Since it is almost that time of year (except for those of you living in Lotus Land!) I thought that this was rather timely. (as if we don't have enough to worry about!). Hey quick contest… first one to get a mosquito bite in 2003… report it here!

OK, mosquitoes…prepare to be repelled!!!!!

Use Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets…Best thing ever used in Louisiana..just wipe on & go…Great for Babies. Put it in the golf bag, also makes wasps keeps their distance.

Bob, a fisherman, takes one vitamin B-1 tablet a day April through October . He said it works. He was right. The odour the tablet gives out through your skin (YOU can not smell it) repels mosquitoes, black flies, no seeums, and gnats. It does not work on stinging insects. Hasn't had a mosquito bite in 33 years. Try it. Every one he has talked into trying it works on them. Vitamin B-1( Thiamine Hydrochloride 100 mg.)

Ken said NPR reports that if you eat bananas, the mosquitoes like you, something about the banana oil as your body processes it. (Maybe they need the potassium too- lol) Stop eating bananas for the summer and the mosquitoes will be much less interested.

This is going to floor you, but one of the best insect repellents someone found (who is in the woods every day), is Vick's Vaporub.

Plant marigolds around the yard, the flowers give off a smell that bugs do not like, so plant some in that garden also to help ward off bugs without using insecticides.

"Tough guy" Marines who spend a great deal of time "camping out" say that the very best mosquito repellant you can use is Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil mixed about half and half with alcohol.

Mix your own:
20 drops Eucalyptus oil
20 drops Cedarwood oil
10 drops Tea Tree oil
10 drops Geranium oil
2 oz. carrier oil ( such as Jojoba )
Mix together in a 4 oz. container. Apply to skin as needed avoiding the eye area. Keep out of reach of children. Test on a small area of skin for sensitivities. Experiment with different percentages of essential oil.

One of the best natural insect repellants is made from the clear real vanilla (not the grocery store vanilla extract which is mostly alcohol). This is the pure vanilla that is sold in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. It's cheap there if you know someone that lives there or in the US close to the Mexican border. If not, health food stores usually carry it or can order it for you. I use it half vanilla and half water and find that it works great for mosquitoes and ticks, don't know about other insects.

When all else fails, "Get a frog"!

My dad used to tell us of this story whenever we went camping in the summer of a guy who ate a bananna before going into the woods. Then he said the guy got eated alive by mosquitos. We would never believe him, but it was funny.

I might have a mosquito bite, or not. Got something eating at me, but might just be fleas. Got way to amny in the house.

Mrs Owl and I spend a lot of time in the woods during the summer. We have found that taking garlic pills has a good repelant effect.

Same idea as the vitamin B-1 above (I'd never heard that one, I may try it this summer.) Humans can't smell the garlic from the pores but "dem dar skitters" hate it.

I had a bit a couple of weeks ago. two actually in almost the same spot on my thigh. It swelled so bad (almost golf ball) that I saw a doctor about it. As that had never happened before, I thought maybe it was West Nile. I saw one in my house in January but as I burn wood it probably unthawed. If I did not have a witness to this, I would not mention it! I could not believe what I killed during minus 40 weather.

Oranges have a good repellant effect as well. Eat 1-2 a day, and rub the inside of the peel on your skin. They'll land, but they won't bite.

Another old army trick. :-)

I've spent most of my life in the far north and I find that after a while they don't bother you any more. With enougth bite you build an immunity to the irritation.

kaiser - I might have a mosquito bite, or not.

No mosquitoes where you are!

white_owl - Humans can't smell the garlic from the pores but "dem dar skitters" hate it.

Oh yeah? You must have a poor sense of smell!

antics - as I burn wood it probably unthawed.

You mean "thawed". Which is the opposite of 'freeze'. So 'unthaw' would be the opposite of 'unfreeze. Uh… thaw=unfreeze, unthaw=freeze.

Sarge - Oranges have a good repellant effect as well

I understand that any citrus fruit will work.

tinytim - With enougth bite you build an immunity to the irritation.

Heard that. Tried it a couple of years ago. Just about got bit to death the first few days, and still was itchy all summer!

Theres mosquitoes around here. Not like anywhere in Saskatchewan, or Manitoba, but we got some. The high point is in August for them, and even that is small compared to your numbers.

"You mean "thawed". Which is the opposite of 'freeze'. So 'unthaw' would be the opposite of 'unfreeze. Uh… thaw=unfreeze, unthaw=freeze."

yah yah pooga. you an english teacher or what? I should have knows that anyhow. Had it come up in college on a couple of different courses.

Details, details… excuse me while I fix my hot water heater…

what you need hot water for??????its summer!!!!

Lots of good ideas!! I heard about the bounce sheet last week in a handy household hints book. I might just try the Vitamin B one also. Oh yeah, the wood ticks are out!!! Any ideas on keeping these away ??? Have tried collars and sprays for the dogs, they only seem to work for a day or two!!

A military exercise in Minnesota about 5 years ago became my first true experience with wood and deer ticks. Truly a nasty creature indeed! My most important observation was that it is a good thing they can't fly like mosquito's.