jpexg@mit-hermes.ARPA (John Purbrick) (05/13/85)
It's the season to be....bitten. What methods exist, apart from the application
of diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) in large quantities, to protect oneself from
biting insects? In particular, are there any foods one can eat that would repel
them? I have heard that garlic is exuded through the skin (and breath) and that
insects dislike it, but that eating bananas will attract them. And there is a
company selling a product they call "skeeter tabs" that claim to be an "oral
repellant"--has anyone tried it? And is it safe for humans, apart from its
effect on bugs? I'm more interested in this subject this year because I'm
going on a 10-day canoe trip in central Canada in July, and I can't see hauling
a 55-gallon drum of Off along, nor do I want to hear my girlfriend's usual
remarks about how I have the aroma of a Sunoco station. Itching, of course, is
no fun either.
John Purbrick
{...decvax!genrad! ...allegra!mit-vax!} mit-eddie!mit-hermes!jpexgee163acp@sdcc13.UUCP (DARIN JOHNSON) (05/16/85)
A few acquaintances of mine swear on vitamin B-12 (or around there)
taken during the few days before the 'problem' period. It has never
worked for me, but I've seen results. (I was the only one bitten :-(
Darin Johnsonjcp@osiris.UUCP (Jody Patilla) (05/16/85)
> It's the season to be....bitten. What methods exist, apart from the application > of diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) in large quantities, to protect oneself from > biting insects? In particular, are there any foods one can eat that would repel > them? I have heard that garlic is exuded through the skin (and breath) and that > insects dislike it, but that eating bananas will attract them. And there is a Eliminating as much sugar and refined carbohydrates from your diet as you can will help, as these do change your blood and your body scent. Not eating red meat will also help. I am told that dousing yourself with chamomile or thyme tea will repel insects. If you are barbecuing or using a campfire, bringing dried herbs with you for the fire will help keep the insects away from your campsite. -- jcpatilla "'Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill !'"
clewis@mnetor.UUCP (Chris Lewis) (05/16/85)
In article <2389@mit-hermes.ARPA> jpexg@mit-hermes.ARPA (John Purbrick) writes: >It's the season to be....bitten. What methods exist, apart from the application ... >going on a 10-day canoe trip in central Canada in July, and I can't see hauling Central Canada in July? Black-fly time! Or, at least, the tail end of it. The little buggers (also called "no-seeum gnats") are probably the worst of the insects. Numerous mosquito bites are usually little more than an annoyance. Black-fly usually travel in large swarms and you frequently get mobbed by them. In rare occasions, large quantities of black-fly bites can be dangerous. Every once in a while you read about domestic cattle dying from black-fly bites due to insufficient shelter, no breezes and becoming panicky. Re: repellents: I very much recommend "Musk Ol" (I think that's what it's called). You can get it at any of the outfitters. You don't need much - one small plastic bottle (the size of one of the nasal sprays) should be enough for one person for at least two weeks. I've never found "OFF" to be particularly effective - Musk-ol is fantastic. We were in Kilarney for a week - we were barely touched by anything. Made a believer out of me! Even kept most of the wasps away (glad of it too, my wife is strongly allergic to 'em). At best, OFF only prevents mosquitos from biting me. It isn't particularly effective for me against black-fly or the truly awesome Horse or Deer fly. Musk-ol will prevent almost everything from landing, except possibly for Horse fly - you'll still need a baseball bat! (:-)). Seriously, Horse fly take quite a bit of meat and leave behind quite an inflamation. Fortunately they don't swarm and are much rarer than mosquitos or black-fly - but one or two will fly in circles around you for hours waiting for a chance for fresh meat - you don't feel it til after they've left. Warnings: Musk-ol is *very* smelly at least initially. You get used to it - it's a small price to pay. Musk-ol is also *very* irritating to sensitive tissues. Particularly eyes. You must pay attention to the warnings on the package. However, once you apply it (it's a thick oily liquid), you should rinse your hands - it's still effective as a repellant but it won't be concentrated enough to cause problems with rubbing your eyes etc. One dose of Musk-ol per day is usually sufficient even with some minor dunkings or splashings. At least partial washing is very strongly recommended if you and your friend decide to ... The smell isn't particularly objectionable after a couple of hours - but you gotta get your friend to use it too! Musk-ol is somewhat expensive (say $3-4 CDN per bottle) but well worth it. Another suggestion. Anti-histamine cold-remedy pills (eg: Chlortripolon in Canada) are sometimes very effective at reducing the itch from most biting insects. I use the strongest non-prescription anti-histamines I can get (the stronger version of Chlortripolon). I take one or two after getting a few bites and I have very little itching at all. One pill per day (if I'm getting bitten) seems to be the right amount for me. You will have to decide for yourself what strength is strong enough to be effective that won't make you too drowsy or have other undesirable side-effects. Also, anti-histamine may just save a life when you discover, 5 days into the bush, that you are having a very strong allergic reaction to a bee or wasp sting. My wife carries a little box containing a two-shot adrenalin-substitute hypo and several prescription-strength anti-histamine tablets. Anti-histamines alone (the hypo is prescription-only here, quite expensive and lasts only for a year or two) *may* be sufficient for survival if the reaction is life-threatening. However, it is always safer to have a doctor check you out for bee/wasp stings if you don't know how you will react to them - particularly if you are going into the bush. If you are sensitive to bee/wasp strings, you should carry the hypo around at all times. Re: food selectivity. Some people at some times seem to naturally repell bugs. I don't think that anyone has managed to figure out precisely why or, more importantly, force it to happen with any sort of reliability. All I can say is, if by luck you discover it happening to you, don't change your "cleanliness-factor" or your diet. Neither perfectly clean or filthy bodies, in themselves, will repell bugs much either. Sweating has something to do with it tho. I've gone for a year without being touched, then two years getting eaten alive (before I discovered Musk-ol). It's largely a matter of luck. One "natural" suggestion tho: Avoid wearing anything blue or black - they attract some bugs. In particular, blue attracts mosquitos. And, mosquitos can usually go right through blue-jeans... I also think that white is to be avoided but I can't remember for sure. Greens, medium browns and dark beiges are probably best. I may have made camping/canoeing around in the Canadian bush sound a little intimidating with the comments about the insects. It ain't all that bad - I just don't like insects biting me (particularly Horse fly). The danger I usually worry about is being caught too far out in a lake during a storm or misjudging how close you can get to a set of rapids. -- Chris Lewis, UUCP: {allegra, linus, ihnp4}!utzoo!mnetor!clewis BELL: (416)-475-8980 ext. 321
jhull@spp2.UUCP (Jeff Hull) (05/16/85)
In article <2389@mit-hermes.ARPA> jpexg@mit-hermes.ARPA (John Purbrick) writes: >What methods exist, ... , to protect oneself from biting insects? Yes, eating garlic will help. In addition to whatever oral remedies others may suggest, cut down (way down) on your salt intake. Mosquitoes (& most biting insects) are attracted to the salt in your blood (no, I don't know how they know you are a walking salt mine). -- Blessed Be, Jeff Hull {decvax,hplabs,ihnp4,scdrdcf,ucbvax} 13817 Yukon Ave. trwrb!trwspp!spp2!jhull Hawthorne, CA 90250 34o3'15" N by 118o14'28" W
tjs@cbdkc1.UUCP ( Tom Stanions) (05/17/85)
In article <2389@mit-hermes.ARPA> jpexg@mit-hermes.ARPA (John Purbrick) writes: >It's the season to be....bitten. What methods exist, apart from the application >of diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) in large quantities, to protect oneself from >biting insects? In particular, are there any foods one can eat that would repel >them? I have heard that garlic is exuded through the skin (and breath) and that >insects dislike it, but that eating bananas will attract them. And there is a >company selling a product they call "skeeter tabs" that claim to be an "oral >repellant"--has anyone tried it? And is it safe for humans, apart from its >effect on bugs? I'm more interested in this subject this year because I'm >going on a 10-day canoe trip in central Canada in July, and I can't see hauling >a 55-gallon drum of Off along, nor do I want to hear my girlfriend's usual >remarks about how I have the aroma of a Sunoco station. Itching, of course, is >no fun either. > >John Purbrick >{...decvax!genrad! ...allegra!mit-vax!} mit-eddie!mit-hermes!jpexg I don't have any offhand suggestion to stop you from being bitten. But if you should be we have found that a good dose of B-complex (natural off course) will reduce the bump and stop the itching within minutes. {allegra|ihnp4}!cbdkc1!tjs
ped@mtuxo.UUCP (p.davidson) (05/17/85)
REFERENCES: <2389@mit-hermes.ARPA>, <609@mnetor.UUCP> WOW I thought this topic should be in "net.??.bugs"
jpexg@mit-hermes.ARPA (John Purbrick) (05/19/85)
> Musk-ol will prevent almost everything from > landing, except possibly for Horse fly - you'll still need a baseball > bat! (:-)). Thanx for the reply--I'll save it all. We certainly get black flies in New England; in fact you aren't allowed to kill them in Maine, on account of they're the state bird. Oddly enough, the weapon to deal with horseflies isn't a baseball bat, but a baseball HAT. Explanation: horseflies are not swarming insects, but one or two will follow you for hours in sunny areas. They are very agile, and can dodge almost any solid object; if you're lucky enough to connect, they are tough enough to survive an impact. But I have a baseball cap that I sometimes wear while canoeing, and the back of it is made of mesh. If the cap is held by its peak and swung, the mesh back apparently isn't enough to create a pressure wave that the flies can dodge, so you can sweep them down against something hard. It's especially gratifying to toss your persecutor overboard and watch a fish appear from the depths and swallow it! ps Muskol is widely sold in the States too. Is it really better than Old Woodsman (I use the "jungle strength" grade) or is it just that the smell makes one think that it's doing more good? John Purbrick jpexg@mit-hermes.ARPA {...decvax!genrad! ...allegra!mit-vax!} mit-eddie!mit-hermes!jpexg
jbuck@epicen.UUCP (Joe Buck) (05/20/85)
I can personally testify to the effectiveness of garlic (specifically, garlic
oil capsules) in repelling mosquitos. It passed the Assategue Island test --
when I was living in the Washington DC area we frequented the nude beach
there (since closed - :-( ), which had some really vicious bugs.
Garlic oil capsules are extremely effective. They are available at most
health food/vitamin stores. Don't get garlic tablets, they don't work.
Take one about a half hour before exposing your tender flesh. Sure, your
breath gets bad, but it sure beats insect repellant. If you can't taste
the garlic on your breath anymore, it's time for another.
I'm also told that vitamin B-1 is supposed to be an effective repellant,
but I haven't personally tried it.
--
Joe Buck Entropic Processing, Inc. (epi)
{allegra,decwrl,hplabs,ucbvax,gatech,ihnp4}!twg!t12tst!epicen!jbuckwetcw@pyuxa.UUCP (T C Wheeler) (05/20/85)
John, at one time, before they moved to Pennsy and now use different water, I had great luck with the drinking of a can of Schaffer beer in the evening. Now it may have all been in my mind, but my neighbor who drank Millers was always covered with the beasties while they avoided me. (I should think about that). Seriously, avoid wearing blue colors. Observations made of Jersey skeeters seem to point out that they are attracted to blue, at least in Jersey. To make a cheap repelent, mix 3 parts water with 1 part Avon Skin-so-soft. I hear it works just as well as the higher priced stuff and does not leave you smmelling like the floor of a garage. T. C. Wheeler
kwp@mhuxd.UUCP (PEABODY) (05/20/85)
> It's the season to be....bitten. What methods exist, apart from the application > of diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) in large quantities, to protect oneself from > biting insects? In particular, are there any foods one can eat that would repel > them? I have heard that garlic is exuded through the skin (and breath) and that > insects dislike it, but that eating bananas will attract them. And there is a > company selling a product they call "skeeter tabs" that claim to be an "oral > repellant"--has anyone tried it? And is it safe for humans, apart from its > effect on bugs? I'm more interested in this subject this year because I'm > going on a 10-day canoe trip in central Canada in July, and I can't see hauling > a 55-gallon drum of Off along, nor do I want to hear my girlfriend's usual > remarks about how I have the aroma of a Sunoco station. Itching, of course, is > no fun either. > > John Purbrick > {...decvax!genrad! ...allegra!mit-vax!} mit-eddie!mit-hermes!jpexg I have heard that Avon Skin-so-soft works very well against even black flies. Several different people have told me this, but I have never had an occassion to try it myself.
geoff@denelvx.UUCP (Geoff Baum) (05/21/85)
Actually, there are three types of insect pests which are often encountered in Northern Maine and Canada during the summer months. They are mosquitoes, black flies and no-see-ums. The mosquitoes are usually the LEAST worrysome since they respond to most insect repellants and are large enough to see, so they can be swatted. Black flies have biting rather than sucking mouthparts. Therefore, they leave nasty painful wounds. Black flies require a much stronger repellant, and even then they tend to fly around one's head in a cloud. By far the worst insects (if they should be there in profusion) are the no-see-ums. These insects have a body the size of a large hair follical (sp?) and are therefore impossible to see unless you really know what you're looking for. The first hint you usually have that they are around is when you start itching and stinging all over. Look for a skin pore with wings. N-Diethyl-Meta-Toluamide is very effective against all of these pests. The problem is that it must be used in high concentrations to be effective against black flies, and even higher concentrations for no-see-ums. The repellant I use is sold by Recreational Equipment Incorporated (Seattle) and used to be called Jungle Juice (I think they call it something else now). It consists of 75% N-Diethyl-Meta-Toluamide and 25% inert ingredients (alchohol, I think). This stuff works well on all insects. Eastern Mountain Sports used to sell something similar. Almost all insect repellants contain this active ingredient, so just read the labels and look for the most potent one. 75% "Diethyl-Toluamide" is the strongest I have found. Caution--some people can have a skin reaction to this chemical, so try out a little before you disappear into the wwilderness. Also, the chemical disolves some plastics, so always keep it tightly capped and sealed inside a heavy polyethelene bag (most heavy-duty sandwich bags are fine). Finally, when you are looking for repellants be informed that liquids, creams and aerosols all use different formulae. Usually liquids and creams are the strongest, foams come next, and aerosols are the weakest. Good luck and have fun--canoeing up there rates as one of the best times of my life--I'm sure it will be one of the best of your's. Geoffrey Baum
ecl@mtgzz.UUCP (e.c.leeper) (05/24/85)
I believe that someone has "discovered" that if you ingest more vitamin B-? (well, one of them, anyway) than your body needs, the excess is dissipated in your perspiration and the scent it exudes repels insects of all sorts. Hey, who knows, it's worth a try, and there's not much danger of a vitamin B overdose, since the excess *is* gotten rid of (unlike vitamin A, which you *can* overdose on). Evelyn C. Leeper ...ihnp4!mtgzz!ecl