I've just used vanilla extract before.. it doesn't take much, treat it like cologne. It smells much better than bug sprays and you don't have any weird residue.
A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
11–20 of 195 posts
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#12Earlier quoted context omitted.
Locally most of the nature trails are built thru swamps (aka eco warriors holy wetlands). They're economically worthless, so they make nice parks and trails. The point of the article is they can't fly faster than 2 mph or so. Simply move faster than 2 MPH. I've ridden my bicycle thru swamps and not gotten bit. I also hike and between walking and a bit of wind there is not much problem as long as I don't stop. A bug i…
Got any solutions for horse flies? Those things are brutal.
Run!
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#13I've known this trick for years. Whenever I visit India, especially during the monsoon season, you always turn on the overhead fan (especially when you sleep). That's it - no more trouble from mosquitoes! It also keeps you cool because sometimes the nights can be warm.
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#14This has been fairly common knowledge, at least here in India, where mosquito menace is common. Another really popular product is what is known as mosquito bats (swatters) like here: http://www.hunterbat.com/mosquito-swatters.html#rechargeable...
I would say this has been common knowledge for at least a generation or two in India. It also helps to remove sweat and the salt residue from the skin, i.e take a bath in the evening and stay cool.
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#15That's nice; get back to me when you find something portable, ie something good for hiking.
What about anti-beastie head nets and jackets?
http://www.purpleturtle.co.uk/acatalog/Protective_Clothing.h...
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#16Personally I'd love to have an auto-aiming laser that detects and fries any nearby mosquito.
The poor critters wouldn't stand a chance.
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#17This has been used for at least 25 years in Paris Island, SC chowhalls.
The doors to the chowhall stay open throughout the meal as recruits stand in formation and slowly make their way through to the actual foodlines. As a recruit making your way through, there's a period where you are the meal for lots of no-see-ums. Then there's the divine fan period (I was there during the dead of summer, and it was flippin' hot!). Then there's the "see and smell the food" period. Ah, the memories...
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#18I've just used vanilla extract before.. it doesn't take much, treat it like cologne. It smells much better than bug sprays and you don't have any weird residue.
I wonder if it's the vanilla or the alcohol suspension agent they don't like?
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#19I've just used vanilla extract before.. it doesn't take much, treat it like cologne. It smells much better than bug sprays and you don't have any weird residue.
I always assumed mosquitoes are going by the IR/heat emissions, but apparently they follow smell. They also have very rudimentary olfactory system, which is easy to confuse by filling the area with a smell "override". It could be a bug spray or a citrus smell (citronella, etc) or it could be a smell that humans don't even pick up. Latter is weird, but it works really well - it's a small plastic dispenser bottle with a wick and heater element on top, just like an oil-based air freshener, but it has no smell whatsoever.
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#20Personally I'd love to have an auto-aiming laser that detects and fries any nearby mosquito. The poor critters wouldn't stand a chance.
I've thought about that, but mosquito's are small and hard to detect. You'd need quite a high resolution camera (or realistically two, to compensate for the parallax between the camera and the laser) combined with some serious software to spot mosquitos at the other end of the room.