Flies, Mozzies and Midges etc

Farmhat · Senior Member

Flies, Mozzies and Midges etc

Dickodownunder · Guru

We gave it a go and to a degree it appeared to help with mozzies and midges.
I doubt very much it would repel flies.
After trying it we used baby oil with a splash of dettol with a much better result.
It mentions ticks in the link which may be an enrhusiastic claim as well.

My personal observation is that baby oil by itself works just as well for mozzies

Kebbin · Guru

Mozzies are attracted to the victim by the smell of perspiration and bacteria, the more sweat the more bacteria. That's probably why the oil works by smothering the odours. I do know that the vitamin B solution doesn't work on me as I was on it for 8 months and nothing changed come summer.
Shady Camp is a good place to check out any mozzie repellent theories in winter at sundown they come like darts.

Possum3 · Guru

Hexham NSW is the home of "Hexham Greys" the mosquito they say Boeing used as a Model for the 707 - they breed in the mangroves up there - particularly nasty buggars.
Bushman 40% Deet seems to be the best we have tried.

yobarr · Guru

Kebbin wrote:
Mozzies are attracted to the victim by the smell of perspiration and bacteria, the more sweat the more bacteria. That's probably why the oil works by smothering the odours. I do know that the vitamin B solution doesn't work on me as I was on it for 8 months and nothing changed come summer.
Shady Camp is a good place to check out any mozzie repellent theories in winter at sundown they come like darts.

The biggest attractant for mosquitoes is Carbon Dioxide.They also love dark clothing.Your blood type also plays a part,with type O and type A being at the two extremes of the chart....Ive forgotten which type they like best (O?) but doesnt really matter,as you cant change your blood to suit! Cheers

fwdoz · Guru

Nelson on the Glenelg River in S.A. has some pretty big mozzies if you feel like testing out your theory or donating some blood.

Cupie · Guru

Dickodownunder wrote:
We gave it a go and to a degree it appeared to help with mozzies and midges.
I doubt very much it would repel flies.
After trying it we used baby oil with a splash of dettol with a much better result.
It mentions ticks in the link which may be an enrhusiastic claim as well.

My personal observation is that baby oil by itself works just as well for mozzies

Baby Oil & Dettol gets my vote too.

I carry a solution of that along with a range of the commercial products, like Bushmans & Tropical Aeroguard oops forgot the Aldi one. Anything with lots of Deet. SWMBO complains that the baby oil stains, which is a negative I suppose.

The best ever was the one that the Army issued in my CMF days. Worked well but took the varnish/oiled finish off the stock of our SLRs. It was also a good at getting the Toads to go hard in our Toad races .. just a little squirt up the rear end & off they went.

Desert Dweller · Guru

Loch Sport in Victoria has the biggest mozzies that we've experienced in 45 years of camping. You can buy a T-shirt there with a big one printed on it. Aldi insect repellent actually attracts flies and mozzie!

Mike Harding · Guru

Only personal experience but Aeroguard Tropical Strength seems to discourage both mozzies and flies.

Whenarewethere · Guru

I bought a repellent with natural ingredients which stated that it was jungle strength. It didn't work on many attempts so I resorted to my backup Aeroguard Tropical Strength, also have Aeroguard Odourless which doesn't work very well either.

I don't like using ATS but what do you do! At other times I use a net over the head over a broad brimmed hat, occasionally I do get a bit irritated with the face net.

You just need a range of options & none of these thing take up much room.

Get a spare head net or two as they are easy to loose. They work best over a broad brimmed hat.

I would try a small container of natural repellant but have backup.

Other half has a bit of luck with citronella oil, but not the cheaper "watered" down versions. She uses a head net as well.

LLD · Guru

The high DEET is supposed to be the best. In 10 weeks of traveling in the NW we go annoyed by midges once. And then only one of the 6 of us got bitten, and quite a mess he was. Alcohol in the blood stream apparently works.

Cupie · Guru

LLD wrote:
The high DEET is supposed to be the best. In 10 weeks of traveling in the NW we go annoyed by midges once. And then only one of the 6 of us got bitten, and quite a mess he was. Alcohol in the blood stream apparently works.

Yep. Alcohol is the go. But you have got to build up resistance over time. So start imbibing early & often. I think that red wine is the best antidote.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Cupie wrote:
LLD wrote:
The high DEET is supposed to be the best. In 10 weeks of traveling in the NW we go annoyed by midges once. And then only one of the 6 of us got bitten, and quite a mess he was. Alcohol in the blood stream apparently works.
Yep. Alcohol is the go. But you have got to build up resistance over time. So start imbibing early & often. I think that red wine is the best antidote.

Good to see you were responsible and organised a driver so 5 can drink!

June · Senior Member

You are quite right, we breathe out carbon dioxide and that leads mozzies and midges straight to us. The little sweat flies love riding on our backs and drinking our sweat. The nets that go on a wide brim hat to protect our face is a must, I have several. Am type 'O' blood group and anything that flies goes straight for me. Mouthwash diluted with a little water and used in a spray bottle could help deter the little pests. June C.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Ive mixed up Listerine and water about 50% . And spray around every so often . At night we have one of the airosole sprays . Atleast the mozzies have clean mouths !! Before the bite !! NT we had to buy local tropical strength !! Everything is a piss head up there !! Lol

Whenarewethere · Guru

Found these mosquito/fly swats in Halls Creek IGA.

We have a flyswat while traveling and find it really useful. Last photo, wall to wall mosquitoes on our enclosure in Kakadu, it's not the crocodiles you have to worry about. Sandflies at Francois Peron NP were pretty bad.

Kebbin · Guru

There seems to be 5 things that attract mozzies. I knew about CO2 but everyone emits this so .....

www.mosquitnoband.com/why-do-mosquitoes-like-me-more-than-anyone-else/

Farmhat · Senior Member

It seems not a lot have tried the Natures Botanical. I rang them and the only claim they would make is that it works on bush files better than anything else.

Last trip up through the Flinder Ranges SA there were these flies that had absolutely no regard for Deet, and I was drenched in the stuff to no avail. Both Bushmans and Aerogard. I will give this N.B. a try and keep my fingers crossed.

Shooaway's are good when sitting on a table. They don't keep the flies off us, but do a great job of keeping flies off your food. Got some from Aldi at half normal price once on one of their specials days. www.shooaway.com

Joe

Paull · Veteran Member

I have just bought a thermacell, haven't tried it yet but supposedly 98% effective against mozzies flies and midgies, but you must remain fairly static, like fishing or around the fire.

Cupie · Guru

Paull wrote:
I have just bought a thermacell, haven't tried it yet but supposedly 98% effective against mozzies flies and midgies, but you must remain fairly static, like fishing or around the fire.

I'll be very interested to hear how it goes.

Either I buy one or plant some chrysanthemums. Their website says that the active chemical is a synthetic version of chrysanthemum oil.

So I might just need to put a chrysanthemum flower in my hair, or a wreath/garland perhaps. I'll be a star at drinkies time, especially as I'll come lathered up & shiny with Baby Oil.. LOL

-- Edited by Cupie on Friday 30th of November 2018 05:06:03 PM

-- Edited by Cupie on Friday 30th of November 2018 05:07:24 PM

Dickodownunder · Guru

Paull wrote:
I have just bought a thermacell, haven't tried it yet but supposedly 98% effective against mozzies flies and midgies, but you must remain fairly static, like fishing or around the fire.

Interesting,

When trucking years ago I had a little unit that plugged into the cig lighter and had a tablet about the size of a Borrocca and it was placed on an area that warmed the tablet and it gave off some sort of a natural repellant. It worked quite well.

In days gone by there were other plants that were used for insect control.

Wormwood was a bush which was planted around the area near the chook pen to keep fleas at bay.

I turned up at an old farmhouse one day to do a job and the old lady of the home had used wormwood tied in a sheaf up near the guttering to stop bees getting into the eave area. She gave me a cutting and we planted it near our chook house. The wife reconded it worked so who was I to argue. biggrin

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

I was told years ago that mozzies do not like Vitamin B & to eat vegemite!

So I eat vegemite on my toast & crumpets & have minimal issues with mozzies. Sand flies & marsh flies still bite, the latter don't take "no" for an answer whatever your use, so aerosol sprays are required (RID is made in Townsville, so we protect the local industry by using it).

fwdoz · Guru

Cupie wrote:

So I might just need to put a chrysanthemum flower in my hair, or a wreath/garland perhaps. I'll be a star at drinkies time, especially as I'll come lathered up & shiny with Baby Oil.. LOL

This sounds like a whole new thread!

Mike Harding · Guru

Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
I was told years ago that mozzies do not like Vitamin B & to eat vegemite!

So I eat vegemite on my toast & crumpets & have minimal issues with mozzies.

I prefer the mozzies, thanks :)

Dickodownunder · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
I was told years ago that mozzies do not like Vitamin B & to eat vegemite!

So I eat vegemite on my toast & crumpets & have minimal issues with mozzies.
I prefer the mozzies, thanks :)

I am not sure wether or not vegemite and the vitamin B theory works or not but I can assure you personally that no one would prefer mozzies if they had contracted Ross River Virus and most other diseases that mozzies carry. RRV is a lesser of many of the diseases that may be spread by mosquitos.

Cupie · Guru

Just google Vitamin B & Mosquitoes & choose your expert.

The scientists seem to say no, but many others (often sellers of B1 & essential oils) suggest that high doses do help but often add a rider that says that you should also use a recognised (DEET based) repellant.

My Doctor agreed with the above, but I still take Vit B1 as well as vegemite on my toast.

Dickodownunder · Guru

It is fairly easy to build a mozzie trap for use around a social gathering.

Get a container like a take away plastic dish butter dish etc. and mix in it some water and sugar.
Add half a teaspoon of bakers yeast and find an old black planter pot that fits easily over the dish upside down.
Give it a little time for the fermentation to start. It will kick off quicker with warmer water < 35 deg c. Too hot will kill the yeast.

The fermentation of the sugar produces C02 which is an attractant to the mozzie and they will go into the planter pot through the holes.
It wont take long for you to have many of the mosquitos that may have been troubling you and your guests in that planter pot.
A big pot is better than one that just fits over the container.

Or you could just light a mosquito coil and have everyone put up with the smell. biggrin

Mike Harding · Guru

Dickodownunder wrote:
Mike Harding wrote:
Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
I was told years ago that mozzies do not like Vitamin B & to eat vegemite!

So I eat vegemite on my toast & crumpets & have minimal issues with mozzies.
I prefer the mozzies, thanks :)
I am not sure wether or not vegemite and the vitamin B theory works or not but I can assure you personally that no one would prefer mozzies if they had contracted Ross River Virus and most other diseases that mozzies carry. RRV is a lesser of many of the diseases that may be spread by mosquitos.

Eeeerrrr... I was making a joke....

Dickodownunder · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
Dickodownunder wrote:
Mike Harding wrote:
Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
I was told years ago that mozzies do not like Vitamin B & to eat vegemite!

So I eat vegemite on my toast & crumpets & have minimal issues with mozzies.
I prefer the mozzies, thanks :)
I am not sure wether or not vegemite and the vitamin B theory works or not but I can assure you personally that no one would prefer mozzies if they had contracted Ross River Virus and most other diseases that mozzies carry. RRV is a lesser of many of the diseases that may be spread by mosquitos.
Eeeerrrr... I was making a joke....

I knew you were Mike and I meant nothing more than a very obvious reply.

I rarely use my computer but usually rely on contributing on here and on other areas on my phone.

Now I need to say that I am not a child or of Asian descent and as such I do not have the smallest hands or fingers that the average smart phone was designed around so using this board emoticons on a phone is an almost impossible task.

Without prejudice I did note that in an attempt to indicate that you were joking you used the colon and bracket in an almost vain attempt to reproduce a smiley. I have found that this procedure does not work for this forum on my device either so my post appeared, be it unfortunately, with no indication of the lightheartedness of which was my intention.

I should add here that I really would not rely on Vegemite on my crumpets to prevent a mozzie attack and I don't mind Vegemite.

To eliminate any further misunderstanding I got the computer out and have provided a smiley to indicate my true intentions.

Oh! we don't have a "tongue in cheek" emoticon that I can see so I will just put a couple of happy laughs. biggrin biggrin

Cheers biggrin biggrin

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Possum3 wrote:
Hexham NSW is the home of "Hexham Greys" the mosquito they say Boeing used as a Model for the 707 - they breed in the mangroves up there - particularly nasty buggars.
Bushman 40% Deet seems to be the best we have tried.

Possum that's why the locals up this way refer to the Hexham Bowling club as 'Ozzie the Mozzie' the members are very proud of their big mosquito sign out the front. We lived for a time in Mozambique which is classified as being in one of the most Malarial prone areas of the world, many thousands of people suffer and die of Malaria as well as other mosquito born diseases in that country every year. We took anti malarial medication every day as well using mosquito netting etc. - we always used heavy duty Bushmans containing 80% deet when venturing outdoors at certain times of the day.

I reckon that you need to careful using that high strength stuff as it actualy caused the plating on my watch to peel off so who knows what continual use would actually do to your skin.

Cheers

BB.