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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Vermont
    Posts
    269
    I'm being eaten alive this summer (we've had a lot of rain and there's still a lot of water in the woods)- I can't even pick one tomato from the garden without coming back with bites.

    A few years ago the New England Journal of Medicine published a randomized controlled trial comparing various mosquito repellants (how they ever got volunteers is beyond me) http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/347/1/13 - the bottom line is that DEET is the only thing that works reliably.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Traveling Nomad
    Posts
    6,763
    Much to our horror, we discovered this very week that our three eco-friendly (and invaluable during NC's drought) rain barrels that DH installed this year were absolutely teaming with mosquito larvae. It's been a bad year for skeeters around here, but if all the larvae in those barrels had matured, we would have had to run for the hills from the swarms of blood-suckers!

    Unfortunately, the rain barrels have been decommissioned for now, at least.

    Sigh...
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Uncanny Valley
    Posts
    14,498
    If you make sure to drain the rain barrels weekly, the mosquito larvae won't survive to adulthood. Water really shouldn't be stored in open containers longer than a week anyhow, mosquitoes or no mosquitoes.


    And... that NEJM study doesn't say the other repellents aren't RELIABLE, it just says that high concentration DEET is the only one that lasts for hours on end without being re-applied. I don't see the problem with re-applying a safer repellent (that incidentally smells much better and doesn't melt your clothes, electronic gizmos and sunglasses either). Sunblock has to be reapplied every couple of hours, after all; why not repellent?
    Last edited by OakLeaf; 08-21-2008 at 06:41 AM.
    Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Traveling Nomad
    Posts
    6,763
    Quote Originally Posted by OakLeaf View Post
    If you make sure to drain the rain barrels weekly, the mosquito larvae won't survive to adulthood. Water really shouldn't be stored in open containers longer than a week anyhow, mosquitoes or no mosquitoes.
    The thing that was strange, though, is that the containers (large garbage cans) were had sealed lids on top, and the rainwater flowed in through the downspouts, which entered on the side (up high). So the skeeters had to slip in the cracks around the downspout to get in there to breed, crafty varmints!

    You're right, though -- we'll definitely need to drain them regularly when we get them set back up (unless DH is just "done" with dealing with them, which he might be). That means they'll be empty a good bit of time since our rains have only been sporadic lately, but whenever we do get a nice little rain, like last night (unexpectedly), they'll fill back up.

    Emily
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Hillsboro, OR
    Posts
    5,023
    I was told that there were very few (if any) mosquitos in the PNW.

    Liers! I found them...or should I say, they found me. I am the walking mosquito catcher. Keep me around, and you won't get bitten. It's a running joke in my family. I don't find it very funny. It is not nearly as bad as some places I've lived, but they are definitely still a presence here.

    If there is a mosquito within 50 miles, it'll find me. And black flies? Even pure DEET, literaly dripping off me, didn't stop them. Ugh. As much as I loved New England...I don't miss the biting bugs.
    My new non-farm blog: Finding Freedom

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Utah
    Posts
    532
    Quote Originally Posted by GLC1968 View Post
    I am the walking mosquito catcher. Keep me around, and you won't get bitten. It's a running joke in my family. I don't find it very funny.
    I feel your pain...or rather, your itch! I'm the mosquito magnet in my family. After our moonlight ride last weekend, I was the ONLY one covered in mosquito bites. They got me right through my bike shorts and jersey!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    around Seattle, WA
    Posts
    3,238
    I get a couple of bites every evening when I walk from the kitchen to the compost pile and back. Not far, and still the little buggers find me. NO FAIR!
    Beth

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Bendemonium
    Posts
    9,673
    Quote Originally Posted by emily_in_nc View Post
    You're right, though -- we'll definitely need to drain them regularly when we get them set back up (unless DH is just "done" with dealing with them, which he might be). That means they'll be empty a good bit of time since our rains have only been sporadic lately, but whenever we do get a nice little rain, like last night (unexpectedly), they'll fill back up.

    Emily
    Just add a bit of olive or corn oil. The film on the surface suffocates the larvae and you can still use the water on your garden.

    http://www.noahsnotes.com/naturalpest.html
    Frends know gud humors when dey is hear it. ~ Da Crockydiles of ZZE.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Delaware
    Posts
    528
    I have never had a problem with mosquitos while biking. I think they figure from my huffing and puffing that I'll be dead in two minutes anyway so why bother.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    St. Paul, MN
    Posts
    979
    why would you build a nation's capital on a marsh?

    Minnesota I understand; it was left over land that no one wanted. DC was built up from a stinkin' swamp. And I swear there must be something in the water (other than personal care products, or perhaps because of personal care products) there bites just won't go away.
    Thanks TE! You pushed me half way over!
    http://pages.teamintraining.org/nca/seagull08/tnguyen

 

 

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