[dentstudent (OP)]

I've recently moved to the Rhine valley, away from the long winters of the High Black Forest, and due to the warmer climate, am now experiencing an unexpected problem. It's mid-November, and there are still mosquitos flying around. We've been there for only 10 days, and already I've picked up 2 or 3 bites per night, as well as that horrible buzzing noise that's SERIOUSLY ANNOYING AT 3 AM!

We want to sleep with windows open and not covered in mosquito repellent every night, so does anyone know of any good repellent method?

thanks - from Sleepless in Merdingen!

[Karen W.]

Go to a hardware store after measuring your windows and purchase expandable window screens.. and Avon sells skin so soft works good for mosquitoes.. I bet you don't have an Avon dealer close by! LOL for a quick fix by a roll of window screening and attach it temporarily to your outer windows or permanently!

[dentstudent (OP)]

Hey Karen

we already have full screens that drop outside the windows and doors. Avon? do they still "BING BONG"? My skin is already as soft as a baby's bottom....Does that hanging paper stuff work for mosquito`s or is it just flies?

[Madidus_Scientia]

Those mosquito nets that hang from a point on the ceiling over and around the bed are the most mosquito proof method I know of

[BenV]

Madidus is right, especially if you keep them treated and tie them up when not in use - otherwise they get inside the net and can feast on you all night.

I think the hanging paper (fly paper) is just for flies, but it may well attract mossies too. 

I would advise having all of your screens treated with an insect repellant, and making sure the screens are shut as often as possible!  You can get chemical plug-in mossie repellants, I'm not sure how effective they are though, and I've heard that you can get subsonic repellants too, though again, I've never seen one in action.  You could burn mossie repelling coils - but I don't think I would recommend it in a confined space, or somewhere you sleep.

Also, encourage spiders into your house!

Having travelled in Thailand,Indonesia and South America - the one thing I do know about mossies is that they will get to you, one way or another!

[Karen W.]

I don't know if they work for mosquitoes!

Take a good look around the yard and house dump any pots of standing water.. check under the house to see if you have standing water under there if you do you will need to pump it out or spray!

[dentstudent (OP)]

Thanks M_S - I might try the net thing. I also need to do it for my kids too - my eldest son appears to be as attractive to them as I do. My wife just doesn't get bitten at all GRRRRR! I'll always remember Michael Palin's first mosquito net attempts...

BenV - top tips! I hadn't thought about treating the nets or blinds, so I'll give that a go. A subsonic repellent - is that an elephant in the room? You're right about them getting you in the end....perhaps i should stop breathing out carbon dioxide?

[dentstudent (OP)]

I don't know if they work for mosquitoes!

Take a good look around the yard and house dump any pots of standing water.. check under the house to see if you have standing water under there if you do you will need to pump it out or spray!

There is no standing water anywhere - this is Germany, and things like that get tidied away!

[Karen W.]

Well I learned something new then!

[BenV]

...perhaps i should stop breathing out carbon dioxide?

It's not really worth the effort - it's tricky to hold your breath while you're trying to sleep!  Besides, the chemicals from your skin will still call them in...

[Alandriel]

There're some good topical repellents you can use - just check the labels to make sure it kills mosquitoes but not you (!) One of the good ones was/is called jungle juice. Germany (like my native Switzerland) should have good apothecaries that ought to be able to recommend something.
Lemon grass essential oil works pretty well as a repellent too; but there is no real substitute for a good mosy-net and Ben is right too:
no matter what, they do get ya.

Oh - and I've heard that eating lots of sauerkraut helps (don't ask!)
 []

[dentstudent (OP)]

I have an excellent repellent that has 55% deet - prone as I am, when I put this on, mosquitos just don't come anywhere near. However, I'm not going to smother myself in this every night, and so the net will be my first stop shop.
I can understand lemon grass - since mosquitos are repelled by citronella, perhaps there is some in lemon grass. I think that most things are repelled by sauerkraut (however, I love it!).

[Don_1]

It is claimed by some people that eating Marmite™ deters mozzyies from biting them. Also some say Coal tar soap is a deterent. I doubt either have been tested scientifically.

[dentstudent (OP)]

BTW, I picked up 3 more last night, just on my forearm. That's 20 in the last week []

I'll be empty by this time next month!

[Madidus_Scientia]

Haha, come and visit North Queensland mate, you can get 20 bites in about a minute

[dentstudent (OP)]

Haha, come and visit North Queensland mate, you can get 20 bites in about a minute

I've no doubt! I was really noting that instead of 0 bites at this time of year, I'm picking up quite a few. It's actually 6, as 3 more have started itching......and that fact that 1 bite tends to swell up to about 3cm across.

[Madidus_Scientia]

Do you have allergies? Some antihistamine should help with the swelling

[dentstudent (OP)]

Do you have allergies? Some antihistamine should help with the swelling

No, I have no allergies (that I know about!). However, my sister is allergic to bee and wasp stings. Perhaps I have something similar....Good advice!

[yor_on]

how about making a netframe to put inside your window.
They are used all over the world where people want to be mosquito free.
Also there are some lights that are said to work with mosquitos.
Otherwise you let them bite you and after some time they will stop.
As you won't 'taste/smell' the same.
That, or that you are emptied:)

[ukmicky]

Mosquito problem - how can I stop them buzzing around my head at night?

I give you a tip. Wear ear plugs. []

[JnA]

Those mosquito nets that hang from a point on the ceiling over and around the bed are the most mosquito proof method I know of

Just don't hang them inside out.

[JnA]

It is claimed by some people that eating Marmite™ deters mozzyies from biting them. Also some say Coal tar soap is a deterent. I doubt either have been tested scientifically.

that would correlate to the information that I was given that taking vitamin B will help keep mossies away. (Is marmite sort of like vegemite packed with vitamin b?)

[dentstudent (OP)]

Mosquito problem - how can I stop them buzzing around my head at night?

I give you a tip. Wear ear plugs. []

Spot on there mate! I've been "plugged up" for the last 3 nights.

[dentstudent (OP)]

I've also heard about high-frequency noise boxes (for want of a better term) that deters them. Perhaps it is a similar sound to that made by another female's wings, and so she stays away (since it's only the females that suck)

[BenV]

I'm not sure that there's any evidence that marmite works, sadly nor does garlic (there goes one of my excuses for eating far too much garlic!)

A little while ago, we had a show all about mosquitoes - it makes for very interesting reading/listening:

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.05.11/

[yor_on]

Ok, so I had a revelation under the night.
A voice shrouded in light told me to tell you to wear wings and wait.
When the mosquitoes come you were to make a grab for the nearest one.
Then you in a warm friendly but stern voice should inform it to.
'Take me to your mothership'

As you now had wings you would have no problem following the swarm.
And well there you could easily negotiate a surrender.
After all, they are attacking you,right?

Ps: to keep your wings light and comfortable, use papier-mache.
Beware of damp though.