Those damn mosquitoes!

[04Stefan07]

I never ever do any stargazing on warm nights, especially 30 degrees +. Once I went out for around 20 minutes and came back in with around 80 mossie bites on me!

Anyone here have any special techniques on keeping those damn mossies away!??!

[Kunama]

I will swap you your 80 mosquitos for my 1000 flying Christmas Beetles,
These guys land on your and then crawl inside your clothes by the dozens.

[Astro_Bot]

It's not special, but I use Aerogard pump spray. I apply thoroughly - spray onto a cloth until it's damp then rub on every exposed part and a fair way up loose shorts/sleeves as well. Since adopting that practice, I've had only one bite (must have been a determined little bugger).

I can't see an expiry date on the Aerogard, but I usually replace mine annually if it's not used up.

[h0ughy]

bug zapper - aeroguard and have someone with you who they like more

[Jen]

Hahaha yep I'm one of those people lol :lol:

[spacezebra]

"Bushman", plenty of it!!

Cheers Petra d.

[Jen]

And a fan near-by to blow them away (works for me) :D

[mithrandir]

Steel cap boots. Loose lightweight slacks with elastic bands around the ankles over the boots. Long sleeve shirt. Then "Off", Aerogard or Bushmans on any still exposed skin.
Just don't get repellents on your palms or that side of your fingers. DEET (or possibly some other ingredient in the mixture) attacks plastics. Picaridin based ones are not supposed to. Read the ingredients.

[Tandum]

We haven't seen any xmas beetles up here in years. I dunno where they went but I miss seeing them this time of year. There used to be thousands when I was younger.

Aeroguard for mozzies.

[pgc hunter]

No mozzies at all last couple of nights I was out. Quite surprising. There's more flies than usual though.

[chrisp9au]

They all came to central Victoria, last night! :thanx:

Chris

[Irish stargazer]

I have been using Bushman 40% DEET the last two nights and no bites. I used RID a few days ago and was bitten on the hand 4 times in as many minutes even though covered with repellant. I hate this time of year for observing. It seems to be worse after a heavy rain storm and dies down again after a few dry days. From my experience (and numerous bites) Aeroguard seems to be more effective than RID

[Steffen]

For warm, humid suburban Sydney nights I usually get away with Berocca. Two tablets in a glass of water a couple of hours before I go out, and the vitamin B shot makes me ooze a smell mozzies just don't like. I can hear them buzzing around and they may even land on me occasionally but they won't bite.

Anything more tropical and I also use insect repellents.

Cheers
Steffen.

[astronut]

Lather yourself and your clothes in "Bug Spray"...They love me, but this usually works.
And don't forget to top up spray, every couple of hours. :)

[louie_the_fly]

I use Bushmans or anything with DEET. Put it on before going out then wash hands thoroughly. They only tend to get me around the feet and ankles, but evey now & then 'll cop one on the knuckle. Aint they annoying... :lol:

I found this mozzie info on the web. http://medent.usyd.edu.au/RepellentGuidelines.pdf

Quite interesting.

[04Stefan07]

Some pretty good advice here! I will consider my options, thanks everyone!

[brian nordstrom]

:lol: That will be my darling , she get swamped by them , I hardly get touched , I wonder what the differance is between people ?
Brian.

[Astro_Bot]

I also take a daily Vitamin B supplement (around dinner time, and I expect the effect would be strongest during an evening viewing session) so I wonder if that contributes to my low bite count?

[Steffen]

It seems more research is needed (http://www.livestrong.com/article/440865-vitamin-b1-as-a-mosquito-repellent/), but Berocca is a very effective "party drug" in my experience. On the night it keeps the mozzies at bay and the next morning it helps a lot with the hangover :P

Cheers
Steffen.

[jjjnettie]

I second the pedestal fan. Set it on high and blow them away. :)

[Forgey]

Wish i knew that earlier have one in the bedroom i could have dragged out!

[Kunama]

It was the turn of little brown beetles with tiny hooked toenails last night, they get caught on your clothing or crawl inside your shirt. Had pristine skies and had to beat a hasty retreat, found 3 inside the reflector this morning.

Thankfully they seemed to be heading towards Victoria ........ maybe tonight will be ok. Ended up doing some handheld photos through the flyscreen, that's how bad it was here. :mad2::mad2:

Will have to work on my tracking skill, might try turning from the waist at sidereal rate next time.

[cfranks]

They all came to my place. There were none last year but this year!! More than once, I thought it was raining, the noise they made on the windows. I've never seen anything like them before.
RID has always been best against mossies for me and it will even take away the irritation if you rub it on after being bitten/stung. No good for flies though!

Charles

[Inmykombi]

Aerogard works for me, but i never get it on my hands.
I use the roll-on stuff and just rub my arms and legs together instead of using my hands.
Keeps 'em away for at least a few hours.
They still always seem to find one spot where I have missed though.

[mozzie]

i have a mozzie pest thing that i place a blue disk on every 10 hours.i plug it into the power point in the dome and there is nothing near me all night..:D:Doh the joy of a dome....

[LewisM]

Brian and I must have the same deterrent running through our veins - mozzies and sandflies/midges don't bother with me. Either the skin is too leathery or it's the Vitamin B also (I have to take it daily - medical requirement).

Even if they do bite, they don't make me itch much. Even got stung by a wasp the other day 6 times - once on the arm, 5 times in the back. Pain lasted about 30 seconds and I was back to normal, hunting down the WD40 and cigarette lighter (ended up being a can of canola spray and lighter). No more wasp problem :)

[DJT]

Am going the berroca route. Bushmans is great but long suffering wife not impressed with fragrance. With eye on a CCD, one does what one can to further the true cause..dying with more toys than Marcus..and not an apple insignia in sight.

[wasyoungonce]

CN users (http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/5255284/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1/vc/1)recommend/swear by thermocell (http://www.thermacell.com/mosquito-repellent). They reckon its the Cat's Pyjama's of mosquito repellent.

Of course they may have pussy mozzies...not the tough Aussie types we get?:D

Oh and for newer users...never spray repellent anywhere near your optics. Walk far far away to do it or better yet use a roll on.

[graham.hobart]

1+ for Bushmans, though that DEET 40% sure does melt plastics.
Getting rid of any standing water should help as most mozzie species only have ranges < 200yds.