Mosquitoes

[aznyron]

I want what Mortiboy got they don't bite him

[cali4995]

I woke-up one morning convinced I had contracted some strange, new, mysterious tropical S.T.D.
Doubly confused since I had been sleeping alone, there were several minutes of intense anxiety
before I deduced the mosquitoes had been nibbling on my "thingy". Yes, I can laugh now.

[jingjai]

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/WBL02132/Na ... -DEET.html

Natural Bug Repellent Better Than DEET

A natural, safe compound found in the Tauroniro tree (Humiria balsamifera) of South America has been found to effectively deter mosquitoes and ticks.

The substance, known by the rather daunting name isolongifolenone, has been used in derivative form widely and safely as a component of fragrances in cosmetics, perfumes, deodorants, and paper products. The results of research into the compound are presented in the February, 2009 issue of Journal of Medical Entomology.

The chief author, Aijun Zhang, a chemist for the U.S. Agricultural Service, found that isolongifolenone deters the biting of the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti (L.) and Anopheles stephensi Liston more effectively than the widely used synthetic chemical repellent N,N-diethyl-3-methyl benzamide, usually known as DEET. And it repelled blacklegged ticks and lone star ticks as effectively as DEET.

Since "isolongifolenone is easily synthesized from inexpensive turpentine oil feedstock," Zhang and his coauthors wrote, "we are therefore confident that the compound has significant potential as an inexpensive and safe repellent for protection of large human populations against blood-feeding arthropods."

In addition, a new, patented method developed by Zhang and his colleagues to efficiently produce isolongifolenone would make it even more cost effective.

Insect repellents containing DEET are nasty and toxic, but mosquito and tick bites are more than just annoying, in many parts of the world they can lead to serious illnesses including malaria and Lyme disease. A nontoxic, inexpensive repellent that outperforms DEET is certainly good news, and I hope further testing confirms these results. In the meantime, I recommend using repellents that contain geraniol***; some research suggests that this natural, plant-derived substance is safe and effective.

*** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geraniol

Although geraniol and other flavor compounds are found naturally in well aged tobacco, geraniol is listed in a 1994 report from cigarette companies as one of the 599 additives to cigarettes to improve their flavor.

Hmm, perhaps my nightly cigar keeps them away from me, while my wife gets bitten frequently.

[Khun Paul]

Not to put to fine apoint on the problem but whenever I vist Thai friends I get bitten, it is not their lack of personal cleanliness, but their lack of keeping the outside clean and removing all rubbish and clearing away any places that water can sit ( unless they have a water feature WITH fish).
I keep my garden and water gullies clean because of that self same reason and I can assure you, no more mossys than normal and I enjoy the nightly chase around the house the house geckos have, it can make for some interesting encounters ( sad arn't I).
Cleanliness is next to no mosquitos.

[Billg]

Hi Guys
I also had problems with mosi bites, but my good lady wife bought me some of this stuff and no problem since. I think you can buy in 7/11 or tesco / Big C. hope the link works as this is the first time I have tried to down load a picture on Udonmap.

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/7549/mosispray.jpg

Regards one and all, and I will be back in April

Bill

[BobHelm]

Well, congratulations Bill the upload worked fine...
Is this the same product that you can buy at any Thai shop for 5 baht for the small sachets??? Pink in colour & smelling quiet pleasant?? If so, I agree it is a good product that does appear to do the job well & seems to sooth any bites that you have experienced before application...

[Michael C]

Off Products are available in Thailand; although, I have not looked for them here in Udon Thani. The higher concentration of DEET, the more effective it will be. I have used it with great short-time effect (it comes off with the sweat and rubs off in the bush) in the moist primary forests throughout Thailand, which is the only place they are really a bother to me.

Udon Thani is not much of a hot spot for malaria or dengue fever and is a rather low threat area compared to the areas bordering Cambodia and Myanmar.

Concerning Shado's quote of Mark Twain, Mark Twain obviously had not been deep in the outback of Western Australia!

[BobHelm]

From my reading on the subject Michael, the aim of mosquito repellents is to confuse the senses of the mosquito so that it does not recognise the user as "prey".
Deet just does not work on me - I can use the highest concentrate & I may as well use water for all the effect it has..
There are other (natural based) products available in Thailand that do seem to work for me - maybe not for others, but worth experimenting with at the cost involved if Deet based products doesn't seem to be the answer..
Totally agree that (thankfully) infections from mosquito bites are rare in Udon, but the bites can still be very annoying especially if you have sensitive skin!!!

[747man]

I MUST be One of "The Luckiest " Guys here, I Just DON'T get Bitten by Mossies,Maybe my Blood is tooooo Sweet ( Diabetes,and all that ) But I was once told that it's because I lie in the Sun ALL the time and do get REALLY Tanned Skin,So Much So that My Mother-in-Law says I look like a Thai Rice Farmer, (That's been in the field too long ) And was told that The Mosquitoes DONT like MY Complexion I Have in the past been bitten by a few BG's ( Long BEFORE I was Married,I might add )

[Shado]

Michael C. wrote: "Concerning Shado's quote of Mark Twain, Mark Twain obviously had not been deep in the outback of Western Australia!"

I suspect you are correct. I've been there (well, Alice Springs area anyway) and found the flies to be absolutely horrible! Even with the little corks dangling from one's hat brim, they were constantly in one's face. Terrible nuisance!

However, I will say this, I've also spent summers fishing in northern Ontario when the black flies and mosquitos would darn near darken out the sun. At that time I would have preferred the outback. Mark Twain was pretty well traveled, but I think he was making his insect comparison in his home state of Missouri.

[Aardvark]

My wife gets bitten all the time here in Oz but I never do, in Thailand the wife never gets bitten but I get attacked all the time, so in conclusion I think Mossies all over the World are Racists

[fremmel]

We've found the little things you plug in the wall socket to be very effective at clearing them out of a room without much, if any, odor. The ones that use the solid inserts are handy because they can be used with extension cords. But the ones with the liquid reservoir last a lot longer. You can get refills for both types. Brand names like Raid and the Thai knockoffs seem to work about the same. I think both Lotus and Big C, and probably Ngee Soon, carry them.

I like them better than the sprays because they aren't insecticides, just repellents. If it's a still night they're even moderately effective for a small area outside.