Someone solved the mosquito problem
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Full scale thermo-nuclear war.....If that is normal what might overkill be ...
I must say that Danube delta mosquitos are very tame and almost non-problem in comparison to their northern cousins. Locals seem to totally ignore them but other Romanians not so.
Many years ago I was reading a book (possibly Treasure Island) Before setting off to sea the ship purchased a large stock of 100% guaranteed to work mosquito exterminaters.
When they came to use them, the instuctions said to place the mosquito between the two blocks of wood supplied and squeeze!
Made 10 yr old me laugh!
When they came to use them, the instuctions said to place the mosquito between the two blocks of wood supplied and squeeze!
Made 10 yr old me laugh!
Probably more effective if the bottle cap is filled with blood, placed under the rock which is propped up with the twig, with a piece of twine tied to the twig going to a hide at a safe distance. When the mosquito lands to drink the blood, the operator pulls the twine, pulling out the twig, and the mosquito is crushed by the deadfall. The salt can be used to preserve the skin of the mosquito for mounting purposes.
Survival Russia has a rather interesting solution to the Siberian mosquito problem, I can’t remember exactly, but it was basically offering yourself to them at the beginning of the season, getting bitten to death over one evening (possibly, after that, you go into the sweat lodge for a session) then supposedly they don’t bother you after that- something along those lines. I think it’s what the Evenki people do. It’s in one of his videos, probably 3 or so years ago. One of my favourite bushcraft YouTubers.
I met a Scot from this place once in a campsite near Stirling IIRC. He had that theory. The Zen theory of mosquito resistance. His theory is to resist swatting or brushing away any midge or mosquito when they first arise in the year. If you ever swat or brush one away it marks you as fair game and you'll be bitten to death later in the year. If you do not bother the first few you encounter then all the others will leave you alone. They communicate and hold grudges I think the theory was based on. Apparently that guy was getting heavily into the WHW and did it or at least parts of it every year several times a year.
Me I swat, swear, curse and use all the gunk I can to get them to stop biting me. I was the greatest midge magnet at one point. Then all of a certain they stopped being interested in me. No idea why, it how I managed that it was a few years after that change I got my first tick. In over 40 years I've never had a tick before but when I stopped being a midge magnet I got a tick. That IMHO is proof that those bothered by midges badly do not get ticks and those that don't get bothered by midges get ticks.
After the first twenty or so mosquito bites in early summer I get hardly a mark. Apparently depends on one's immune system's reaction to the foreign substances.
It also helps to be taking 4x the standard dose of antihistamines it seems. I got bitten a lot last summer when I was on 4x the dailly does of loratidine. This year I am not and have some really nasty bites around my ankles.
Has anyone had success with the old idea that taking the B whatever that is in Marmite for a few months before midge season stops them biting you? I heard that the vitamin that is in a high concentration in marmite when it gets into your blood stream causes a change in your "smell" or pheremones such that the midges are repelled by you.
I am unfortunately completely repelled by that vomit so have never managed to last more than two days dose of that nasty devil's vomit stuff. No chance to get to the point of it working or possibly working. So I would be curious to know if anyone has tried it and had success.
Has anyone had success with the old idea that taking the B whatever that is in Marmite for a few months before midge season stops them biting you? I heard that the vitamin that is in a high concentration in marmite when it gets into your blood stream causes a change in your "smell" or pheremones such that the midges are repelled by you.
I am unfortunately completely repelled by that vomit so have never managed to last more than two days dose of that nasty devil's vomit stuff. No chance to get to the point of it working or possibly working. So I would be curious to know if anyone has tried it and had success.
I eat Marmite all year round, maybe that explains why I don't get bitten much.
Then again, it might be because I wear long trousers and a proper shirt with long sleeves and a collar all year round, too.
According to the adverts it just means that whilst some of them won't even come near you, the rest will find you irresistable.
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