Earlier 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.
A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
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Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#42That's nice; get back to me when you find something portable, ie something good for hiking.
Midges in the Scottish Highlands are so sensitive to wind that the act of hiking itself creates enough of a breeze to prevent them from biting.
As I found out first-hand this week: just keep walking.
[Additional: Avon Skin-so-Soft seems to prevent midges from surviving a landing, but I didn't find anything to beat larger clegs/horseflies except a good slapping - they will bite through clothing]
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#43Never knew this is a "method" worthy of an article.
Every one in India[AFAIK] knows this.
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#44Didn't someone come up with a blend of things (poison and flower scents) that claimed to eradicate every mosquito in a X mile radius? Whatever happened of that? Why haven't we been able to make something that'll attract large amounts of them and kill them?
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#45This is a godsend, and so blatant an alternative. It will be nice to not spend the rest of the summer duking it out with these buggers for control of the porch.
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#46Didn't someone come up with a blend of things (poison and flower scents) that claimed to eradicate every mosquito in a X mile radius? Whatever happened of that? Why haven't we been able to make something that'll attract large amounts of them and kill them?
Because mosquitos have one of the most powerful cabals of blood sucker lobbyists in Washington. They tend to just swarm anyone left out in the open and drain them of any resolve.
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#47Estate design in the colonial and antebellum Southeast, where malaria was a huge problem until the 20th century, was arguably designed to maximize breezes and drafts: be on hilltops, surrounded by mostly open lawns without much shade, with tall, open windows.
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#48Although it isn't common knowledge, the recommended best practice for avoiding ticks and other bugs is soaking your clothes in Permethrin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3sGvZE3rh4
It isn't very well absorbed through the skin so it has an extremely low toxicity when used in this way, as long as you don't breathe it in or let it get on your skin while it's still wet. It's much more effective and less toxic than DEET, and the CDC recommends it to prevent tick infections. Also don't ever mix it with DEET, because the combination is neurotoxic.
The military actually pretreats all of their combat uniforms in this stuff to prevent malaria and other diseases.
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#49Years ago my buddy took a tour of the Amazon. His guide took them to a tree, ripped the bark off, exposing a den of termites. The guide instructed everyone to grab a handful of termites, smash them up, and wipe the resulting guts on their exposed arms and faces.
Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent
#50Spend a summer up in the Yukon or Alaska if you want to see solid walls of ravenous mosquitoes. I get bitten while riding my bike, bitten while my arm is out of the car window driving at 30km/h, and bitten through jeans. 100% DEET (you can get it in Alaska) does the trick for about 30 minutes before you have to re-apply - and it's nasty stuff. This past weekend I was camping at a music festival and slapped my arm cas…
Is No CM a specific choice? I've always used no-see-ums.
I'm an Australian living in Canada.... I'm not good with "local" words and references... I have seen it written both ways though.