Before I left Mississippi at age 20 in December 1989, I was the mosquito banquet of the family. I couldn't figure out why they loved me more than other people. I lived in California for 11 years and I believe I was bitten twice in all that time and only then it was after a couple weeks of straight rain and no sun, very unusual weather in Fresno.
Mosquitoes plague gardeners who like to work in the hot, humid mornings, afternoons when it's shady, and sometimes in the heat of a sunny day as well. I've gone out there and been swarmed. I caught phlebitis, an infection of the vein, from a bite on my hand. The little sucker poked a vein. At first the bite just itched, then a red radiating circle formed, then I noticed a red stripe going up my arm and it was longer everyday. By the time it nearly reached the elbow, I began to worry and went to a doctor. I was on antibiotics for a week and that was over a month ago. This spot still itches occasionally. With all the new cases of infections and viruses in the news today, I thought I better join the bandwagon this month on this important topic for gardeners.
How do you get mosquitoes to leave you alone?
Well, I've had to start wearing long sleeves in the yard at all times, especially after rain. Long sleeves do not protect my face and I've gotten it a couple times on the cheek and neck. What do you do for those unprotected areas? Well, you can get a mask like those that bee handlers wear or you can follow the control methods discussed below.
I buy a botanical spray called "Bioganic ShooBugs" that is made of wintergreen, vanilla, cinnamon, citric acid, and 2-phenethyl propionate. I'm assuming the propionate is organic since the product is a Bioganic brand. It has no DEET and smells like licorice/wintergreen. I don't mind putting this one on me, but I've been bitten while using it, so I don't trust it fully. I use it on my son at night because he would wake up with bites on his legs. Could be fleas since we have a cat, but I've used diatomaceous earth on the carpets as well as boric acid under the furniture to control those as well as spiders and other creepy crawlies.
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Carla Goodloe's Garden Pests topic, please visit the Discussions page.