Jul 17 2008

Ouch! Itch! Mosquitos

Published by Erin at 9:15 pm under Neighborhood

OK. I am opening up the forum on the horrible little beasts that have been eating me non-stop for weeks now. I get bit on the sidewalk in front of my house, I get bit while walking down streets with no trees, and–of course–I get bit in our backyard unless I cover myself in toxic mosquito repellent.

I’ve heard it’s bad this year because the city stopped spraying. Does anyone know why?

Also, any remedies besides the obvious? Am I the only one being sucked dry?

  • Share/Bookmark

8 responses so far

8 Responses to “Ouch! Itch! Mosquitos”

  1. Mikeon 18 Jul 2008 at 10:40 am

    There is no way out. The new Lemon Eucalyptus repellents are very effective and all natural (no DEET), but the smell is incredibly potent.

  2. galshoppernyon 18 Jul 2008 at 1:07 pm

    3R Living (on 5th in the Slope) has this all natural bug repellent that is made with tea tree oil. I think it helps! (as I scratch my ankle)

  3. bigmissfrenchieon 18 Jul 2008 at 3:58 pm

    Stopped to talk to one of my neighbors on the way home from work the other night, and I had to cut the conversation short because the skeeters had attacked my legs. Same problem on Sunday night when I was attempting to grill in my backyard in Boerum Hill. It’s going to be a long summer.

  4. Missyon 18 Jul 2008 at 5:22 pm

    Damn, I thought it was just me. I lived here for three summers without a single bite and now I can’t even step outside at dusk without having all my exposed parts attacked.

  5. kellyon 19 Jul 2008 at 11:09 pm

    Peppermint essential oil. You can mix it up with some water in a spray bottle and use it as a repellent, as well as putting a few drops of the oil along with window stills to get rid of the mosquitoes.

  6. BeatsMeon 20 Jul 2008 at 6:14 pm

    We had like 10 in our house last night. It was a ’squito smackdown!

  7. joann thompsonon 08 Aug 2008 at 10:20 pm

    I cannot believe there have been no news stories about this. We have not been able to have one meal on our deck this summer because the mosquitoes are intolerable. We use those coils and they seem to help, but are now considering investing in one of those mosquito killing electrical devices.

  8. Lucky21on 07 Feb 2009 at 11:15 am

    Here is some info you may find helpful:
    It’s about that time folks–
    so thought I’d send out this reminder!!!!
    prepare to be repelled!!!!!
    Use Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets…Best thing ever used in
    Louisiana..just wipe on & go…Great for Babies
    OK, mosquitos…
    Bob, a fisherman, takes one vitamin B-1 tablet a day
    April through October . He said it works. He was right.
    Hasn’t had a mosquito bite in 33 years. Try it.
    Every one he has talked into trying it works on them.
    Vitimin B-1( Thiamine Hydrochloride 100 mg.)
    If you eat bananas,
    the mosquitos like you, – something about the banana oil
    as your body processes it.
    Stop eating bananas for the summer and the mosquitos
    will be much less interested.
    This is going to floor you, but one of the best
    insect repellents someone found (who is in the woods
    every day), is Vick’s Vaporub.
    Plant marigolds around the yard, the flowers give off
    a smell that bugs do not like,
    so plant some in that garden also to help ward
    off bugs without using insecticides.
    “Tough guy” Marines who spend a great deal of time
    “camping out” say that the very best mosquito
    repellant you can use is
    Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil mixed about
    half and half with alcohol.
    One of the best natural insect repellants that I’ve discovered
    is made from the clear real vanilla. This is the pure Vanilla that is sold in Mexico. It works great for mosquitoes and ticks,
    don’t know about other insects.
    When all else fails–get a frog
    Fight West Nile…pass this along to
    all your friends in skeeter land!!!
    In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom,
    in water there is bacteria. – Ben Franklin