Mosquitoes

[Kayc]

I have just come back a few days camping.  The Mosquitoes were there in swarms and they love me!  Infact anything that bites love me. Once, we had just arrived a new camping site, I opened the car door and a huge horse fly flew in and bit me!  I use 'Off"  which does work to some degree and Bushmans which is very good, though it melts plastic if you have any on your hands and touch something.  I have been taking VitB for months, but that doesn't help and burn coils but I think the little beggers love the smell of them!
So... does anyone have a tried and true insect repellant  and also something to keep them away.  Even when I spray myself with Off etc, they hang around just a few few inches away looking for an unsprayed bit of skin. They even sit on the rim of my coffee cup while I am having a coffee

[Yvette]

Drink a bottle of bitter lemon

[cookie1]

Does that work Yvette. It would be a great solution.
Kaye I find the only thing that really works is to cover up. Rather hard for the face and neck though.

[Yvette]

I think it works 

[Amy :-)]

Don't eat bananas
And I find 'Aeroguard' works better than 'Off'

[obbie]

my reply got lost, as power went out
Mosquito's are attracted to dark clothing, also try aerogaurd, its better.

[Cuilidh]

I have read that mosquitoes are attracted to people who eat bananas.  They love my DH as well, in fact, they love him so much that he got malaria several years ago!

If I remember correctly, Andie once posted that spraying the area with Listerine works (but it didn't seem to work for me).  Try searching this forum for mosquitoes and you may find some more answers because I know there have been some posts on this subject in the past.  I think one of the Avon products was also mentioned - I've just checked my files and it was Avon's Skin So Soft.  If you PM me your email address I'll send my list to you.  I can't vouch for the efficacy of anything on the list, but it makes interesting reading.  In fact, if you search this forum for Skin So Soft you will probably find the exact same list or link that I have got.

[cookie1]

They love my DH too. He ended up with Ross River Virus after being 'kissed' by a mosquito.

[obbie]

I ended up with Ross river fever years ago too.

[jeninwa]

Has anyone tried the mosquito bands seen them in the shops and online.
http://www.mozziebands.com.au/

[Wonder]

I'm exactly teh same, I get eaten alive as soon as I walk outside. I much prefer Off to Areoguard but last week still got 15 bites while sitting outside covered in Off. The rest of the family got none!! I have tried the Bushmans but found it affected my skin and felt worse than being bitten. I researched the Listerine theory and there isn't much to back it up online. I haven't tried the Skin So Soft, although I did buy some last year and couldn't remember what I bought it for, do you know if you rub it on your skin or spray around? I was going to give the Sandlewood sticks a try this year. I tend to try everything that's on the market at least once each year. 

Jeninwa, I tried the bands and they did  nothing for me.

[Cuilidh]

I think you wipe the Skin So Soft on, but I would have to check that.

I also asked Megan Jane if she did citronella candles, but she said not yet.

A combination of mozzie coils and citronella candles often helps to some extent.

Covering up is always good, but when we lived in Hong Kong the mosquitoes there would bite you through your jeans!

[Kayc]

Thank you for all those suggestions.  I too have had Ross River Virus, thankfully a mild dose.  One of the replies triggered a memory of something I had read in the Bali Advertiser last year
For those interested
http://baliadvertiser.biz/articles/paradise/2012/mosquitos.html

I now remember trying to find the Lemon eucalyptus oil without any luck. 
The most effective natural mosquito repellent so far. A 2002 study in the New England Journal of Medicine compared different synthetic chemical and herbal repellents. A Lemon Eucalyptus Repellent provided 120.1 minutes of mosquito protection, more than a repellent with a low concentration of the chemical DEET (4.75% DEET provided 88.4 minutes of protection and 23.8% DEET, provided 301.5 minutes of protection

I will try again.  I had bought one of those electronic things which emit a high frequency and you attach it your clothing.  The beggers came and sat on it!

[Aussie Brenda]

Sorry to hear thatnyounjhave mossie trouble,  I have a girlfriend who is the  same, I always try to sit near  her, so I don't get bitten  .  We went camping a couple of weeks ago and I had some  Skin So Soft, bath oil is the best it has the strongest smell, it seems to work GF used it too and had asked me to get her some. 

[Wonder]

I can't wait to try the skin so soft. I bought two bottles of it but it took so long to get to me I forgot why I bought it! If we are planning a night out doors I always use a combination of protection so this and the bitter lemon can be added to the list.