snook fishermen out in their boats. As long as you spray every skeeter that comes along, it did the trick. But I got no work done since I had to have one hand on the sprayer trigger. As soon as I stopped spritzing, they would buzz back up with renewed vigor and punish me for squirting them!

I have a feeling the Listerine remedy is for something else, like mealey bugs, but not mosquitoes.

Susie
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zenny_jo
14 years ago
For what it is worth, I wear buzz off clothing (shorts and a shirt with the long sleeves cut off). I slather myself with Ultrathon (originally developed for the military...), and wear a bandana with ultrathon smeared on it over my forehead (I don't put the Ultrathon on my face). This works!

Jenny

p.s. This makes me look pretty tough, maybe I just scare them away.
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MPH101
14 years ago
Guess what else eats wigglers? The dreaded and hated (good reasons) Cuban Tree Frog tadpole.
They eat them up, I bet they do a better job then bats.
Hey, you have to point out the positive points of a animal that gets more bad press then big snakes or nasty pit bulls.
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coffeemom
Original Author
14 years ago
As long as you're stuck in the house, here's some fun facts from snopes.com

Here is a link that might be useful: Home remedies
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crystabel
14 years ago
They were out full force this afternoon while we worked on making some cage tops for our raised beds. I use the Burt's Bee's lemon stuff. Very oily, but smells so good. It works fairly well, better than spraying off. However, my niece was using the clip on fans and said they worked great for her the other day. I'm going to try that soon.
I'm always happy when I see the bats flying around the yard - they're doing their job!
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wanda662
14 years ago
Releif came to our little neck of the planet, I heard the fog truck out last night, Yah!
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butterflygardener
14 years ago
I use my electric bug zapper (looks like a small racket) it is so much fun zap those buggers that hang out by my front door. I don't use deet, that is neuro toxic ! I use lemon eucalyptus spray and it is great!
Kat
Let's be careful out there....
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gardengrl
14 years ago
Ummmm...don't breathe????

LOL Wanda, I had to re-read your post cuz I thought you said "frog truck". Now THAT'S a mental image!

I've been using "Cutter" for years and have found it to work wonderfully well. We even went out to the lake on the 4th of July till 10 p.m. and were not bitten because we sprayed Cutter on our skin & clothes. I could see their little silhouettes hovering 12 inches away....just waiting. Little vampires!

If I'm working out in the yard (we have a conservation area behind us with standing water, so they are swarming!), I reapply if I've been sweating a lot, usually about every hour or so with water breaks.
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wanda662
14 years ago
LOL Gardengrl, guess I should have said mosquitoe truck. Ofcourse a frog truck wouldn't hurt with the rain we have had.
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