Insects and what to do about them

[anm]

I could not figure out where to stick this but finally decided on Hobbies since I delight in finding novel ways to get rid of the little buggers!

I've tried using Deet and I have to say I hate it, I would rather put up with being bitten than put up with Deet. Deet also dissolves plastics — my hands were getting black because my phone was being dissolved.

Is there any kind of heater or burner that will keep bugs away? I'd like to hear from people who have actually used a method that they recommend. If I go into Wally World every bug remedy they have claims it's the greatest, but I know that most of it is just hype.

 

[mockturtle]

The only non-Deet solution I know that works is an electric fan.  And, if you're out hiking, it's hard to carry a fan with you.     I wear a headnet then.  But a small fan will run fine on 12V and it will keep bugs off if you aim it right at you.

 

[eDJ_]

I use this when I'm Smoking Meat or BBQing outdoors on my deck.  I live on the banks of the Ohio River and there are plenty of insects here.
Even my ol'Tom Cat won't hang around when I'm simmering those Cough Drops.

Get some of those little "Tea Light Candles" (Dollar Tree has them cheap...in the summer some times you'll see Citronella varieties there)

Then puck up a roll (or bag) of Eucalyptus Cough Drops.   Save some small cans and set up about 3 flat stones
so the can will sit atop of the stones and allow room for the flame from the candle.   Drop a Cough Drop in the can and enough water to almost cover it.  Position the Cough Drop to the side of the can so it isn't directly
over the flame of the candle. 

This will begin to float through the air and Bug the Bugs.  I've used as many as 4 of these on my deck and it's worked for me. 

Just any generic Eucalyptus Cough Drop will work but try to keep fresh ones for this as they are the most potent.

 

[anm]

I use this when I'm Smoking Meat or BBQing outdoors on my deck.  I live on the banks of the Ohio River and there are plenty of insects here.
Even my ol'Tom Cat won't hang around when I'm simmering those Cough Drops.

Get some of those little "Tea Light Candles" (Dollar Tree has them cheap...in the summer some times you'll see Citronella varieties there)

Then puck up a roll (or bag) of Eucalyptus Cough Drops.   Save some small cans and set up about 3 flat stones
so the can will sit atop of the stones and allow room for the flame from the candle.   Drop a Cough Drop in the can and enough water to almost cover it.  Position the Cough Drop to the side of the can so it isn't directly
over the flame of the candle. 

This will begin to float through the air and Bug the Bugs.  I've used as many as 4 of these on my deck and it's worked for me. 

Just any generic Eucalyptus Cough Drop will work but try to keep fresh ones for this as they are the most potent.

I like the cough drop idea, I'll give it a try and I'll get some of the citronella tea-light candles.

I have a fan in the van, but they're always most objectionable when I'm outside doing things...

 

[highdesertranger]

the cough drop thing sounds interesting. I gave up on using chemicals on bugs years ago. so now I just live with them. like mock turtle said a fan works really good. most flying insects don't like a breeze. highdesertranger

 

[buckwilk]

I use this when I'm Smoking Meat or BBQing outdoors on my deck.  I live on the banks of the Ohio River and there are plenty of insects here.
Even my ol'Tom Cat won't hang around when I'm simmering those Cough Drops.

Get some of those little "Tea Light Candles" (Dollar Tree has them cheap...in the summer some times you'll see Citronella varieties there)

Then puck up a roll (or bag) of Eucalyptus Cough Drops.   Save some small cans and set up about 3 flat stones
so the can will sit atop of the stones and allow room for the flame from the candle.   Drop a Cough Drop in the can and enough water to almost cover it.  Position the Cough Drop to the side of the can so it isn't directly
over the flame of the candle. 

This will begin to float through the air and Bug the Bugs.  I've used as many as 4 of these on my deck and it's worked for me. 

Just any generic Eucalyptus Cough Drop will work but try to keep fresh ones for this as they are the most potent.

At least you won't have to listen to the bugs coughing.

 

[GotSmart]

]I was driving through the backwoods the other day, when I saw a guy with two tires on the side of the road. I stopped and agreed to give the guy a ride to Walmart, as he had run over a piece of metal and needed both tires replaced.  I get down the road almost to the highway, and a small herd of deer crossed the road in font of me. The guy asked m "What in tarnation is that!?" 
I answered, "That's a brush deer, what did you think it was?" He shrugged and said, "We grow 'em alot bigger'n that back home in Texas." We get a little farther on and came to a few buffalo in a field. He again asked in a puzzled tone "What are those?
"Those are buffalo; you gotta be kiddin me, you really don't recognize them?" The guy replied "Well, I guess they're kinda familiar --it's just that we grow 'em so much bigger back in Texas."

We get down close to the highway, and there is one of the Alligator Snapping Turtles that plague the state.  This one must have been about 150 lbs. Well this large snapping turtle lumbered onto the road. The Texan peered intently at the creature and said "Now what the heck is that thing!?" "Wood tick". 

While he was waiting for his tires, I saw him stocking up on Deep Woods Off

 

[highdesertranger]

dang that's one big snapper. better hold on to your ding-a-ling if your swimming with that thing in the water. highdesertranger

 

[WriterMs]

dang that's one big snapper.  better hold on to your ding-a-ling if your swimming with that thing in the water.  highdesertranger

No, it's fine... they don't go for small bait. LOL

(Sorry HDR... not directed at you at all.. you just have to admit, that was just to hard to pass up.) :angel:

 

[Almost There]

For personal protection against flying insects I use Sawyers' Pericardin. It does not melt plastic and IMO works a whole lot better than Deet which I will NOT use.

For area protection, no seeum netting made into bug screens works great for keeping the inside of the van bug free. If I do get bugs inside, then I can always close up the van and spray it with a flying insect spray, wait 10 minutes and then air it out.

If you want, you can also treat the bug screens with Sawyers Pemethrin treatment.

Hikers use the permethrin treatment for their clothes to ward off both flying insects and ticks. It is not necessary or advisable to treat your underwear or your socks. I also don't treat the headband on my hat. Some have tried using permethrin that's available for farm yard use but it usually has a petroleum base that smells and can mess up your clothes. Sawyers is specifically formulated for on clothing and around humans. Read the warning labels in regards to applying it around cats and fish.

I also like using the stick on patches for deer flies...they're ineffective for anything else but work on deer flies.

 

[highdesertranger]

hahahaha, ok I see were this is going. I guess I stepped right into that one, or swam. that reminds me of a joke, oh I better not. ah what the hell.

"I knew a guy that got busted for illegal exposure, they had video and everything. the judge threw it out for lack of evidence"

highdesertranger

 

[Cammalu]

A thermacell unit has worked for me

 

[highdesertranger]

ok what in the hell is a thermacell unit. highdesertranger

 

[Cammalu]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/ThermaCell-Camo-Mosquito-Repellent/4242368

You can clip it on your belt, set it beside you or whatever. I'm in Kentucky and we have plenty of mosquitos and this is what is used around here especially when hunting and you don't want to make a bunch of noise slapping yourself.

 

[GotSmart]

ok what in the hell is a thermacell unit.  highdesertranger

http://www.thermacell.com/mosquito-repellent

 

[Cammalu]

And it's refillable. I think if you check Amazon and everywhere else you'll find great reviews. There is no odor, noise anything. You don't realize it's on. I don't know how it works and I don't care I just use it. Maybe it's magic [emoji15]

 

[highdesertranger]

hum interesting. even though mosquitos don't really bother me, but they seem to bother a lot of others. highdesertranger

 

[Goshawk]

Take a 2 liter plastic bottle. Cut it in half and reverse the top into the bottom. Now you have a mosquito trap. Put some raw sugar cane sugar and water in there after boiling to allow maximum sugar content. Pour a packet of yeast in there. It will start making carbon dioxide over the next few days. Mosquitos will go for it and get trapped. Works great. Watch a few YouTube videos where folks do this in tropical areas. They have few bug problems.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

From one who grew up in bug heaven, Northern Minnesota (in order of effectiveness):

1. Go to somewhere dry (few bugs),
2. Go to somewhere windy (bugs blown away),
3. Go high (above the 'bug' line),
4. Isolate yourself from bugs (screened in area or clothing),
5. Chemically repel them (DEET, Pericardin, smudge pots),
6. Grease yourself up (old woodland Indian method),
7. Stay in smoke from campfire (another old Indian trick).

What I use when bugs are a problem:

1. Good screens in my camper (so I can sleep without harassment),
2. Pericardin for clothing and body; DEET in extreme cases (but I hate the stuff),
3. Smudge pots around campsite (I use OFF brand) or Citronella torches (less effective),
4. A good campfire is surprisingly effective (attracts bugs to fire, not you),
5. I have bug screen hood and loose clothing but they tend to be hot and uncomfortable.
6. I have a thermacell but have not needed to use it; for inside of the camper for un-harassed sleep.
7. Would get a large screened tent if needed.

-- Spiff

 

[rvpopeye]

OR you could just go north till all the little bloodsuckers freeze to death...