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04-13-2014, 09:09 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2018 23' International
Currently Looking...
SANTA BARBARA
, CA
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,214
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Buggy Critters, How to Deal With Them!!
I've been in Southern California so long, that I've almost forgottten about weather and bugs!
In preparation for our cross country trip this summer, I realized that we're heading into buggy territory.
Last time I went somewhere buggy (Mammoth Lakes), I broke out in a rash on my legs from the DEET. Time before that (Asheville, NC), no DEET, but I got bitten to death.
Please re-educate me on how to best deal with skeeters and such awful critters. Need ideas for both inside and outside the rig.
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04-13-2014, 10:15 PM
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#2
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by weirdstuff
Last time I went somewhere buggy (Mammoth Lakes), I broke out in a rash on my legs from the DEET. Time before that (Asheville, NC), no DEET, but I got bitten to death.
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Spray permethrin on your clothing, including shoes and socks. Do this about half an hour before putting them on, to give the permethrin time to dry before it makes contact with your skin.
If that doesn't work, try smoking menthol cigarettes. Back in the days when I still smoked, menthol made an effective insect repellent; it made my blood taste bad!
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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04-14-2014, 03:14 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2012 25' FB Eddie Bauer
Vintage Kin Owner
Virginia Beach
, Virginia
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,801
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Protagonist
Spray permethrin on your clothing, including shoes and socks. Do this about half an hour before putting them on, to give the permethrin time to dry before it makes contact with your skin.
If that doesn't work, try smoking menthol cigarettes. Back in the days when I still smoked, menthol made an effective insect repellent; it made my blood taste bad!
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Menthol... Is that found in any food or mint? I am a skeeter magnet, and if there is anything I could eat to make them think I smelled or tasted bad, I'd do it. Don't suppose a garlic necklace would work would it?
Deet works but I don't like it on my bare skin, and Avon Skin so Soft - doesn't do much at all. I do put citronella candles out around my campsite - but don't like to burn them unless I'm right there watching. Too many children could play with them and get hurt.
Paula
__________________
Today is a gift, that's why they call it the present.
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04-14-2014, 03:27 AM
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#4
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Foiled Again
Menthol... Is that found in any food or mint?
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Not that I know of. Chemically, menthol is similar to camphor, which is found in mothballs and also repels insects other than moths. You could set out mothballs in place of the citronella candles, I suppose, but I can't guarantee it would work as well as it does inside a closet.
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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04-14-2014, 04:16 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2002 30' Classic S/O
Garden Valley
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,631
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Just take along a bunch of fabric softeners and wipe around your face, neck arms, etc. Stuff a couple in your socks for ticks.
__________________
2008 F-250 4X4 Lariat V-10
2002 Airstream Classic 30' w/SO #2074
2007 Kubota 900 RTV
1996 Ford Bronco
2007 Lincoln LT
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04-14-2014, 04:32 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1966 22' Safari
Hilltop Lakes
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,767
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The last couple of summers, I've tried something I read in a health food sort of publication years ago. I take a 250mg tablet of Vitamin B1 every day. It has worked. For the first time in my life, I've stopped being a mosquito magnet!
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04-14-2014, 05:50 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1981 27' Excella II
mays landing
, South Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,179
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mimiandrews
The last couple of summers, I've tried something I read in a health food sort of publication years ago. I take a 250mg tablet of Vitamin B1 every day. It has worked. For the first time in my life, I've stopped being a mosquito magnet!
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Ditto on the B1. I started taking it but the only problem I couldn't stand my own odor. It was so bad I decided to let the skeeters have their way. Sal
__________________
Sal & Nora
Let us live so that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry. Mark Twain
AIR 42483
TAC N.J. 17
WBCCI 24740
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04-14-2014, 06:33 AM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
2014 16' Sport
Route 66
, Arizona
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 162
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Thermocell is highly recommended on an amateur astronomy forum I frequented about a year ago. These are folks who sit calmly outside just after dusk, so they ought to know what works. I've never tried Thermocell but bought one yesterday to see how it does this summer.
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04-14-2014, 07:51 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
Lexington
, Minnesota
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,991
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Permetherin works on all kinds of biting bugs including ticks and black flies. You do NOT put it on your skin but on your clothes as stated above. It will last through rain and a washing or 2 before it needs to be renewed if you do it right by thoroughly dampening your clothes and letting them dry first. I always do my hat and jacket. I use DEET on my socks, and tuck my pants into them if I'm in tick territory. You can always get mosquito netting to wear to keep skeets off your face when they're REALLY bad! It works, but is hard to eat with...
Kay
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04-14-2014, 09:12 AM
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#10
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65th Anniversary CLIPPER
1996 36' Clipper Bus
Tub City
, British Columbia
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 3,309
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Blackberry has an app that repels mosquitoes. It may be available for other brands also?
Seems to work good.
Dave
__________________
"LOVE and LOSS, are two of the greatest emotions one can experience. -- I went to school to learn about "WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN" but I had to live my life to learn the lesson of: 'WITH LOVE THERE WILL BE SORROW'."
David Stewart. (after loosing my NAVIGATOR)
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04-14-2014, 09:43 AM
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#11
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by masseyfarm
Blackberry has an app that repels mosquitoes. It may be available for other brands also?
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Since it's ultrasonic, and uses the built-in speaker, as long as the app is running you can't make or receive calls without stopping the app.
Being that it's ultrasonic, I kind of wonder if it will set dogs to howling if they're within earshot…
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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04-14-2014, 09:49 AM
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#12
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65th Anniversary CLIPPER
1996 36' Clipper Bus
Tub City
, British Columbia
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 3,309
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I suggest you don't test this app for the dog HOWL this week during FULL MOON! It might compound the problem.
Dave
__________________
"LOVE and LOSS, are two of the greatest emotions one can experience. -- I went to school to learn about "WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN" but I had to live my life to learn the lesson of: 'WITH LOVE THERE WILL BE SORROW'."
David Stewart. (after loosing my NAVIGATOR)
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04-14-2014, 10:18 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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I would rather have mosquito bites than the chemicals on me so I try not be available when they are at their worst, near sunset and sunrise, especially late June and July. In heavy woods they may be active most of the day, set up camp in the open. Unfortunately campfires attract them late into the evening so wear a long sleeve collared flannel shirt and long pants in light colors (tan), never black or red.
You could give your neighbors one of those bug zappers so they all go over there. Or give them lots of perfumes, after shaves, deodorants, hair spray and such to attract various bugs.
In the spring if you go walking in tall grass near trees prepare to pick off wood ticks. Tucking you pant legs into your socks helps keep them outside, if you know what I mean. Deer ticks, the little ones, are the dangerous tick.
Like anything in nature, try not to fight it but learn how to live with it.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
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04-14-2014, 10:29 AM
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#14
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Rivet Puller
2003 28' Safari S/O
Atlanta Burbs
, Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,006
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I'll ditto the B vitamin stories. Since I started taking Super B Complex daily I noticed my wife complaining about biting bugs whenever I thought, "How nice the bugs aren't out." However, it doesn't seem to work on Noseeums.
A few friends, including my brother, swear Garlic pills work well, but that did not work for me. Body chemistry is an individual thing and the sweetest people are always targets.
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04-14-2014, 11:27 AM
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#15
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Airstreaming Pagey
2015 31' Classic
Green Cove Springs
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 342
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We have had good luck using the mosquito coils that can be bought at Walmart. They have been swamp-tested in the Okefenokee during mosquito season and performed admirably. We also have mosquito jackets. They have a rope-like inner layer over a light fabric outer layer. The little blighters - er biters, cannot stab through the layers.
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Page
May your days be filled with love and laughter.
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04-14-2014, 11:35 AM
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#16
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Airstreaming Pagey
2015 31' Classic
Green Cove Springs
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 342
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And I have also read that peppermint oil, strategically placed, can dissuade ants from intruding.
__________________
Page
May your days be filled with love and laughter.
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04-14-2014, 11:48 AM
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#17
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pagey
And I have also read that peppermint oil, strategically placed, can dissuade ants from intruding.
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I use Comet cleanser placed arounf the tires and around the legs of the picnic table.
I also spray my patio mat with wasp spray; it works well to keep ants off the mat, and thereby off anything that's on the mat.
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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04-14-2014, 01:12 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1981 27' Excella II
mays landing
, South Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,179
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Boric acid
I have had great success eliminating sugar ants in the kitchen counter of the house by using 3 cups of warm water, 1 cup of sugar, and three tablespoons of boric acid mixed together and poured on a cotton ball placed in a jar cap. Sal
__________________
Sal & Nora
Let us live so that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry. Mark Twain
AIR 42483
TAC N.J. 17
WBCCI 24740
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04-14-2014, 01:18 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
1981 27' Excella II
mays landing
, South Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,179
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Also, this mixture will attract every ant in the vicinity, But you leave them alone and they carry it home to the queen, eliminating the colony. Have used the Comet with success in badly infested areas in Fla. Sal
__________________
Sal & Nora
Let us live so that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry. Mark Twain
AIR 42483
TAC N.J. 17
WBCCI 24740
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04-14-2014, 03:41 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2018 23' International
Currently Looking...
SANTA BARBARA
, CA
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,214
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This is hilarious!! Pants & sox, flannel shirt, mosquito jacket....isn't it gonna be like 90 degrees out with 80% humidity?!! I'm gonna swelter and die with all those clothes on!!
Well, great bunch of suggestions, and I'm gonna try some of them. Probably start with the bug coils, and the vitamin B's, and work my way to other things from there. Permetherin...that seems like a good one...can spray on a hat.
No way to test any of these out until we get out of San Diego!
Thanks for the great ideas.
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