Get used to them
DEET didn’t stop them in AK, at least not on the mud flats.
I simply got used to feeling those sharp little “pinches” all day. While I would not go so far as to say you’ll “not notice them”, it is possible to tolerate them after a while.
Now, horseflies, deerflies, greanhead flies, mosquitoes are a different matter.
That’s the first I’ve
– Last Updated: Apr-16-08 3:29 PM EST –
heard of the vanilla idea. I'll have to try it. Although, I highly recommend you do not do this in Alaska. Unless you're looking to become a Timothy Treadwell vanilla wafer.
At least vanilla is harmless
Have to admit when I hear advice like that, I wonder if someone’s playing jokes on outsiders.
When everybody was raving about Skin-So-Soft as mosquito repellent, I tried it (in Colorado). It attracted more mosquitoes. Worthless stuff.
Repel’s lemon eucalyptus worked for me, as did one of Cutter’s picaridin-based sprays (there are several varieties of them). But I don’t know if they work on no-see-ums.
I call ‘em midges
among other less socially acceptable names. I don’t mind the little ‘pin prick’ sensations but, the resulting itchiness is enough to test my patience. DEET has worked for me mostly but, still, lots of scratchin’ an’ swearin’!
Effective Deet free repellent
Repel Lemon Eucalyptus works for me in the Adirondacks. Check out the comments at REI.
move?
Believe it or not, even here in our great U S or A there are places that are relatively free of annoying, viscious, biting insects.
I’m visiting the coast for the weekend.
We are no-seeum free up here. I bought the Cutter.
Stopping the No See Um’s
In bug country I start my trips by taking my clothing and hanging it over a smoky fire of Alder or Western Red Cedar if in the west. In the east any of the hardwoods will due. Let your hair and body also be exposed to the smoke. Take some garlic pills before going also. I wear a head net and use 90% Deet on areas around clothing openings. If you are wearing river wear like a dry suit avoid Deet and use a non Deet product around areas that touch the seals. Never put Deet near your eyes or mouth. Wear clothing in the natural colors of brown, green and black. The color blue seems to hold a higher attraction to the little critters. Try to avoid sweating and high heat output by your body. The no see ums are attracted to heat output.
Nothing is going to insure you won’t get bites, but the number should go down substantially. Those that travel in the tundra or swamps are going to get bitten unless they use some form of space suit.
bug shirt
– Last Updated: Apr-18-08 7:37 AM EST –
I've never found that repellents work for noseeums or black flies or to tell the truth all that well for mosquitos. And horse and deer flies, well those suckers can really get you on a hot day...
I use a Bug Shirt: http://www.bugshirt.com/ . A BugShirt will stop every single one of these critters no exceptions. I first got one after sitting at ECCKF for the evening on water show drenched in DEET and still swatting mosquitoes whereas my Bug Shirt wearing friends were just watching the show, jeans tucked in sox and no probs with bugs. Used it with terrible mosquitoes and black flies in Newfoundland--made me a believer. Off the water, on the Bug Shirt. Highly recommended.
another vote for Bug Shirt AND Avon
Skin-so-soft. I was in the Everglades this past November with no bug shirt but fortunately had Skin-so-soft. I’m getting a bug shirt for next time !
Bug Shirt for mosquitoes???
Don’t mosquitoes just bite right through those expensive bug shirts???
I wore my paddle jacket, nylon pants, gloves, and a headnet while on a chickee in Whitewater Bay in the Everglades in January in 84 degree temps…about died from heat exhaustion…the no-see-ums and mosquitoes were the worst I have ever seen…
WaterBug
Cigar smoke.
string…
I don’t think I got any new bites out there today.
Vanilla for the little guys
Thermocell for skeeters and wave the white flag to chiggers,they give me a fit.
Had to Deal With 'Em Last Week
The species that were biting me were stopped when I smeared on the deet. I reckon the Harker’s Island branch of the family haven’t evolved enough to become deet resistant.
Not the “real” bug shirt, Waterbug.
there are some knockoff lookalikes out there but the “real” bug shirt has a tight enough weave in the cloth to keep the mossy’s from burrowing through.
Amen Bro
Thats what we use all the way through the Keys, Everglades and south Florida and I won’t use anything else.
In the Everglades the mosquitoes and no-see-ums will laugh at anything that doesn’t have deet in it.
Cheers,
JackL
…Dark Blue…
Blackflies love the color as well…
a very new insect repellent
this is a very new insect repellent, at least for me,because I didn’t see it mentioned anywhere, and the best thing is that is natural and it is not expensive and can be worn on clothes or as a bracelet
http://www.bugbutton.com/
Found a new product on Sanibel
There’s a new product on Sanibel called No No-See-um and it worked better than anything else my husband and I have tried. And we have tried everything.
www.nonoseeum.com