Gnats, mosquitoes and things that bite

[Roy_Lynne]

We are planning a trip to the Great Salt Lake and I saw a notice at one of the campgrounds that the No-See-ems were hatching and even head nets didn't work
Shall we rethink going. How long are they active? Is it really a problem we should consider? I've dealt with mosquitoes all my life, but never lived around no-see-ems.
Thanks so much.

[Kit_Carson]

My wife recently discovered a product that does a great job of keeping gnats away. Johnson & Johnson Baby Creamy Oil, with aloe-vera. We were recently camped at the casino in Marksville, La. and the gnats were terrible. A friend of ours recommended this to my wife. It works!! Not oily or smelly.

[NYCgrrl]

The beginning: at least 30% DEET product. I buy Repel wipes so no spots are missed. Aerosol DEET products are apt to miss a spot and too expensive IMO.

The end:

Permethrin Spray

I spray it on everything made of fibers/textiles except clothing. According to the manufacturer and various reviewers it can be used on clothing but I prefer not to.

I've never had a natural product that worked unfortunately so man-made chemicals it is. And if I'm using chemicals they better work;).

[ramgunner]

Roy&Lynne wrote:
So last week I was down in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, birding and came back with THE MOST VICIOUS bites around my ankles. I bought a tube of hydrocortisone and that didn't even touch the itch. Finally I went in the tub and soaked my ankles in hottest water I could stand and then used the Anti-Itch. It lasted about 4 hours when it woke me up and I had to repeat the process. Its been a week and I'm on my second tube of hydrocortisone. I'm going to use all your suggestions believe me.

When it gets that bad you also need to attack it from inside with an antihistamine.

[ramgunner]

Padlin wrote:

ramgunner wrote:
The no-see-ums aren't as bad as the asian tiger mosquitoes. They bite fast, and the bites itch badly. They are in Utah.

I thought Utah was bone dry, is there a rainy season?

We have had a very wet spring - comparatively. They are worried now about later when all of the stuff that is super green now dries out and fire season starts.

It's wet enough for mosquitoes.

[NMDriver]

The following is from a Article on the internet with info from CDC and Consumer Reports.

Several repellents work well.

CDC says you want one that includes DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or a chemical called IR3535.

While DEET products have long been thought the most effective, recent tests byConsumer Reports gave the edge to picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus.
"It was really a surprise," and should be good news to people uneasy with the possible side effects of DEET, says the magazine's senior health and food editor, Sue Byrne.

DEET has been linked with seizures and other serious side effects, mostly in people who swallowed it or applied heavy concentrations.
When used as directed, it's safe, Bernier says: "It's been around 63 years and has a remarkable safety record."

Other strategies can help.
Wear long sleeves, pants, closed shoes and socks for a walk in the woods. You also can also spray a repellent called permethrin on clothing and gear. And check yourself for ticks when you go inside

For an evening on your patio, try this: sit next to a fan running at high speed. Consumer Reports found that helped repel mosquitoes, and Day says it makes sense: "Mosquitoes do not have an ability to fly in wind conditions much more than 1 mile an hour."

Here's what doesn't work.

Consumer Reports gave thumbs down to:
• "Natural" repellent sprays made with plant oils, such as citronella, lemongrass, and rosemary
• Wrist bands containing citronella or geraniol oil
• Citronella candles
The American Academy of Pediatrics adds these to the ineffective list:
• Garlic
• Vitamin B1 supplements
• Bug zappers (they may actually attract insects)
• Ultrasonic devices

[Roy_Lynne]

Just had to post. This months Consumers Report had a great article on insect repellents and what to do. Fans played a important and helpful roll and some of the best repellents were not DEET Of course now that I want to tell you which one they said was the best, I can't find my magazine but it was Something Fisherman and Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Natural.

[Roy_Lynne]

So last week I was down in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, birding and came back with THE MOST VICIOUS bites around my ankles. I bought a tube of hydrocortisone and that didn't even touch the itch. Finally I went in the tub and soaked my ankles in hottest water I could stand and then used the Anti-Itch. It lasted about 4 hours when it woke me up and I had to repeat the process. Its been a week and I'm on my second tube of hydrocortisone. I'm going to use all your suggestions believe me.

[mdcamping]

ramgunner wrote:
The no-see-ums aren't as bad as the asian tiger mosquitoes. They bite fast, and the bites itch badly. They are in Utah.

I'm willing to bet the no-see-ums & asian tiger mosquitoes are know where near as bad as the green heads we encountered on the Jersey shore.

Relentless nasty hard biters!

Mike

[pnichols]

Padlin wrote:
I thought Utah was bone dry, is there a rainy season?

When I lived there we once had a slushy snow storm in August around the Ogden and Salt Lake City areas. :E

[Padlin]

ramgunner wrote:
The no-see-ums aren't as bad as the asian tiger mosquitoes. They bite fast, and the bites itch badly. They are in Utah.

I thought Utah was bone dry, is there a rainy season?

[ramgunner]

The no-see-ums aren't as bad as the asian tiger mosquitoes. They bite fast, and the bites itch badly. They are in Utah.

[2012Coleman]

As stated, pests are most active in the morning and evening. Here is all you need to have - OFF Family Care:



In the evenings use a fan while hanging out by your RV.

[pnichols]

We drycamped in our RV on Antelope Island (in the middle of the Great Salt Lake) in mid-summer a few years ago and the bugs weren't too bad, but maybe early in the summer they would have been worse.

The use of a fan to blow away bugs whenever outside is a good suggestion. We carry along a high volume powerful 12 volt fan, with an extension cord for it, that blows bugs when sitting at outside tables or sitting in our lounge chairs.

What we found was WAY MORE IRRITATING when camping on Antelope Island was the odor in the air - everywhere out there. There's nothing you can do to get rid of that if it's present.

By the way when bugs get inside the RV and land on light colored surfaces there, we just use a little portable vacuum cleaner to suck them off of anything they're on. Amazingly, once inside the vacuum they never seem to "escape out of it" ... there gone forever. We use this same technique in our stick house.

When camping on Antelope Island you will probably see some really astounding sunsets ... as well as buffalo.

[Sourdough_Biscu]

To keep bugs out of the MH, we've found that the "No Pest Strips" work pretty well. We hang it in the bathroom so it's not hear the food. But, in a 24' Class C, it's still able to effect bugs in the whole rig from there.

Outside the RV, we often set up a "perimeter" with mosquito coils. Not ONE sitting between us. Instead, we light 3-5 coils per person in camp. They seem to work well against mosquitos, no see ums, whitesox and about any other flying bug we have in Alaska.

And, the 100% DEET, as evil as it is keeps bugs away. But, I never apply it with the palms of my hands. I put it on the backs of my hands and rub it on myself that way. I've seen people leave hand/finger prints in all kinds of things by having it on their hands and then touching anything plastic or with any kind of finish: steering wheel, gun stock, plastic drinking glass.... and more.

On a side note, as a kid, finding the No Pest Strips seemed easy. Not so much anymore!