MOSQUITO

[betula]

Am I the only one covered in bites.I have tried to make sure no still water around.We have a large pool over the road from the plot,nothing I can do about that.

[betula]

[SamLouise]

I thought this was going to be a discussion on the new anti-loitering-teen alarms that have been brought out, by the same name, LOL!  ;D

[lorna]

betula I think my skin is too tough for them :) Seriously, my sister in Kent just can't sit out in her lovely garden and I have seen my old boss have really big swellings from insect bites. Isn't there a cream/lotion which when applied helps?

[ACE]

They are more attracted to smelly people ;)

[Froglegs]

They are more attracted to smelly people ;)

;D ;D ;D

[ceres]

betula I think my skin is too tough for them :) Seriously, my sister in Kent just can't sit out in her lovely garden and I have seen my old boss have really big swellings from insect bites. Isn't there a cream/lotion which when applied helps?

I saw a consultant immunologist at hospital about the extreme reaction I get to insect bites.  He called it delayed hypersensitivity bolus reaction caused by over-enthusiastic T-cells reacting to the protein in the insect saliva (yuck!). Options were heavy duty oral steroids which I declined or high potency topical steroid cream which I use VERY sparingly after being bitten.  I also use a bite pen (ammonia) and otc antihistamines for the itch.  I've tried all the folk/natural/traditional lotions, potions and pills to avoid getting bitten and none work for me.  The only effective thing I've found is 50% DEET repellant which is horrible to use and I hate it but it keeps the bites down to just about bearable numbers.

[lorna]

ceres Pretty grim situation. My sister would love to sit in the garden but she just suffers so much discomfort.

[betula]

They are more attracted to smelly people ;)

Cheeky b****r ;D

[lorna]

betula I would have used a stronger exclamation than you :o but on 2nd thoughts maybe Ace meant expensive perfume smell, give him the benefit of doubt :)

[betula]

I never give Ace the benefit of the doubt Lorna because he is a very naughty boy ;D ;D ;D

[Baccy Man]

Catnip (Nepeta Cataria) is supposed to be a good mosquito repellant.

http://www.edirectory.co.uk/chilternseeds/pages/moreinfo.asp?pe=DBFBBIGDQ_+catmint&cid=211

[betula]

Thanks for that Baccy Man,I wonder what you have to do with it.???

[Baccy Man]

It is the catnip oil you are after so you can make your own mosquito repellant spray.
I would be inclined to distill it to extract the oil but if you don't have a still then you could use the method given for extracting rose oil here:
http://homecooking.about.com/od/allherbrecipes/r/blherb1.htm

Alternately there are a couple of infusion recipes for using catnip as a mosquito repellant here:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/nwgardens/90412_lovejoy10.shtml

[betula]

Thanks Baccy Man :)