The Florida Bird {Mosquito}

[JE]

While reading thru various posts on this site, I've come across several references to the swarms of mosquitos that seem to infest our dive sites. One of the things I've always done to prevent them from getting at my blood supply, is to make sure that I am not sweaty, nor using any repellent, as that seems to attract them worse than not using any repellent at all. There are various ways to make a quick entry & exit from the water, and what I've always done in the hot months, is to gear up [dry or wet suit + Accessories} in close proximity to the dive site. ie: ask Cathy at her Luraville store if she will mind if you use her area to gear up, like maybe on her shop porch. then it is only a short drive to the dive sites, & all you have to do is slip into your harness & into the water. Do the same thing upon exiting the water...just get out of the woods, and into an open area, where there are less mosquitos, and drop out of your dry or wet suits there.
FYI only-!

je

[Puttzer]

And my favorite technique?

I always wipe my face and arms with a dryer anti-static cloth. Strange as it sounds, it seems to help and I always do it. I've heard some people just carry them in an exposed pocket.

[DeWayne]

And my favorite technique?

I always wipe my face and arms with a dryer anti-static cloth. Strange as it sounds, it seems to help and I always do it. I've heard some people just carry them in an exposed pocket.

I have not heard of that one before, may have to give it a try. I avoid any DEET based concoctions ever since a good friend stroked out at the tender age of 32; he was a wildlife biologist and the autopsy revealled massive amounts of DEET in his liver. The skin so soft works fair enough.

Any particluar brand of dryer sheet seem to work better than others?

[Cindy]

Hey Guys, I'll try all that but frankly there were so many at the park that they were flying up my nose, in my ears and in my mouth everytime I tried to talk. I saw a diver wearing a hat with a bug screen around it one time. I'm going to try to find one. They didn't seem to back off with any bug stuff. My dry suit was covered in them. I still have to breathe even with my suit on they were biting me. I don't like this very much. Cindy :(

[DeWayne]

Hey Guys, I'll try all that but frankly there were so many at the park that they were flying up my nose, in my ears and in my mouth everytime I tried to talk. I saw a diver wearing a hat with a bug screen around it one time. I'm going to try to find one. They didn't seem to back off with any bug stuff. My dry suit was covered in them. I still have to breathe even with my suit on they were biting me. I don't like this very much. Cindy :(

Hehe, sort of reminds me of mornings out in the Green Swamp during spring turkey season, watching the sky fade to black as the sun rose due to all the mosquitos. Actually saw some that would drink the 100% DEET, others would hover while waiting for it to dry then do their business. Best thing I have found is to cover myself as much as possible with light weight clothing and minimized the exposed skin area. A good old nasty cigar can be helpful in keeping them away from your head.

[OFG-1]

Greetings
I find that if you travel with the correct bait, the mosquitos will leave you alone.

I suggest shaved cats. If you have enough of them, say 4 or 5 , and keep them damp, then the mosquitos won't bother you at all.

[John L.]

What about that Halo device they sell at Wal-Mart. It might work for the tailgate, also, would skin so soft by Avon work for mosquitos? I know it works for no-see-um's.

[Angie Reim]

What about that Halo device they sell at Wal-Mart. It might work for the tailgate, also, would skin so soft by Avon work for mosquitos? I know it works for no-see-um's.

The best I've seen thus far is a general fogging. TJ carries something that knocks the misquitoes back just long enough to get geared up. It looks like one of those old fashioned bug sprayers. (Maybe he can enlighten up.) After that it's a race to the water.

Angie

The best I've seen thus far is a general fogging. TJ carries something that knocks the misquitoes back just long enough to get geared up. It looks like one of those old fashioned bug sprayers. (Maybe he can enlighten up.) After that it's a race to the water.
Angie

That thing I've used is a propane fogger. Walmart and others sell it and supplies. It works really good... but doesn't last too long; just long enough to gear up.

[CaveDivingCop]

John Jones has one of those industrial strength foggers too....propane I think.
When it's bad there and we dive together, he breaks that bad boy out and walks around the whole area fogging..........it usually keeps em at bay for the duration.

I have one of the smaller personal size....my brother gave it to me for christmas a couple years ago......pretty reasonable price at wal-mart.

[robohips]

I work within the confines of wetlands in Ohio and the best remedy I have found is taking vitamin B-1 starting in about mid april through the beginning of November. You can not always smell it but the make-up of b-1 tastes bad to the the little buggers. Seems to work pretty well. We have swarms here too. Just some thoughts.

[DeWayne]

I work within the confines of wetlands in Ohio and the best remedy I have found is taking vitamin B-1 starting in about mid april through the beginning of November. You can not always smell it but the make-up of b-1 tastes bad to the the little buggers. Seems to work pretty well. We have swarms here too. Just some thoughts.

That is another one that I have heard about from several and plan to test this year.

[Arnold Mesiser]

permethrin? I understand the armed forces use it in conjunction with deet.I used it In mexico dry caving as a clothing treatment and it seemed an effective combo.

[BillBowden]

To avoid mosquito problems I should rub myself all over with a dryer sheet soaked in DEET, while shaving a cat and smoking a cigar?

[Angie Reim]

Yep. Pretty much. :lol:

[CaveDivingCop]

permethrin? I understand the armed forces use it in conjunction with deet.I used it In mexico dry caving as a clothing treatment and it seemed an effective combo.

Whatever you do don't put that on bare skin....stuff like that and permanone should be put on clothing and then let dry before wearing....it should last about two weeks....I use it on my Sniper gear when I'm deployed on a call out...........but if it gets on bare skin it will make you sick as a dog.......you start off with dizziness and then end up puking....jus a lil FYI.

I don't understand the problem. I keep several spray bottles of Off Skintastic handy, and as soon as I arrive at the site I douse myself, and repeat every half hour. I never have a problem.

Russell

[Cindy]

Ya'll come on down to these Florida swamps Geogia boy, we show you a good time! We aint talken Ginnie Springs here honey. We could use a little distraction for the gators and the skeeters! :lol: Cindy

I'm not talking about Georgia 'skeeters. I remember being at Peacock in August of 2001, when the mosquitoes were so thick they obscured visibility on land.

Russell

[Cindy]

Are you talken bout Peacock Springs skeets? Thems Janet's pets, she trains em so they don't even bite girl divers! I'm talken serious Swuannee River Swarmen Sketters. Maybe Bill will give ya'all another opinion on Monday. :twisted: Cindy

[CaveFreeDiver]

I just relocated form cave country to maimi for a few months. The state bird down here seems to be the gantry crane.

[Angie Reim]

I don't understand the problem. I keep several spray bottles of Off Skintastic handy, and as soon as I arrive at the site I douse myself, and repeat every half hour. I never have a problem.

Russell

That don't help much when a 'dactyl' skeeter flies up your nose!
Deep Woods Off is pretty good but it will speed the deterioration of the neoprene around the neck and wrists of a drysuit. I don't know why but some people appear to attract more biting bugs than other people. I seem to be a no-see-um magnet myself.

[mwenner]

OK, Cindy's got me looking for my head net, TJ's got me looking for my fogger, DeWayne's got me digging out some good cigars, ..... I might have enough room for tanks in my van.

Mark

[Genesis]

There is a solution to this guys and gals, but it costs money and I doubt we'll see it happen.

Look right here:

http://www.mosquitomagnet.com/

Yes, it works. I own one. My back yard is UNINHABITABLE without it during the summer.

With it you're unlucky if you get bit at all.

It works guys.

The bad news? They're not cheap, and they require consumables (lures and propane.)

How much is Kermantle line? I wonder if we could get folks interested in finding a way to donate a few of these for strategic placement? They would DEFINITELY make a difference.

[DeWayne]

permethrin? I understand the armed forces use it in conjunction with deet.I used it In mexico dry caving as a clothing treatment and it seemed an effective combo.

Whatever you do don't put that on bare skin....stuff like that and permanone should be put on clothing and then let dry before wearing....it should last about two weeks....I use it on my Sniper gear when I'm deployed on a call out...........but if it gets on bare skin it will make you sick as a dog.......you start off with dizziness and then end up puking....jus a lil FYI.

Old sniper trick, watch the bugs and look to see which plants they avoid and then rub those plants all over you (be careful though as poison ivies are on their list of non-desirable plants.) The last thing we wanted was any strange odor giving our hide away, or to be constantly slapping away pests. Catnip oil has been proven to be about 10 times more effective than DEET, although it does present other problems for all except ofg-1. Most mints make good natural repellents and Marigold is full of perethins(sp?), a very strong insecticide. There are plenty of alternatives to the harsh chemicals out there.

[DeWayne]

OK, Cindy's got me looking for my head net, TJ's got me looking for my fogger, DeWayne's got me digging out some good cigars, ..... I might have enough room for tanks in my van.

Mark

Bring some really good Cubans Mark and I will swat the little buggars for you 8)

[DeWayne]

To avoid mosquito problems I should rub myself all over with a dryer sheet soaked in DEET, while shaving a cat and smoking a cigar?

Even if it doesn't work, just thinking about it gets me all excited :twisted:

[Capt. S. Narco]

http://www.mosquitomagnet.com/asiantiger.html

A serious threat here-! This bad 'bird' needs to be destroyed with whatever means are available, cause we don't need no viral diseases running amok amongst us-! Perhaps our ancient Chinese cave diving friends from the East have some form of martial arts that we could learn to defend ourselves from these blood thirsty terriosts-!

Capt. S. Narco

[Genesis]

The 'magnets charm for me is not just the mosquitoes. It also gets and kills the no-see-ums and biting flies. If it flies and bites you, this thing traps it.

You wouldn't believe what's in the catch net after a couple of weeks. The downside is that it needs to be left to run for the entire season, because part of how it works depends on collapsing the breeding population, which can only happen if its on all the time.....

It gave me back my yard in the summertime.... the evidence is easy to find too. All you have to do is go around the other side of the house (which is "shaded" from its influence due to the fact that the plume it emits can't get there) after about 3:00 in the afternoon and you get instantly attacked by the no-see-ums and skeeters.

Walk back around the corner where it has influence, the attack stops.

[NitroxWarrior]

You create a good bit of smoke, and all the little buggars are gone.

or you could torch them with a lighter and an O2 bottle, lol :lol:

[OFG-1]

To avoid mosquito problems I should rub myself all over with a dryer sheet soaked in DEET, while shaving a cat and smoking a cigar?

Bill, it is only the sequence that you do not have correct.
1- Shave the cats. This can be done at home to avoid task loading at the dive site
2 - Purchase several "El Rope-o" delux stogies. These seem to make better smoke then the "Dog-turdo" brand
3 - Get a box of your favorite dryer sheets, and a 2 liter bottle of DEET. Also go to K mart and get 2 or 3 bottles of citronella oil torch fuel.
4- Fill one old windex bottle with water, to dampen your shaved cats. You don't want them soaking wet, just damp
5 - Upon arrival at the dive site, tie out the cats, and dampen them lighly before you gear up.
6 - Disrobe, and cover yourself with a very wet coating of deet. Be sure to wipe off the excess with the dryer sheet, prior to lighting up the stogie. There could be unfortunate burns if excees deet is not removed.
Make two trails of citronella oil from your truck to the dive site, you will light one of them with the stogie as you head for the water
7 - After suiiting up, redampen the cats, light up the stogie,, fire up the citronella, and head for the water. Leave the stogie and lighter near the steps so you can get to it when you surface.
8 - When you surface, relight the stogie, light the second trail of citronella oil, go and drain your fins on the cats to re dampen them, dry yourself with the remaining dryer sheets rather than a stupid towel, go and collect your cats, and you are done.

I will be submitting this to PADI later this month as a distinctive speciality.

[Cindy]

Please add 'cover well with mosquito webbing.' :lol: I did all that except shave the cat (she bites!) and still the buggers bit me! I'm looking forward to fall already. Cindy Butler :)

[MilFalcon]

It's not a bird really...

[OFG-1]

Please add 'cover well with mosquito webbing.' :lol: I did all that except shave the cat (she bites!) and still the buggers bit me! I'm looking forward to fall already. Cindy Butler :)

Without the shaved cats, my plan does not work. Feed your cat well, put her in a warm place, wait for her to fall asleep, and then get out about 2 quarts of Nair. Problem solved.

[michael-fisch]

I've still got 2 OD spraycans of DDT, that I inherited from the US Army back in the mid 60's. If the bugs are real bad, a short spray is enough to be bug free for hours.
Sarin and VX are supposed to work real well too, but I never had a chance to try them out when they were still available. :-)

Michael

[Maya]

[/quote]

Old sniper trick, watch the bugs and look to see which plants they avoid and then rub those plants all over you (be careful though as poison ivies are on their list of non-desirable plants.) The last thing we wanted was any strange odor giving our hide away, or to be constantly slapping away pests. Catnip oil has been proven to be about 10 times more effective than DEET, although it does present other problems for all except ofg-1. Most mints make good natural repellents and Marigold is full of perethins(sp?), a very strong insecticide. There are plenty of alternatives to the harsh chemicals out there.[/quote]

There is a plant called pennyroyal, one of the mints. The oil from that plant works great. It is available at health food stores. Be sure you get the oil and not the tincture!

[Capt. S. Narco]

A well steamed quart of Campbells Pork & Beans, & a 16oz carbonated soda beverage consumed one hour before your dive, should do the tirick too, only make sure that you run real fast thru the woods so that you have plenty of pressure built up inside of your stomach before you let loose & de-gas the woods with your effervessence-!

[Bobby]

I bought one of those slick little butane repellers at Bass Pro shop and it works great. Fire it up and in a few seconds it keeps an area about 10 feet around clear of the buggers. turn it off when you are ready to get in the h20 then fire it back up when you get out. Replacement pads are inexpensive and last for a long time. Just be sure to let it cool off before throwing it in a bag or something like that.