how many mozzie bites to get immunity? - Page 2

multiweb (Marc) · #21 19-01-2010, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troypiggo

Thanks for the detailed reply, mate. TBH, I think the reason they're attracted to me is sweat. My body has a temperature control issue and I run a little hot all the time and do sweat more than most.

Doesn't everybody sweat in QLD?

Got a mate coming back from Cairns who told me it's a 24/7 wet t-shirt contest up there

Fossil (Jonathan) · #22 19-01-2010, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pvelez

In the immortal words of Mdme Hanson - Please explain?

Pete

Pete

The flamin' mozzies around here are so big they require air traffic control to navigate safely.

The use of a radio jammer prevents them from communicating with air traffic control or each other, thus preventing them from landing.

I also found that a 50 cal. machine gun worked pretty well on them, but Mr Plod objects to the use of them in built-up areas.

multiweb (Marc) · #23 19-01-2010, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fossil

I also found that a 50 cal. machine gun worked pretty well on them, but Mr Plod objects to the use of them in built-up areas.

Yep... My dad went fly fishing in May in Northern Sweden and he reckons a good tennis racket is a must.

wavelandscott (Scott) · #24 19-01-2010, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gary

Who has considerable professional expertise and advice with regard mosquito
control is our very own forum regular Scott (aka Wavelandscott) and possibly
he might see this thread and provide additional advice on current best practice.

The company Scott works for produces a sizable percentage of the world's
mosquito control larvacides and also developed, manufacture and distribute those
marvelous permethrin impregnated washable mosquito nets that have been
deployed in parts of the third world in their millions. One can only speculate
as to how many lives they have probably saved by now.

Thanks Gary and I'm just catching up to this thread...

Bottom line is that there are no magic bullets but there are some things that can help reduce Mozzie populations...Because of the highly regulated nature of pesticides around the world I will try and speak "generally" and not name brands...we manufacture a large percentage of the activie ingredient in many of the materials used to fight mosquitoes around the world . There are 5 reasonable ways to reduce mosquitoes now in practice...some easier than others...

#1 Drain and get rid of any excess water...a surprisingly large number of mosquitoes are generated by old standing water (old tires, poor draining ditches, flower pots, gutters, water storage tanks, etc.)...In many parts of the tropics there are "police" that go around households and look for standing water...

#2 Use of larvicide to control mosquitoes in long term standing water...this is largely what coucils due. Without naming brand names, there are both traditional chemical larvicides (IGRs usually) and "organic" larvicides...they work exceptionally well and there is lots of data available that show that larvicides used well can be very effective.

#3 Adulticides - Largely these are synthetic pyrethroid based insecticides now but there are some other (chemistry classes) that are also very effective...Very effective at "knocking down" any adults but longevity varies by product and some are concerned with the "fogging" needed for coverage.

#4 Repellants - can be applied to skin but there is also some clothing that is treated with permethrin (largely) that can also be very effective. There is also a new class being introduced (available in the USA but not yet in Australia) that is a "fan driven" repellant from a new kind of product...it is pretty nifty stuff!

#5 Physical barrier...screens, nets and fans...as Gary mentioned we now make a net that also has a pesticide in it so that landing mosquitoes are killed and also repelled...used widely to fight malaria. Some people have enjoyed the protection of a "fan" that can also help keep mozzies from landing on you.

Hope that helps and gives you some idea...all of the idea and uses above are pretty widely recognized and there is a lot of science to support their efficacy...

As the temperature here is below freezing, I should also add that cold weather will also help! I can't imagine mosiquitoes can fly thorugh the snow!

Cheers,

troypiggo (Troy) · #25 19-01-2010, 02:51 PM

Thanks mate. Very interesting. Some obvious, some I hadn't thought about.

I was sure I'd seen a documentary one time about some guy who did a lot of field research in the Amazon, and he's developed an immunity to mozzie bites. They still bit him, but his skin didn't react with the traditional mozzie bite type bump and hence didn't irritate him any more. Lucky bugger. (The documentary wasn't about his mozzie immunity, that was just a side trivia, it was about insects in the Amazon or something)

wavelandscott (Scott) · #26 19-01-2010, 02:54 PM

All mosquitoes are not equal...some species are much more aggressive than others. Also, people's tolerances for bites can vary a lot. My kids swell up at the slightest bite...I on the otherhand don't seem to be too bothered by them.

Do be careful, there are a lot of nasties that mosquitoes can be vectors for...if you develop a rash from the bites and or aches, fever, flu symptons get to the doctor...

Ric · #27 19-01-2010, 02:59 PM

Hi Troy, I've found wearing those lightweight cotton gloves helps my hands from being bitten.

Strangely enough we haven't had any this year around my way.

They may have packed up and gone to Fossil's place by the sound of it.

Fossil (Jonathan) · #28 19-01-2010, 03:04 PM

I live in a rural residential area and I've been told that a capful of kerosene in things like the septic (where mozzies can breed) alters the surface tension of the water and they cannot 'walk' or lay their eggs on it.

Ric · #29 19-01-2010, 03:13 PM

Hi Jonathon, I'm in a rural area as well. The only large body of water is our dam about 40 metres down the hill. I think between the frogs, dragonflys and the mosquito fish the larvae really don't get a chance to build up into large numbers.

Fossil (Jonathan) · #30 19-01-2010, 03:14 PM

They may have packed up and gone to Fossil's place by the sound of it.

[/QUOTE]

That's possible Ric. I have noticed a few Wamboin mozzies around here lately... I can pick them out because they're the ones in private jets

Ric · #31 19-01-2010, 03:20 PM

Kevnool (Kev) · #32 19-01-2010, 10:03 PM

Use mozzie repelent .......cant be bothered looking back at the old threads

pgc hunter · #33 19-01-2010, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

Doesn't everybody sweat in QLD?

Got a mate coming back from Cairns who told me it's a 24/7 wet t-shirt contest up there

Yep I went there in May and even then I was sweating like an animal

As for the mozzies...they are regrettably part and parcel of summer, no matter where you live

I personally can't stand insect repellant, the smell and that slimey feeling on your skin is just wrong and I'd rather put up with being jabbed a million times in a night.

Roobi · #34 19-01-2010, 10:57 PM

Maybe i should invent an observatory net, just think of an aviary with an open top, but with mozzy repellents that spray into fans every few seconds to keep then from coming in the top, could even put a few lasers in there so if they come in they get fried oh and some of those big electric zappers....... maybe not.

Wavytone · #35 20-01-2010, 12:18 AM

Just chew a couple of cloves of RAW garlic and wash down with a glass of milk (i don't think anyone can swallow raw garlic without the milk) a few hours before an observing session. The mozzies will leave you alone for the night.

As one who suffered horribly in past years - the mozzies would drill through sandshoes and socks to get to the motherload (my feet), I can vouch that this does work. I used to suffer dozens of bites per night before I resorted to garlic.

The snag comes when you go home as anyone will smell it too.

The latest dry sprays (OFF ! and Aerogard) do seem to work but keep them away from your optics (they will ruin coatings) and anything plastic.

The last solution is one I used at Mt Bowen occasionally in calm conditions - take a whole box of mozzie coils and encircle the entire observing site with them, spaced at about 1 coil every 2-3 metres. Light the lot and a whole group can be reasonably free of these pests for several hours.

Octane (Humayun) · #36 20-01-2010, 02:49 AM

I can't remember where I read it, but, I was quite young at the time. Apparently mosquitos work in pairs. The male typically buzzes around your head to distract you while the female goes for gold. It could be the other way around.

Think I might have to do a bit of Googling.

Fascinating creatures as annoying as they are. I've gotten used to putting up with their bites. It's mind over matter not trying to scratch them -- see how mentally-physically strong you are! If you ignore the itch, it goes away. The same can't be said for telescope/camera equipment.

H

BerrieK · #37 20-01-2010, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

I can't remember where I read it, but, I was quite young at the time. Apparently mosquitos work in pairs. The male typically buzzes around your head to distract you while the female goes for gold. It could be the other way around.

Think I might have to do a bit of Googling.

H

Haha H, I thought I would visit my friend google and found this...apparently mozzies sing in harmony together whilst sizing up their prey! ...........

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2...love_songs.php

Kerrie

troypiggo (Troy) · #38 20-01-2010, 06:56 AM

Wavytone - garlic and milk - I'm sure that'd keep more than just mozzies away. Lol.

Humayun - not sure about the working in pairs, but Dr Karl on Triple J has said in the past that it's only the females that bite. Male mozzies don't bite at all apparently.

kustard (Simon) · #39 20-01-2010, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troypiggo

Wavytone - garlic and milk - I'm sure that'd keep more than just mozzies away. Lol.

Humayun - not sure about the working in pairs, but Dr Karl on Triple J has said in the past that it's only the females that bite. Male mozzies don't bite at all apparently.

Yeah the females are the only blood suckers, they use the blood for growing their eggs.

I don't often get bitten but I had an old school friend who'd suffer bites all the time, he was like an attractor, and thinking about it he was kinda stocky so maybe they could tell he had lots of yummy blood.

multiweb (Marc) · #40 20-01-2010, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

I can't remember where I read it, but, I was quite young at the time. Apparently mosquitos work in pairs. The male typically buzzes around your head to distract you while the female goes for gold. It could be the other way around.

As Paule would say: "I don't want to start nothing but...."

Only the female mozzie bites and make noise. The blokes are easy going and go around their business with the ladies. There are some devices that emit ultra sound noises that are supposed to repel the females. It's the noise a male mozzie will do. Only fecondated females will bite (and make noise). So it keeps them away coz they're not interested in going for "seconds" [see wedding cake theory]. Now feel free to tell me I'm full of it. That's my story and I stick with it.