dealing with your environment when observing...

[joshman]

MOSQUITO'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i hate them, i had the most perfectly clear night last night, not a cloud to be seen, dark (till the moon came up) i was having a rather grand time observing with teh 20mm EP, then throwing the 2x barlow on for fun (m42 looks good through that setup) beautiful night, however...

10 minutes after setup, i was literally getting eaten by mosquitos! they've take my left leg (got another one on order though, should be here tomorrow;))

last time i tried to put up with the mozzies, i was spraying myself down with RID every 10 minutes, just to keep them at bay.

so i ask, how do YOU keep them away?

[Terry B]

I find the roll on rid works when they are a problem here. They disappear when it gets cold enough.:cold:

[joshman]

yeah? it's not working up here, i figure they decide that my blood is worth whatever discomfort the RID is giving them. i find it it's slightly breezy then they won't be around, but of course that never happens, it's been warm and still where i observe.

[xelasnave]

Mozzie coils help...and keep covered...and they come in on the smell of you breathing..so dont breath.
A net is good also.
alex

[jjjnettie]

Hi Josh,
You could light a couple of mozzie coils and let them burn for an hour or so before you start observing. That should keep some of them away. Put them out when it's time to use the scope.
I use a fair bit of insect repellent, I find the "Home Brand" and "Black and Gold" stuff as good as anything else. My feet get a proper saturation job because I hate getting bitten on the toes. My clothes also get sprayed so I don't get bitten through them.

My pet hate is when the mozzies get in behind my glasses and bite me on the eyelids. They can get you 5 or 6 times before you realise whats happening. You end up with nasty looking swollen eyes that you can't rub or scratch because your hands are covered with insect repellent. LOL

[CoombellKid]

I sleep under a net, but in the bush you kinda get use to them a little unless
they're swarming. But I find good spray down with RID works well for me.

Like jjjnettie, I hate being biten on the toes, it's the worst place to try
and scratch lol

regards,CS

[joshman]

a mozzie net.... now there's an idea....one that has a hole cut in it for the OTA to stick through...i'm liking this, :D

and yeah, i kept getting mozzies inbetween my eye and the eyepiece the other night, that was uncomfortable! i haven't had alot of success with mozzie coils, i guess they breed them strong and immune out where i go.

[xelasnave]

If you put them out early and a few of them they help.
I was thinking a net just over your head but over the scope would work...and they do really take away from the experience ...I dont bother viewing on the flat because they are so fierce but a net over your head works..let it hang off you hat and lift it when you need. A beard helps..less area to attack...and long hair to cover the back of the neck.
alex

[joshman]

to be honest, it's not my head that i'm worried about with mozzie's, it's the rest of me. these guys bite through clothes and all. they are like vampire horse's with wings!

[kljucd1]

Hi,

I don't know if it is any different really but I use Aerogard - Tropical Strength.
I need this as just sound of them literally causes me to get welts on my fingers. If they land on me then my fingers will be red raw from the scratching.

Sometimes using a different brand is all that is needed.

Daniel...

[joshman]

thanks, i'll put some aerogard down on my shopping list and give it a whirl, hopefully i'll be observing relatively mozzie free soon!

[CoombellKid]

That why I use the spray, spray ya clothes as well :thumbsup:

regards,CS

[citivolus]

Just watch out as it is a bit oily, and can leave a residue. I realized this after spraying my daughters clothes one day and then enduring the wrath of my wife ;)

[CoombellKid]

Hmmmmm.... never noticed any staining residue on my clothes, but then
again I'm a Bloke and are probably blind to such things :whistle::doh::lol:

regards,CS

[Ric]

I find the Aeroguard quite reliable. I also find that if there is someone else with me then I'm left alone and the other poor soul cops the lot.

Very strange indeed

[Karlsson]

While Aerogard is effective it contains DEET as its active ingredient, as does Bushman repellent. DEET can react with some plastics as found on eyepiece grip rings, focuser knobs, camera bodies etc. and leave obvious fingerprints at the least, if not turn the plastic into a gooey mess after repeated contact :(

If you do use anything containing DEET be careful not to get it onto your hands - personally I prefer Picaridin-based repellents, like OFF, for that reason.

[OneOfOne]

I used to use the roll on Aeroguard, but find it makes my hands sticky. A couple of months ago I got a pack of mozzie coils and find they are effectve but I have to put it out about an hour before I go outside. I put the coil right at the leg of the tripod and they seem to work relatively well. Of course if it is windy, I doubt they would work.

Of all the external factors (cloud, lights, Moon, wind, cold etc), these little buggers have got to the worst!

[taz]

Yes, I'm that poor soul that cops it when the people I'm with don't. :(

I'm currently trying a nice cocktail of both tropical strength aeroguard and bushman.

[joshman]

i've found that if it's windy the mozzies are no where to be seen, so i'm always hoping for windy, clear nights

[§AB]

Oh ****'s sake don't get me started Mosquitos :mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2 ::mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2:

They are THE WORST CREATION EVER TO BEFOUL OUR PLANET :(:mad2::(:mad2:

The last time I dealt with the plague I put on long pants and a jumper. Ofcourse, being 30-35ºC I couldn't endure that very long and I packed up the scope, very pissed offly. From my experience, bug sprays don't work for ****.

[Karls48]

Last night I was out til 3 AM. Shorts, Singlet and thongs. Seeing was very good, I loved it so did the mosquitos. I use Aerogard Tropical strength. You have to reapply it after about 2 to 3 hours. Got one bite on big toe over whole session. Works for me

[peter_4059]

I recently bought one of these : http://www.mosquitoclick.com/ It doesen't stop them biting you but it does stop/relieve the itching.

I'm also swapping to OFF after a recent camping trip where I tried it. It dries unlike Rid and Aeroguard so shouldn't get all over the astro gear.

Anyone tried setting up a fan?

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Some years ago I was preparing for a trip through southern Asia and was discussing malaria (amongst other things) with my Doctor, who was an avid sailor and had travelled these areas extensively himself.

Regarding mosquitoes he gave me 3 pieces of advise that I've always found work well:

1 - Use a good repellant - his opinion was that the DEET repellants worked best, and the highest concentrations were found in RID and Bushman at that time. A few months back I was reading labels and I beleive these brands are still the best.

2 - Beware dusk and dawn as these are the times when mozzies are most active.

3 - Wear light coloured clothes, preferably white! Mozzies are attracted to darker colours, so everything else being equal you will attract more mozzies if you are wearing black, brown r blue than if you wear yellow or white.

I don't really want to go observing wearing my white lab coat, white trousers and white cotton gloves, but it may be more mozzie safe to do so!

Added advantage - we might all see each other easier in the dark! ;)

[Glenhuon]

Them little bu****s love me. I think they'd fly down the length of the street for a nip of good Scots blood. Mind you, the alcohol probably kills em, but at least they die happy ;)

I find the Rid cream works best, keeps them away most of the time and takes the itch out of the bites I do get.

Cheers
Bill

[§AB]

Maybe a flame thrower would be a good idea?

[ausmensan]

Hiya,

I use a mozzie lamp pretty much like the one here:

http://www.greenharvest.com.au/pestcontrol/mosquito_prod.html

I generally put it out about an hour before I want to start observing, it has no noticeable smell I can detect. The only downside, is that it is a lantern. I have generally put it behind something, away from the observing area which works well.

My other main issue is ants.. I have had several sessions out here in Kalamunda, and discover afterwards that I have left a trail of dead ants from walking around the scope.

all the best