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  • Mosquito advice

    I have just got my first allotment and everytime I have been down there I have been besieged by mosquitos. There are literally scores of them hovering around me at all times. I have Jungle Formula roll on with 50% deet but despite this I got bitten over 80 times on my neck and back on Saturday (the little b*ggers must have got inside my top) I also have bites on my face and arms and even in my hair!

    The site chair did warn me about them prior to taking on the plot but I had no idea they would be this bad! I need to find a solution otherwise my enjoyment of the plot is ruined before I even start!

    I will be asking anyone I see down the allotments but what do you all use to stop getting bitten?

  • #2
    Horrible for you
    You need to find the source of stagnant water that they are breeding in and cover it if it is waterbutts or otherwise solve the problem. I don't know where you are, but even down here in sw France there are some nasty illnesses carried by mosquitos.
    Is it in the allotments or outside? Sounds like it might be an environmental health issue as it is that bad. At least they should go with the colder weather.
    Le Sarramea https://jgsgardening.blogspot.com/

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    • #3
      I don't know what scientific evidence is behind it but everytime I went abroad, I took a packet of Brewers Yeast Tablets & they worked a treat. I believe it gets into skin which then repels the mozzies.
      sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
      --------------------------------------------------------------------
      Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
      -------------------------------------------------------------------
      Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
      -----------------------------------------------------------
      KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

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      • #4
        https://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/201...ects/J1321.pdf
        sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
        --------------------------------------------------------------------
        Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
        -------------------------------------------------------------------
        Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
        -----------------------------------------------------------
        KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

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        • #5
          As PP says above probably the best thing is to find what is attracking them & removing it, is it just your plot or the site in general ?
          I see from a previous post you are in NW England, some of our Scottish members might have ideas on this as I believe they sometimes suffer from invasions of midges.
          He who smiles in the face of adversity,has already decided who to blame

          Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity

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          • #6
            OH goes mountain biking in Scotland quite a lot and was recommended Avon's Skin So Soft. Apparently the midges don't like it but I'd agree with comments about finding the source. Assuming you're in the UK your problem shouldn't be that bad!

            Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

            Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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            • #7
              Avon do a suncream that a lot of my friends swear by as a gnat and skeeto repellant.

              I was given a tip from a plotter at my first ever allotment.
              Stan had contracted malaria while interred as a POW by Japan. He told me that all those years later, he would get flare ups if he got mosquito bites at the plot. So despite absolutely hating the stuff, he always ate marmite on his toast!
              Lucky for me, I love marmite....and I very rarely suffer with gnat bites.
              Got to be worth a try?
              http://goneplotterin.blogspot.co.uk/

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Bigmallly View Post
                I don't know what scientific evidence is behind it but everytime I went abroad, I took a packet of Brewers Yeast Tablets & they worked a treat. I believe it gets into skin which then repels the mozzies.
                Originally posted by muddled View Post

                I was given a tip from a plotter at my first ever allotment.
                Stan had contracted malaria while interred as a POW by Japan. He told me that all those years later, he would get flare ups if he got mosquito bites at the plot. So despite absolutely hating the stuff, he always ate marmite on his toast!
                Lucky for me, I love marmite....and I very rarely suffer with gnat bites.
                Got to be worth a try?
                Both made from Brewer's yeast

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Alison View Post
                  OH goes mountain biking in Scotland quite a lot and was recommended Avon's Skin So Soft.
                  Gees, that rolls back the years Alison, I used to use that about 30 years ago. I can't remember why though.....................
                  sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
                  --------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
                  -------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
                  -----------------------------------------------------------
                  KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Lots of people use avon over here as well, swear by it. The english shop is always out of stock.
                    I have not used it but there is a great spray over here, it works a treat for me.
                    Like others said get rid of the source if you can
                    I grow 70% for us and 30% for the snails, then the neighbours eats them

                    sigpic

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Alison View Post
                      OH goes mountain biking in Scotland quite a lot and was recommended Avon's Skin So Soft. Apparently the midges don't like it but I'd agree with comments about finding the source. Assuming you're in the UK your problem shouldn't be that bad!
                      I'm told even the SAS use it

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                      • #12
                        Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I cannot remove the source, the site is near a marsh which is renowned for the problem. The council have tried many things to help such as spraying at different times and flooding the area more to reduce the issue but nothing really works.

                        I will cover up a couple of open water butts on my plot and buy some skin so soft to try and see how I get on. I am hoping they will die off soon when we get the first frosts.

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                        • #13
                          Interestingly, this documentary was on BBC Scotland last night

                          BBC iPlayer - Search - The Secret Life of Midges

                          Apparently people who are rarely bitten have a higher level of a repellent chemical in their blood.

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