Mozzie problem

[Irish stargazer]

The mozzies in our backyard have gotten so bad that it has put an end to my backyard observing. Despite covering up and using copious amounts of Rid and Aeroguard I am getting bitten. I have even resorted to wearing gloves to protect my hands and fingers from the little blighters (had a stronger name for them:mad2 Has anyone any suggestions or experiences to deal with this menace?

[Kevnool]

Use Bushmans instead.
Get rid of all the open water containers in the yard.
Other than that your up against a formidable enemy.
Cheers Kev.

[SteveInNZ]

Have a search through the forums here. There was an excellent post by someone involved with mozzie problems at a professional level and it covered the various options.

At the other end of the credibility scale - I was doing a show-and-tell one night at a heavily infested campsite and a couple of people were having no issues at all. They were using TigerBalm and swore by it. I've tried it a couple of times since and had good results. Not quite a double blind study, but so far it's encouraging.

Steve.

[scagman]

Hi John,

Have you seen these, http://www.shootag.com.au/. They last up to 4 months and from what I have been told they do work. I have no affiliation with the company other than a retailer of their product. There are different ones for humans, dogs, horses, and cats. I havnt used one myself or sold many, but those that have bought them say they work.

[multiweb]

Plant pyrethrum Daisy around your pier or observing area. They act as a repellant. Rosemary works too.

[mozzie]

what's wrong with mozzies

thanks mozzie !!!!!

:lol::rofl:

[rogerg]

I planted two big rosmary bushes at the entrance to my observatory in a hope it might have an impact. Hard to say with any certainty. They certainly haven't made it worse.

Here they are a huge a problem for about an hour after sunset but then by about the end of that time they're gone for the night, so I tend to stay indoors for a couple of hours around sunset.

Roger.

[Jen]

Blast them all away with a fan that seems to work :lol:
They are a pest here too :rolleyes:

[AstralTraveller]

Try some/all of the following
- grow an elephant-like hide
- get someone tastier to observe with you (works for me)
- mix 4 parts baby oil with 1 part dettol and apply liberally. A dash of metho is supposed to help too. Don't apply this if you will be in the sun as you'll burn to a crisp. Wash your hands before touching astro gear. [I was skeptical too but it worked in Broome, Darwin, Cairns and all stops in between.]

[brian nordstrom]

Bushmans is about the only thing that stops the blighters:mad2: up here .
We have a spiecies that locals call the "B52's" and its MEAN ! :eyepop:they are 20mm long and attack in squadrans , Horrible things . And you cant feel them land until you look and they are all over you having a feast ! Bad ! :help:
Brian.

[Baddad]

Hi John,:)
Rosemary is only moderately effective. The Pyrethrum Daisy is better.
Check for water stagnating in the guttering on your house roof.

Report the problem to your local council. There has to be a breeding area of water somewhere.:mad2:

I have noticed that people who have a small infestation of mud nests on the eaves of the house, (Fairy Martens or Swallows) have absolutely no mossies.:)
Years ago I was called to get rid of the nests at a private house. I talked them into keeping the little birds and myself out of a small job.;):)

It was a time when any where you went outdoors the mossies attacked.

A local service station had a similar problem. I told them, "Do you want birds or mossies?" They chose birds. Another lost job.

Along with Geckos, frogs, toads, spiders, the birds are very effective insecticides. Not to forget micro-bats.

You can't just plant some of these creatures in your viewing area. However you should be able to acquire the P Daisy from the local nursery. The plant is quite hardy and if you forget your spray. Rubbing the leaves on your bare skin is very effective. It does break down quickly. That is why it is used in food preparation areas. It becomes harmless in a few hours before it can do any human damage, also its mammalian toxicity is very low. The occasional skin contact is nothing.:)

Bushmans and Tiger Balm are effective but long exposure is not good. Like 4 or 5 times a week for months on end. Best to change the brand or type of repellent occasionally.:thumbsup:

Cheers

[ballaratdragons]

I get great success with Super Band.
They are suppose to last up to 200 hours but I get months out of each one by putting it in a sealed plastic bag when I am not using it :thumbsup:
Natural too, no chemicals :)

$8 from the Chemist :)
http://www.bugbutton.com/

There is one similar in the Chemist, but not as good. Make sure it is the Super Band brand.

[renormalised]

We've got little bent-wing bats that fly around at night chewing on the mozzies and plenty of geckos as well. Still, we get lots of mozzies, especially after cutting the grass. They'll go soon enough once they and the spiders start to eat into the mozzie population.

[Baddad]

Sounds like a winner Ken.

I googled up the MSDS (google: superbands insect repellent material safety data sheet)

Then view or download the sheet.
Read the reports and decide for yourself.
Tests provided quite effective results.

Cheers

[Irish stargazer]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I have lived in Brisbane in the past near lots of trees and bushes but this experience is far worse. I was bitten twice on the lip last night as it was the only exposed spot not covered in Aeroguard. I think I will try going out later in the evening.
We don't have these problems in Ireland but then again we don't see to many clear nights there either:D

[dj gravelrash]

Bushmans is the go. Most chemists have it and maybe clear ya roof gutters.
;)

[jenchris]

I vote for the baby oil - just on its own - exposed surfaces.
Aerogard is bad for lens coatings. if you use it do so away from your scope.
A drop of bushmans on top is a good thing.
Thai lime tree nearby also helps to disperse them.
Rub the leaves on your skin if you aren't near the tree.

[gary]

Hi John,

Our very own wavelandscott holds a senior position in a division of a large multinational
chemical company which manufactures products to help combat the global health
problems caused by mosquitoes.

At the latitude of Sydney, they are currently little more than a nuisance but at latitudes
of Brisbane and further north in Australia, they can pose a serious health risk
and one should take steps to avoid being bitten.

As an adjunct to the advice on repellents, one of the best pieces of advice
is to walk around your property and ensure there are no sources of free-standing
water in which they are breeding. Typical sources in the garden can be buckets
left outdoors, empty flower pots, bird baths, ponds, uncovered water tanks, blocked
roof guttering and so on.

Without the water, they can't breed and something as simple as emptying an old
used paint tin that has been sitting outside and has filled with rain water acts as
what WHO refers to as a source reduction vector control.

Further advice is published by NSW Health here -
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/infectious/mosquito.html

For organizations such as the company that Scott works for, mosquito control
is literally a matter of life and death for millions of people.
See here for information about a mosquito net product that is helping save lives
in places such as sub-Saharan Africa -
http://www.olyset.net/

[naskies]

In case you're looking for a high-tech solution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYXPqrXZ1eU :D

[Kevnool]

Plenty of advice for you now John.
So hopefully you have them under control.

Cheers Kev

[Irish stargazer]

Thanks Everyone. Plenty of suggestions to try

[Ausrock]

I'm amazed that nobody has suggested "mossie coils". Hovex brand are readily available at supermarkets, etc., and work a treat. We always have the little "illegitimates" around during summer and they disappear once I light up a coil. Obviously, if they are there in "numbers" a couple of coils might be necessary.

;)

[wavelandscott]

Thanks for the mention Gary!

I think you are getting some good ideas...find and eliminate standing water breeding grounds is a good first step. Anyplace water accumulates should be a target...old tyres are a favorite! Managing the landscape is a key consideration.

There are many options from there...larvacides, adulticides, repellents and all can be delivered a number of ways to suit your needs. The company I work for manufactures a big percentage of the active ingredients of larvicides and adulticides globally and have recently introduced a new kind of repellent here in the US...Our material is found in most popular (and not so popular) commercial products.

I am not certain of the Australian registration situation at present. What works best is usually a combination of control options. If you live near a municipality that has a mosquito control program you might speak with them about what works best in your area. Different species are sometimes best controlled using different control options.

One option not mentioned might be to look at some of the insect restent clothing sold to hunters...another option is to consider using a lice/nit control shampoo...they contain permethrin and might also help.

Cheers,