F'n Mosquitoes!!!

[Neeper]

WTF! Where did they all come from? I honestly do not remember it being this bad here in Calgary. Are they still spraying? Because they should spray more. In the last 2 week, by my UNDERestimation I've been bitten at least 75 times. Probably closer to 125. I fish a lot and I've already gone through a bottle of Deep Woods. I even got bit 4 times in my own home last night!
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

I am going to look for 100% deet. Does anyone know if that is bad for our health?

[Resolute 14]

If it helps, I'm doing my best to take care of the problem as I drive around Alberta. I think I've gone through 20 litres of windshield washer fluid in the past two weeks...

[KevanGuy]

I think it has to do with how warm it got early then then the wet weather.

As for the Deet, I had some pretty heafty stuff back when I was digging Archeaology. My Dad gave it to me and I believe it was 95% Deet. It came in a little bottle and a little went a loooong way. I accidentally spilt a drop or two on my plastic canteen and it melted the plastic.

[AC]

Originally Posted by Neeper

I am going to look for 100% deet. Does anyone know if that is bad for our health?

I know the 95% deet spray used by the Canadian military has been removed because of how powerful it was -- causing facial/ocular burns from contact. (Meant for washing your clothes in, not spraying on yourself!)

They have reverted to 60% concentration. Which is probably a good suggestion!

[calf]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

I think it has to do with how warm it got early then then the wet weather.

that, and how wet it was last year was perfect for egg laying.

when we get further into July/August, it will be hot, sunny and dry, killing those bastids off

[ken0042]

Tonight they are even worse than last night. I went out to move the sprinkler, and didn't put any spray on because of how short I was planning on being out, and how long it takes me to clean it before I can handle my rabbit. I could only work one handed because the other hand was swatting litterally non-stop.

I don't think they spray for them.

[Jiggy_12]

Yeah, it was the heavy rains last June.

I heard a while back on the news to brace for this in July, I had no idea it would be this bad though.

[Jake]

I thought last summer was much worse.

Anyways I don't think its that bad. I work outside from 9-5 every day and use 15% deet. I barely notice them.

[NSFL]

Vitamin B people. Just start taking multivitamins daily. Doesn't mean you shouldn't still use a spray, but it really helps keep the suckers from wanting to bite. I don't know how, but I haven't been bitten alive just yet.

[Kybosh]

We bought some 98% DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide with 2 % other toluamides) in the lab for this specific reason. You can't put it directly on your skin but you can put it on your clothes or a hat. Like someone else stated, it dissolves a lot of plastics and will burn your skin. I'm not sure where you could get it though if you aren't in a research lab hehe.

I've been noticing that the mosquitoes are so bad this year that my normal Muskol isn't coming close to doing the trick.

[Azure]

Is it true that after they've feasted on you for a week or so they quit?

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Azure

Is it true that after they've feasted on you for a week or so they quit?

I've never heard of that. I've been bitten many times in my life and there has never been any change. The one thing that I have noticed however is that the mosquitoes in and around Calgary are small but irritating little buggers while the ones in some other places I've lived are much larger but less annoying. Probably different species.

[flamingchina]

Kinda, Some years ago when I used to drive a tractor around mowing ditches, I got bit constantly, but quite quickly I built up an immunity. I still got bit, but nothing happened when I got bit, no ithcing, no bumps, no nothing, and I had the immunity for a couple of years. Sadly, it's gone now.

[NSFL]

I swear these suckers have gotten way bigger this year, and way more poisonous.

[theJuice]

Yea, I hate those things.

Tried mowing the grass, left after about 15 minutes, was just getting way too stung.

[Pagal4321]

Played soccer for a few hours, like I do every week...and those bastids are all over the place. Get's kinda annoying to spray the Deep Woods on every few minutes.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

Played soccer for a few hours, like I do every week...and those bastids are all over the place. Get's kinda annoying to spray the Deep Woods on every few minutes.

No kidding. After a while it makes you wonder if the stuff works.

[Calgary Flames]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

I think it has to do with how warm it got early then then the wet weather.

As for the Deet, I had some pretty heafty stuff back when I was digging Archeaology. My Dad gave it to me and I believe it was 95% Deet. It came in a little bottle and a little went a loooong way. I accidentally spilt a drop or two on my plastic canteen and it melted the plastic.

Tsk... Dino nerd!

Yes, these mosquitos are stupid. Can't go in the yard past 2pm without getting eaten alive.

I suggest one of those electric tennis racket bug zappers (The C battery ones) Nothing is more satisfying than the SNAP of a dead mosquito.

[KevanGuy]

Originally Posted by Calgary Flames

Tsk... Dino nerd!

Heh, more of a Bison nerd. Dino's are Paleontology.

[Engine09]

I've noticed them also, like everyone else I know. I didn't think of the weather at at all because it was wet last year through June, although we didn't get any hot days to mention.

I was just convinced that the city decided not to spray this year, for whatever reason.