Let's Talk about Insect Repellants (again)

Since I can't find any of the original threads, I'm starting a new one.

Just got off the phone with a guy in Cedar Key, who swears by a new bug juice called Swamp Buddy. He says it is all natural- lemongrass, peppermint, and eucalyptus oils. They buy it at the hardware store there. My new Cedar Key friend, Bob, says he "doesn't like the taste of Deet in his mouth". I didn't ask who or what he was licking to be tasting the Deet !)

Has anyone seen this here? There is a website www.swampbuddy.net. Think I might order some since the skeeters are starting to assert themselves....

God bless you for starting this - I just have ONE question: what works to keep those friggin yellow flies at bay - I am allergic to them and swell up lke mad when bitten - any advice would be appreciated!

Since I can't find any of the original threads, I'm starting a new one.

Just got off the phone with a guy in Cedar Key, who swears by a new bug juice called Swamp Buddy. He says it is all natural- lemongrass, peppermint, and eucalyptus oils. They buy it at the hardware store there. My new Cedar Key friend, Bob, says he "doesn't like the taste of Deet in his mouth". I didn't ask who or what he was licking to be tasting the Deet !)

Has anyone seen this here? There is a website www.swampbuddy.net. Think I might order some since the skeeters are starting to assert themselves....

Jdarg, I use a lot of natural repellents here in NY for tick and mosquitos, and eucalyptus oil doesn't do much for mosquitos (ticks hate it, but besides smelling minty, doesn't seem to help with skeeters IMO, (maybe no see ums', but not skeeters)
but these are some of the natural oils that work best for skeeters.


Natural Repellents
These natural products will effectively repel mosquitoes, but they require more frequent reapplication (at least every 2 hours) and higher concentrations than DEET. Because of the differences between types of mosquitoes, products that contain multiple repellents tend to be more effective than those containing a single ingredient. As you can see, natural repellents tend to be volatile plant oils.

• Citronella Oil
• Castor Oil
• Rosemary Oil
• Lemongrass Oil
• Cedar Oil
• Peppermint Oil
• Clove Oil
• Geranium Oil
• Possibly Oils from Verbena, Pennyroyal, Lavender, Pine, Cajeput, Cinnamon, Basil, Thyme, Allspice, Soybean, and Garlic

Another plant-derived substance, pyrethrum, is an insecticide. Pyrethrum comes from the flowers of the daisy Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium.

I also found that taking B-complex repels skeeters too. You sweat it out and they hate the smell. I found this highly effective and had limited bites last year from skeeters and spiders. (I am fiercely allergic to spider bites) This is good too since sunscreen lowers effectiveness of repellents.

I take the concentrated oils, (take your pick but use several and they sell them at natural stores) and mix them with 1 part oil, 10 parts water, put them in a dark spray bottle, and keep it out of the sun. This works out a lot less expensive. One concentrated bottle of oil (about an inch high) could last you a whole season.

FOR PETS: Take a bandana and soak it in the above overnight, let dry.
Also, Brewers yeast mixed in pets food (some natural stores sell it with garlic mixed in, is also highly effective as a added natural repellent in addition to Frontline etc.

Chickpea, I got a natural repellent from a Sowaler for the biting flies. I will find it and post later if someone doesn't beat me to it.

mango's disclaimer: Speak to your doctor first before using any oils.

thanks mango...good info

Chickpea, I got a natural repellent from a Sowaler for the biting flies. I will find it and post later if someone doesn't beat me to it.

Mango,
Bless you!!! Anything you can dig up would be SOOOOOO appreciated!

Avon Skin So Soft Oil

Mango,
Bless you!!! Anything you can dig up would be SOOOOOO appreciated!

Chickpea, I thought I had a potion for the flies, all I had was a yellow fly bite and jellyfish relief potion. Sorry.
I did google fly repellents, and kept coming up with similar oils like above mainly cedar, citronella, rosemary and one I never saw- olive oil

In October, a local was using lavender oil, and she said that it was working grayt against flies. I think she was using Burt's Bee. Worth a try, and it smells good.
Try the B-complex daily. They land on me, but don't bite.

Please take caution when liberally using essential oils without knowing the effects of them. Several have cautions to not use if you are pregnant, have heart problems, etc. Just do a little research before using any of them. ;-) Also, if you are taking prescription medicines, ask your phamacist prior to using any of essential oils.

Please take caution when liberally using essential oils without knowing the effects of them. Several have cautions to not use if you are pregnant, have heart problems, etc. Just do a little research before using any of them. ;-) Also, if you are taking prescription medicines, ask your phamacist prior to using any of essential oils.

You're right SJ. Should have thrown that disclaimer in there.
I can't use Rosemary oil or citronella . Allergic.
The Swmp Buddy jdarg was asking about is all oils.

The 1 part oil and 10 parts water recipe was given to me years ago, but I just mix it to the smell and concentration that is tolerable for me. I use mine with the lowest concentration of deet on the market and I don't spray it on my skin, only my clothes.

DEET...nothing has been proven better in the lab.

I've never heard of anything that keeps the yellow flies at bay. when they are out, you really must cover up or stay inside, especially late afternoon (just before dusk) when they are desperately seeking your blood.

the yellow flies are the absolute worst - their painful bite stays with you for weeks, even if not allergic (lots of folks are allergic). however, for some reason it seems that the longer I've lived here, the less they bite me - when they are biting visitors left and right - wonder what that's about.

DEET...nothing has been proven better in the lab.

I've tried everything from skin so soft to natural repellents to rubbing softener/dryer sheets on skin, to OFF!!! OFF is the winner - off skintastic - low deet - works just fine. it may repel yellow flies a tad.

DEET...nothing has been proven better in the lab.

Want to place a wager on that? ;-)

Yellowflies are the mafia of the insect world. All they have to do is land on me and I swell up.

The only thing that has ever worked for me during yellow fly season is to stay indoors , or sit outside next to the big black sticky ball from the mosquito control.

Want to place a wager on that? ;-)

OK. We can do the old 1980s commercial with one arm coated in Deep Woods Off and another in some sort of go-go juice immersed in aquariums swarming with biting mosquitos. The only condition is my arm gets Off, and the arm not belonging to me is treated with the other stuff. The arm with more bites buys drinks at the Red Bar for all who care to participate. Fair?

OK. We can do the old 1980s commercial with one arm coated in Deep Woods Off and another in some sort of go-go juice immersed in aquariums swarming with biting mosquitos. The only condition is my arm gets Off, and the arm not belonging to me is treated with the other stuff. The arm with more bites buys drinks at the Red Bar for all who care to participate. Fair?

Doesn't sound like a good experiment, since we other factors could affect the results. I think we should use both of your arms, and you can spray one in deet and the other in my bug juice. We should test for Dog Flies, Deer Flies, and Mosquitos.

The actual scientific tests to which I was refering wasn't this loosely conducted, but this should be fun. Oh yeah, if it melts plastic, I don't think you should use it on your skin just to try to prove a point. Punzy would kill me if I let you kill yourself. Deet concentrations >30% have been shown to melt plastic. Cannot be good for your body. My question is, when the labels state warning:do not apply directly to skin, how can that product be "safe for young children?"

Did I mention that you could drink my bug juice without injury?

Doesn't sound like a good experiment, since we other factors could affect the results. I think we should use both of your arms, and you can spray one in deet and the other in my bug juice. We should test for Dog Flies, Deer Flies, and Mosquitos.

The actual scientific tests to which I was refering wasn't this loosely conducted, but this should be fun. Oh yeah, if it melts plastic, I don't think you should use it on your skin just to try to prove a point. Punzy would kill me if I let you kill yourself. Deet concentrations >30% have been shown to melt plastic. Cannot be good for your body. My question is, when the labels state warning:do not apply directly to skin, how can that product be "safe for young children?"

Oh, come on, I don't think Off will melt plastic. I am ready for the challenge, but I am not willing to subject my flesh to biting insects while protected only by lemon juice or whatever

Oh, come on, I don't think Off will melt plastic. I am ready for the challenge, but I am not willing to subject my flesh to biting insects while protected only by lemon juice or whatever

wussy.

are you scared of getting AIDS from a mosquito bite? You just stand out there with your fly swatter when the Dog Flies come for you. Most people make the mistake of comparing the bite of the Deer Fly to the Dog Fly. In that case, the Deer Fly bite is much worse. However, those people forget how painful it is when you slap your leg or face when a Dog Fly bites you. I have sprayed Deet directly onto a biting Dog Fly and the fly continued to bite until I slapped him dead.

Sorry Skunky...for the test to be fair and controlled, you will have to use BOTH of YOUR arms. Good luck...I am itching already.

Remind me when Deer Flies fly.

I've tried everything from skin so soft to natural repellents to rubbing softener/dryer sheets on skin, to OFF!!! OFF is the winner - off skintastic - low deet - works just fine. it may repel yellow flies a tad.

I heard that dryer sheets were the ticket too

Sorry Skunky...for the test to be fair and controlled, you will have to use BOTH of YOUR arms. Good luck...I am itching already.

Does this mean if his Deet arm wins, his Lemon juice concoction arm has to buy the drinks. And if his concoction arm wins, his deet arm has to pony up for the drinks?