OK, mosquitos...prepare to be repelled!!!!!
Use Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets...Best thing ever used in
Louisiana..just wipe on & go...Great for Babies

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

I'm going to try the skin-so-soft this afternoon. Do you drink it mixed with alcohol?
All good hints. I hope they work on black flies too.

Thanks, Rubens... going to try the Bounce. And the Vicks. And the frog.

Thank you Rubens - my DDs love Vicks VapoRub for some reason, so that is a great tip for us. And I have told them that there will be no more bananas until the first frost!

Lidian

Uh Ruth, honey, darling...you put it on your SKIN dear.

Here in Wisconsin the mosquitos could carry me a way at dusk! Unless I am smothered in DEET they aren't bothered by the rest of this stuff. Damn things should be hatching soon... its been unseasonably dry so maybe this year will be better than most.

DS was bitten last week and I was bitten yesterday. I'll keep you posted on the West Nile.

Just read today in the paper that they are preparing for West Nile virus for this summer season. Many cases and even a few deaths here in Wisconsin.

Sojo... you mean last year?! Or this year!?

My friend told me about the marigolds and also that petunias do not attract bees and wasps. I think I will buy planters of both for my balcony this year.

I have a horrible irrational fear of wasps and bees. We had so many last year that I could only sit on my balcony that after the sun went down.

We are looking into buying mosquito netting to hang all around the balcony to keep all the insects off and to stop the pigeons from stealing the plants to use as materials for nests

So far I have only been able to find net tents-which I can't fit on the balcony. Does anyone know where I can find large peices of netting? My plan is to use large velcro strips to attach it to the bottom of the balcony above us so that it will hang down and cover ours.

Last year Wisconsin had all sorts of West Nile problems... they are expecting more this year.

Mauv... bumble bees and honey bees are wonderful and won't hurt you unless you harass them. My garden happily hums with bees and I've never been stung. A bee gathering nectar will not sting you, they are too busy working.

The other day while gardening I accidentally unearthed a queen bumble bee building her spring nest in my rock ledge and boy she was mad (yes this is what I mean by harassing a bee). I dodged out of the way and she dove for her nest, which was now dug up and lying a few feet away. She was literally squirting venom into the air (something I didn't even know they could do). I felt bad but it probably wasn't the best place for her nest. Luckily it was spring and the nest wasn't filled with other bees. Hmmmm... I suppose that story didn't serve to calm Mauv's fears.

Wasps on the other hand are nasty and pests.

There are some very attractive wasp traps available for sale this year. (poor things... but they ARE a nuisance) They're like a large glass beaker thingy hanging from a wire thingy.

Mauvais, you should go to a fabric store. They should have all kinds of stuff. You'll probably even find something funky... you could use shocking pink tulle.

I was admiring a bug zapper in the paper yesterday. And have begun hinting loudly! Wonder if we could rig up some netting around our back porch (it is a fair size, wooden with a funny green ridged roof on it).

Mauv, I am terrified of bees and wasps. When I was in college near Philadelphia we had things they called 'wasp killers' which were enormous buzzing insect things, and one came in our room once (no screens, old dormitory) - I literally moved 1/2 my stuff into the hall & cowered there until someone brave dealt with it. And once when we visited my English in-laws we were all staying at an inn (no screens again! why no screens in England!) and a wasp got in my underwear drawer. I ran whimpering to my MIL who kindly killed it for me. I once saw her kill about 13 wasps one after the other, that came in through her kitchen window (why why why no screen?). She is a highly evolved & brave person - I admire her enormously but I will never be like that! Give me screens to hide behind (and a nice cold iced tea too, please, and a recliner).

Lidian

Just remember that without bees (especially honey bees and bumble bees) we wouldn't have any flowers and plants.

We had West Nile here last year too. They are talking about spraying here this year which I have mixed feelings about!!

Mauvais and Lidian-My DH has the same bee and wasp fear. I trap them and put them outside. Last night he slept on the couch becuse he thought there was a wasp upstairs and I couldn't find it. I don't have a problem with them, but I now those fears are not so easy to overcome!! The strange thing is that they never bother me, but I have seen wasps dive bomb my sweetie pie!!! It is like they sense his fear!!!