Astronomy "Quotes"

(funny e-mail)

Repelling Mosquitoes: A Reply

I am curious if there is anyone out there who knows of some home remedies to repel mosquitos while observing? I'm not interested in the commercially bought insect repellents nor the burning coils...I'm more interested in the lesser known methods that "grandma" passed down...such as the eating of garlic and the pinning of "Bounce"(the product you put in a clothes dryer to prevent static electricity) on your clothes to repel mosquitos. I'm interested in knowing them all ...even if you think it doesn't work.

George Zay

From: "Dennis Ward" dward@COMET.UCAR.EDU
Date: Sat, 4 Jan 1997 07:49:11 -0700

1) Eating Garlic (No consistant effect.)
2) Taking vitamins B-6 and B-12 (Seems to help.)
3) Avon's "Skin So Soft" (Bogus Urban Legend--according to the Consumers' Union, this well known "repellant" does NOT work.)
4) Deep-Woods Off (A-1 sauce for humans!)
5) Cutter's (Best commercial product available, IMO)
6) 20% DEET Solution (Great, but NEVER LET CHILDREN USE THIS!!!)
7) A block of Dry Ice placed on the ground about 100' away. (Mosquitoes are attracted to the CO2 you exhale, and they LOVE dry ice fumes!)

I know-- 4-6 are commercial, but others might be interested. I've tried all of these over the years. I used to live in Michigan, where the mosquitoes were large enough to carry off small children, and Cutters was the only reasonably safe product that worked well. Ditto for the deep-South variety of flying leech.
I finally solved the problem-- I moved to Colorado. I saw two mosquitoes last year, and killed them both.
Bug-free Skies!

Dennis