What do you do for bugs?

[CindyL]

We just got back from a nice trip to Canada, but the total pleasure of the trip was marred by the bugs, mosquitos and something in the grass, that ate me alive. There is something about my chemistry that causes me to seem to have a target painted on me, because the hubby can go unmolested, while I seem to be filet mignon to bugs.

Anyway, I really do not like the sticky feel of bug repellant. What are the tried and true methods that some of you use? A waitress at Niagra Falls suggested mint Scope. That does not feel much better than bug repellant, to be honest.

Any suggestions for me? We have another trip coming up in a week.

CindyL

[Bruce Thomas]

you can spray Raid yard gaurd around the area...it works well and those mosquito coils or candles help some......also that off you dont like the feel of could be lightly sprayed don just your sneakers and clothes offering some protection and probably around the camp too.....they're ugly and all but flypaper strips hung about grab all kinds of bugs too.....Bruce


also a electric bug whacker if your plugged in might help..love hearing em crackle!

[Bill K]

Garlic capsule's work for some people.

You swallow them.

Bill K

[CindyL]

I read that one online a couple of days ago. I have been taking them ever since.

CindyL

[Tom U]

Originally Posted by CindyL

I read that one online a couple of days ago. I have been taking them ever since.

CindyL

I too am bug banana split. I use Cutters - they have a spray that is not sticky, smells okay and works. It is the one with the blue cap.

If you can't stand it on your skin spray your clothes - I do as a matter of course and it works. Be sure to get your socks and pant cuffs for the grass critters.

As a last resort - An old remedy (which didn't work for me..." is to take lots of B vitamins before your trip.

My wife is like your husband - never bothered. Drives me crazy!

Good luck, lunch....

[Bud Kennedy]

I never do anything for bugs.

When did they ever do anything for me?

[Marinab]

Originally Posted by CindyL

I read that one online a couple of days ago. I have been taking them ever since.

CindyL

Up here in Canada, alot of people use Avon's "Skin so soft" or Off's "Skintastic". Both are lotions. I have also heard that the soldiers use these as well. I personally use the Off spray and the lantern around my trailer. Hope this helps,
Marina

[Jim Sinor]

Has anyone tried the Thermacell device. One of the guys I was hunting with last fall had one. It worked great on mosquitos. It has a small propane bottle and a pad with a chemical in it. When the pad changes color it needs to be replaced.
It seemed to clear a rather large area of mosquitos

[CindyL]

I sure appreciate all the comments. I really want to find some solution(s). The First Up screen house helps a lot, but you can't stay inside that all the time.

CindyL

[Jim Sinor]

I forgot to mention that the Thermacell has a little carry case accessory.
You can carry it with you with the shoulder strap. This thing is almost too good to be true.

[Vickie B.]

Good one, Bud!!! I was trying to think of something clever---but it just wouldn't come! You made my day!

[theresa p]

mosquitoes are irritating but a fact of camping life.....we use deep woods off but also we like listerine. i put some into a small spray bottle and it also is good sprayed on the screen door in the trailer.

[Lizbeth]

Camp in the winter.

I have left a camping area at a lake when the yellow jackets were so thick you couldn't keep them out of the camper. Moved to a coastal camping area that was lovely and without bugs.

We carry Deepwoods Off, I hate the stuff. Generally where we camp the skeeters (who love my hubby, where as I am flea bait) are only bad at dawn and dusk. We are sleeping at dawn and have a fire going at dusk or try to be in the trailer eating supper.

[SherryNPaul]

I don't like the idea of DEET, but I do like the results when sprayed on sleeves and pants legs on a buggy night.
We call it deep woods cologne....
Best solution for us is a campfire and clothing that covers most of the mosquito's favorite meals.... Long sleeves and pants are the campfire fashion, even if the material is thin.
Sherry

[Cam A]

Originally Posted by CindyL

There is something about my chemistry that causes me to seem to have a target painted on me, because the hubby can go unmolested, while I seem to be filet mignon to bugs.
CindyL

Some people definitely do have the misfortune to be more attractive than others. Stay away from perfumes and scented soaps, etc., wear light colored clothes, minimize potassium intake - bananas, etc. and find someone even more attractive to mosquitoes to hang around with. Bugs seem to be worst at dusk, prime sitting-around-the-campfire time. If you can stick it out til hard dark (tough up north) they usually lighten up. It is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.....

[CindyL]

Well, unfortunately, the resultant bites (They were not mosquitoes; it was whatever was in the grass.) kept me up all night, despite applying cortisone.
I am going to send for cutter's cream and see it it works and is not nasty.

CindyL

[Tamid]

If you were up in the Canadian rockies you may have run into what we call, 'no seeums'. Nastly little flies that are very small, so small they can actually pass through most normal sized screen holes. I end up taking anti-histamines if I get bitten too much.

[Cyndi B.]

Has anyone tried the new Off thing you hang on yourself? The commercial must be working because we can't find any on the shelves at the store. Chiggars live in the grass and like tight spots in your clothing where they burrow under your skin. Finger nail polish remover suffocates them. I avoid putting on bug spray, stay away from smelly hair and body stuff. Nothing worse then passing somebody on the trail that smells like they bathed in perfume instead of soap.

[CindyL]

Tracy:

I think that was was bit my legs up so much. We were on Manitoulin Island.

Cyndi:
I did try the thing attached to my belt. Not all that good. (BTW, the hubby's from Decorah. We both went to Luther.)


I also found out that Cutter's cream apparently is not being made anymore. Kevin found a natural cream, minus deet, at Old World Wisconsin over the weekend that I will try when we camp this weekend.

CindyL

[Tom U]

Originally Posted by CindyL

I also found out that Cutter's cream apparently is not being made anymore. Kevin found a natural cream, minus deet, at Old World Wisconsin over the weekend that I will try when we camp this weekend.

CindyL

Cindy,

Try Cutter's 'Skinsation'. It is a spray that has Aloe and vitamin E and is not oily. I react to Deet and can use this. It really works.

Also, OFF makes a sun screen that has repellent in it. Feels just like any other sun screen to me.