last week I sprayed myself with bug spray and it kept the skeeters off, but there was this GIANT BEE that kept buzzing around me, getting right up in my face and buzzing me and he kinda freaked me out, I thinked he liked the bug stuff.

If you dab listerine on your wrists, ankles and neck the mosquitoes will not bother you. You can spray it around you (I didn't cause I'm afraid it will kill plants) and I also heard not to spray it on wood. (Like your deck, etc)

Plant marigolds in between. I am trying that. Seems that MSU has advised folks to do that as the fragrance repels mosquitos. Apparently Catmint also works, but I am not sure if it will mess my garden up with a number of cats..

I am COMPLETELY bitten up! I'm driving myself crazy scratching, lol!

I had about 9 bites on each arm to begin with, and then yesterday I was working in a bog garden, and it was like working on the Panama Canal, lol! I've never seen the mosquitoes so bad in this garden. Luckily, while they annoyed the living heck out of me, they didn't seem to bite too much. I only seem to have about two more bites. Don't know how the heck they're getting to my legs since I always wear long pants.

I really hate spraying that chemical junk on me, but I can't take this itching either. And then there's always West Nile to think about...

:)
Dee

My dad always puts up gourds in the spring to attract the purple martins they eat the skeeters and there chirps are so nice to hear. It must work cause I go to visit and the mosquitoes dont bother me like they do in my backyard.

Basil is supposed to keep them away. Pennyroyal too. I have it growing under the hammock. It's a mint, so careful.

I am growing lots of plant repellents this year but I also have a ditch with standing water. I went and bought mosquito dunks for it. Living next to all those bugs is nasty. Around sundown I retreat.

I'm one of those people that the skeeters really like more than anyone else I am with, eventhough I do everything you are supposed to do to keep them away. Plus I react to them badly, and spend most of the summer slathering on itch creams, and spend the rest of the year with scars from scratching the bites.

I've tried just about everything. Not even DEET sprays work. Eventhough I hate the chemicals I used them a few times last year covering everything... or so I thought. The little buggers climbed up my shorts and bit my butt, giving me nickel sized itchy welts for almost a week!

I ended up getting a mesh bug suit last year but anytime you move and it gets pulled tight to your skin they can get you. Plus it is uncomfortable, and your neighbors think you are a nut! I looked into one of those Thermacell or Off Clip-on devices, but worry about the safety of them for people and wildlife. Any opinions on those devices? I don't live anywhere near any water or woods if that maters.

I have never heard of basil. that is good I have purple basil in almost all of my flower beds!!!

They are biting me too some...

Karen

The only mosquito clothing worth it's salt is Bug Tamer.

http://www.bugtamer.com/classic.html

It's got two layers, and the critters can't bite you because they can't reach you. It's ultra light and very cool. It takes a while to get used to, but in hot and humid weather, you can wear a t-shirt and shorts under it to stay cool, and still be completely protected from the skeeters.

Later in the summer, I won't be able to garden in morning or evening or in the shade without mine.

Here's what mine looks like:

{{gwi:409783}}

You can get it in a variety of camo patterns as well, but use caution. I was working in one of my foundation beds at 5:30AM, and a police car pulled up to investigate. It seems a neighbor had called in an alert.

LOL Sorry, thats hilarious though, on the upside you know that your neighbors are looking out for your house.

There is a commercial mosquito repellant that uses lemon eucalytpus as the active ingredient. In tests, it is effective, but for a shorter period than DEET. This is still a chemical, one that you shouldn't ingest etc., but it's one I feel a lot more comfortable putting on my skin. It also smells great. I've used it twice now, and it works for me. You can get it at REI etc.

Molanic, I'd get one of those suits that Donn uses! That's so unfair, to be so allergic to the bites and to be a mosquito-magnet.

Mosquitoes seem to really love me. I've had luck making my own bug sprays with essential oils. They really do not lot lemongrass or cedarwood. I use cedar mulch in my backyard sitting area. It seems to help.

I've also heard they do not like vanilla. Users say it has to be pure vanilla, not the artificial kind.

-StLGirl

Here is a link that might be useful: Homemade Mosquito Replellant

Lemon Balm (very invasive plant though) can help if you rub the leaves on your exposed arms, legs, and neck.

Alberta

I haven't seen any skeeters yet, but for bugs in general I get lemon and lavendar essential oils from the health food store and put a few drops in my shampoo and conditioner for the summertine. Semms to work for a few hours keeping away the flying bugs.
I also have the bottle of lavendar oil handy that I reapply thruout the day if I need to, lavendar oil is one of the 3 essential oils you can apply to the skin straight. The 2 others being tea tree and rose otto.
So wet here I think the bugs are happy with the mud puddles and not looking for people food, lol.

donn, I so want the ninja gardener look!
But it' s expensive .... hmmm

Mosquitoes are out in droves here too. Ran me in a few
days ago. I am covered in bites.

I like the Listerine idea. I will try that.
I have catmint and just planted lemon mint. But it is way
too tiny to do me any good.

I will try anything but the bug suit.

Mary

Great advice, folks.
I have tried anything imaginable over the years: Avon Skin So soft, citronella candles, Bounce, citronella spray.
I like Donn's suit too, but it's going to kill me in the heat for sure.

I have several of this suit. Neighbors would look at me incredulously whenever they see me in one. They work well to a certain point, though. Those buggers always get me around the elbows or any part that touches the suit.

I have one of those "friends" who knows everything, especially anything related to scientific information. When I complained about getting bitten by mosquitoes she told me that they are "just attracted to your exhalation". So what am I supposed to do....not breathe when there are mosquitoes in the area?? Use better mouthwash?

Debby

I have the same suit as pitimpinai. Donn's suit looks a lot better, but is pretty $$$. The suit I have is great for things like picking berries or light weeding where you are out there for a long time but aren't moving around much and prefer to do it when it is cooler and shadier (when skeeters are out too). Anything more strenuous and the suit tends to be uncomfortable and get in the way.

Haven't had much luck with any of the deterrent plants, oils on the skin, or candles. I try to stay away from the toxic stuff and if I use it I wash it off ASAP.

I have read also that is isn't really a smell thing, but that they are attracted to the carbon dioxide you give off. Some people give off more than others I guess.

One new thing to try I haven't yet is the rubbing alcohol on your skin to stop the biting and vinegar for the itch. The itch creams and lotions work to some extent but I have to reapply very frequently, and find I scratch bites in my sleep to the point of bleeding.

Now if only I could find some trained bats to patrol the area...

molanic, I heard about hanging bat houses around to attract them... they are suposed to be easy to make. I might try it this year. Anything to keep away mosquitoes! they love me! I must give off lots of carbon dioxide!
Karen

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/mosquito/documents/Alts_bats_wphotos.htm

I have several major weapons in my fight against mosquitoes.

Each spring I make up a new batch of fresh repellent using olive oil, vodka, and water as a base, for a total of about a quarter of a cup. To that I add a few drops each of fresh essential oils of Citronella, Cedarwood, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Tea Tree Oil, and Pennyroyal. (DO NOT USE PENNYROYAL IF YOU ARE PREGNANT or want to be!!)

I put this mix into a small brown bottle with a spray top and after spraying it on I use my hand to make sure all of my skin is covered. The vodka helps it to dry, the oil helps keep my skin moist, and the water helps to emulsify the mix. My spray bottle goes wherever I go. I have a friend who uses essential oils in a base of only water and she says it works, even on her cow.

If I do get bitten, and that can happen even inside the house from a gnat, I always have "Afterbite" in my purse. When the original is used up I refill the bottle with ammonia. You can even use ammonia straight from the bottle. After a couple of applications, the sting is gone and the bite is gone within a day.

I have a bird bath, so I make sure the mosquitoes can't breed there. I put the smallest part of a drop of BT in the water to kill any wigglers that might hatch.

I have several birdfeeders which are kept full all year long, the birds help to keep the mosquito population lower.

Mosquitoes don't ever bite my DH! They LOVE me. I HATE them. However, green-head flies are a different story, as any boater will tell you. They always bit my DH until he met me and I gave him my home-made repellent to use.

Note: essential oils should be kept in a dark place, and I buy fresh bottles every other year. It's a little costly, but worth it to me.

Mary

So, what can be used to kill them in the flower beds and yard, that won't kill other bugs, like bees, or toads? I have lots of toads, and don't want to harm them, but the mosquitoes are ridiculous. Anybody have any suggestions? I wish our neighbors mowed their grass more often, and get rid of the broken pond liner, a cess pool breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Karen