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A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent

nytimes.com

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Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent

#131

Post by joonix »

raamdev wrote: post #107

My low-tech deterrent? A lifetime of avoiding deterrents. My body seems to have developed a natural resistance to them. I grew up in New Hampshire, not exactly as extreme as Alaska but a place where there are certainly plenty of mosquitos in the summer. I went camping a few weekends ago in the White Mountains and had 10 mosquitos biting my arm as soon as I stopped moving. So what's my deterrent? My body. It seems to…

Mosquitos are terrible in Texas (the humid part) and would bite me all the time (grew up there). Now I'm in NYC the last few months, and I don't think I've been bitten even once. Or, I am being bitten, but I don't notice because my immune system doesn't react to the bites at all.

I find this very interesting. Does anyone have thoughts on this? FWIW I never used insect repellants growing up.

Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent

#132

Post by darkarmani »

WestCoastJustin wrote: post #87

There is a guy on Youtube [1] that builds large DIY Mosquito fan traps. Well worth a watch if this is an issue for you. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU2kbghz85I

7:58: "I don't know why you'd want to collect mosquito legs, but if you ever enter a contest, you'll win"

Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent

#133

Post by jeltz »

roc wrote: post #80
pinko wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Also don't ever mix it with DEET, because the combination is neurotoxic. Holy crap. I must know 100 people who regularly wear Permethrin-treated clothes and then spray on DEET repellent. I had no idea it was dangerous. (FWIW, I avoid them both due to general conservatism when it comes to toxic chemicals, especially when the stakes are low -- i.e., the worst-case is itching and not malaria.)

The worst case of a tick bite is far more serious than itching.

Yep. at least in Europe and Russia the worst case for a tick bite is death (from TBE). I am not sure what the worst case is in North America.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tick-borne_disease

EDIT: Seems like some North American ticks can kill you with their neurotoxins.

Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent

#134

Post by VladRussian2 »

grecy wrote: post #29

Spend 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…

> 100% DEET (you can get it in Alaska) does the trick for about 30 minutes before you have to re-apply

July evening mosquitoes in Western Siberia tundra plains land onto and bite even freshly DEET-ed skin :)

> black fly season

1cm long - nah, 2 cm long - painful, yet usually can't get through clothes, 3 cm long - get you even through clothes like jeans, really painful and blood doesn't clot oozing through a 3mm razor cut.

Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent

#135

Post by ericabiz »

biot wrote: post #130
hsuresh wrote: post #3

This 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...

Is the electric thing a gimmick, or is there science behind it? I sometimes dispose of annoying houseflies using a racquetball racket. No electricity, but fast moving nylon strings take care of the flies nicely.

They're great fun. I live in Austin, TX and we have several in the house. They obliterate mosquitoes with a satisfying "POP" noise. The mosquitoes literally explode into tiny pieces when you hit them with the bat. It's awesome (especially when you are like me--I can get 20+ bites on a single night while wearing insect repellent, where everyone else around me is fine, and I use the bats as revenge. :)

Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent

#136

Post by D9u »

raamdev wrote: post #107

My low-tech deterrent? A lifetime of avoiding deterrents. My body seems to have developed a natural resistance to them. I grew up in New Hampshire, not exactly as extreme as Alaska but a place where there are certainly plenty of mosquitos in the summer. I went camping a few weekends ago in the White Mountains and had 10 mosquitos biting my arm as soon as I stopped moving. So what's my deterrent? My body. It seems to…

Yes. Dryer sheets are a cheap low-tech mosquito mitigation technique. We used to put them in our pockets when we were in the field. (non-issue items are not allowed outside one's uniform)

Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent

#137

Post by jlgreco »

jeltz wrote: post #133
roc wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The worst case of a tick bite is far more serious than itching.

Yep. at least in Europe and Russia the worst case for a tick bite is death (from TBE). I am not sure what the worst case is in North America. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tick-borne_disease EDIT: Seems like some North American ticks can kill you with their neurotoxins.

The most common "bad case" scenario in North America is lyme disease. It's easy to treat if caught early, but is disabling in the late stages (possible outcomes include psychosis).

I don't think it is common for it to get bad, but catching it at all is relatively common if you spend much time in nature around the northeast corridor.

Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent

#138

Post by Sami_Lehtinen »

Greetings from Borneo rainforest, 23% Icaridin did the trick, no bites. Except on the areas that weren't sufficiently protected. Yes, this is also nasty stuff, it burns ons skin when you apply it, even if it's on top of sunscreen. Icaridin doesn't melt plastics like DEET does. I was surprised how well it protected me, even if I was sweating like a monkey. Btw, we were only ones on that hiking trip who used this stuff, most used citronella, because they didn't like these chemicals. Also some areas ban these chemicals for environmental reasons.

Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent

#139

Post by hobs »

jlgreco wrote: post #137
jeltz wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep. at least in Europe and Russia the worst case for a tick bite is death (from TBE). I am not sure what the worst case is in North America. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tick-borne_disease EDIT: Seems like some North American ticks can kill you with their neurotoxins.

The most common "bad case" scenario in North America is lyme disease. It's easy to treat if caught early, but is disabling in the late stages (possible outcomes include psychosis). I don't think it is common for it to get bad, but catching it at all is relatively common if you spend much time in nature around the northeast corridor.

When it does get bad it can be mistaken for ALS. That's pretty fucking bad.

Re: A Low-Tech Mosquito Deterrent

#140

Post by Sami_Lehtinen »

eksith wrote: post #77
ultimoo wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, this is not something I knew about Alaska. I did a simple google image search for 'Alaska mosquitoes' and that is plain scary.

Not living North enough ;) This is mostly a problem further South and West in Alaska. The higher up you go, the colder it is to the point you don't get that many insects at all.

Or south enough. Bonus is that in south you'll also get denque, yellow fever and malaria from bites.
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