Talk about mosquitoes!

15 years ago

We worked outside today, not until later so it would be a little bit cooler (it really wasn't, but we wanted to think so LOL).

We finished just as it was getting dark out there, and boy were the mosquitoes coming out.

I saw what I thought was a baby cricket on my arm, and went to brush it off - and it EXPLODED! Blood everywhere. I was like - WHAT?!?! Then I saw one on my leg and swatted, and that exploded too.

I said "That's not a moon! That's a space station!". Which of course meant those suckers are big black mozzies. Sacre bleu!

Apparently I am a good bleeder today. Look at the blood spot on my calf.

Ew.

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Comments (11)

glenda_al
15 years ago
I buy incense outdoor sticks, from Dollar Tree (you probably don't have one) to burn on my front porch when I got out for my nightly smoke. Works!
There's 20 sticks for a buck!
sheilajoyce_gw
15 years ago
They say to tie a fabric softener sheet, new or used, to your belt loop as a mosquito repellant. Have not tried it.
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Lemongrass, citronella, and many other herbs like catnip and mint and garlic DON'T work well, if at all. They will be effective only for an hour, max. Eucalypus works better, though only half as long as DEET, max. There is a great lemon eucalyptus cream I use that smells nice too. I made a homemade mix of soybean oil with eucalyptus essential oil added. This was not as effective as the storebought cream, but seemed to work for about an hour for me. The skeeters would hover, but not land. Not great, but cheap! Traps, candles, zappers, and hokey devices like ultrasound whatzits don't work at all. "several each day" is nothing when you are talking about mosquitoes. You'd kill more on the windshield of your car if you drove it around. Herbs in your garden won't reduce their numbers either. They won't land on the plants, but that won't deter them from landing on you. Bats will eat many hundreds every night. Put up a bat house on a tree or two. But most importantly, they breed in water so you should take measures against any puddles or pools in your yard. Make sure you change any pools of standing water like birdbaths with fresh water every week so they won't breed there. If you have a larger body of water near your home that you can't remove or change the water regularly, consider adding Bt discs to the water. They will float on the surface, slowly releasing the Bt into the water and killing the larvae. These don't harm fish. Also, this probably isn't very useful, but fires work by releasing CO2 into the air, confusing the skeeters because they locate their prey by the CO2 in their breath. If you can have a campfire, this may be a nice solution. Candles are too small to have any useful effect, however. Holding your breath will work too, but only for so long... ;)
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lilliepad
15 years ago
Sheila-I haven't tried the fabric softener sheets myself but last year when DS's dog was staying with us the mosquitoes really liked her.I tied one to her collar and they left her alone! People looked at her real funny with that fabric softener sheet hanging from her collar.LOL
The skeeters have been really bad here too.Big long legged ones! It has been so dry here that I don't know where they are coming from.Guess there's water standing somewhere. We sat on the porch for a while last evening before dark and they about carried my DH off but strangely didn't bother me.I told him he needs to put a fabric softener sheet in all of his pockets and maybe tape one to his bald head!LOL
azzalea
15 years ago
We get those horrible tiger mosquitoes here--the tiny, striped ones that are out in the day, and need only a few drops of water to breed in. They're just awful, and you can't avoid them. Then, of course, in the evening, the regular ones turn up.
dotmom
15 years ago
Years ago I worked in a restaurant in No. Minnesota. A crew of guys from Georgia were putting powerlines through our area. Some of them would eat where I worked and one day they were complaining about the mosquitos in our state. Kiddingly, but with a straight face, I told them, I don't go down to their state and insult their state bird. They apologized and went on their way. The next morning they came in and asked if all northern gals lied like I did. Guess they believed me. I want to say, those Georgia guys were so couteous and polite. Dottie
joyfulguy
15 years ago
Hi Dances,

Man, do they come out heavily just before sundown!

I think that they've heard that the price of blood, like gas, is going up, so they gather for a refill like cars rushing for a gas station.

About a half dozen on my vulnerable parts (two shirts, heavy pants, handkerchief down over neck held in place by baseball cap, etc.).

I've decided that they can have that time of the day!

Hi lilliepad,

Thanks for the idea about the fabric softener - I'll have to try it. I'll have to see if I can scare one up among the neighbours - don't use 'em, myself.

Hi azzalea,

So - your skeeters work in shifts, do they?

I don't envy you - not at all!

Good wishes, everyone, for not getting stung!

ole joyful
Marcia Thornley
15 years ago
Dances, they say that it's our breath that attracts the mosquitoes. So just stop breathing and you'll be OK! :)
cheerful1_gw
15 years ago
They've been really bad the last 2 weekends in PA and NY. They seem to like my hands and arms.
ladonna
15 years ago
I got a email a few weeks ago, i dont know if it works or not, but im gonna get some Listerine and try it, they say though to put the listerine in a squirt bottle, and spray the area of your yard and lawn chair with it, and it supposeably works for a couple of days keeping the mosquito's away.
cheerful1_gw
15 years ago
I think I'll try the Listerine as well. I've been bitten once too often.

Do you just spray the surrounding area, or do you spray objects such as chairs, benches, etc.?
ladonna
15 years ago
The email said you can spray your lawn, and area around you. I think its definately worth a try.

Talk about mosquitoes!

Comments (11)

glenda_al

sheilajoyce_gw

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