Complete Guide To Avoiding Mosquito Bites

[andynap]

Complete Guide To Avoiding Mosquito Bites

Preparation at home

• Bring Insect Repellent with high DEET concentration. REPEL 100 and OFF Deep Woods Sportsmen have 98 % DEET. Walmart and Target are 2 places to get it. Amazon is advertising 100% DEET products now.
• For those who have a problem with DEET, REPEL Lemon Eucalyptus is a good alternative.
• Picaridin- a non-DEET product- has been shown to be a little more effective than DEET. It can be found online at Amazon or in REI stores as Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent.
• Take 100 mgs of Vitamin B1 starting 10 days before the trip and continue throughout the trip.
• Bring an Electric Racquet Bug Zapper.
• Bring light colored clothes. Women may want to consider long pants for the evening.

• Ask your Villa agent to have your villa sprayed for flying insects inside and outside before you get there. Ask if there is a mosquito net over the bed- you want one.
• Bring Benadryl anti-itch spray.
• Do not bring scented soaps, perfumes, deodorants or hair sprays

In St. Barts

· Buy 2 cans of BAYGON Flying Insect Spray at Marche U or L'Oasis. The can has graphics so you can tell if it's for crawling or flying insects.

At the Villa

· Every night when you go out, spray the bathroom with Baygon- it's humid and wet and breeding ground for mosquitoes
· Every morning when you go outside for the first time, spray under all tables and chairs with Baygon. Make sure you have long pants, shirt and shoes or flip- flops on.
· Use the Electric Racquet Bug Zapper. Bug Coils and Plug-ins are OK inside but don't do much outside.
· Keep the Air Conditioner on inside always.
· Watch for places that collect water- plant container dishes are one. Dump the water.
If you eat outside in the morning, keep the Baygon and Electric Racquet Bug Zapper handy.
Do not use scented personal products like soaps, perfumes, hair spray or deodorant.

Personal Protection

. Use as much DEET as you are comfortable with. Mosquitoes now bite from dawn to dusk and will also hide in the shade and under tables and chairs at all times.
· Wear light colored clothes and long pants at night.
· If bitten, use the Benadryl spray.
If you feel sick, like the flu, go to the Hospital right away.

[JEK]

Andy,
Thanks for doing this, you are the King of Skeeter Prophylactics.

[amyb]

Great guidelines for mosquito bite avoidance, Andy.

Thank you.

[andynap]

It's what I do since I am a magnet for bites. I'm sure I left something out which someone can fill in.

[tim]

Andy,

Thank you for an excellent analysis on this most important topic

[MickinUS]

Great job, Andy

[cassidain]

Andy, you left off perhaps most important element: choose a villa which benefits from brisk and constant breezes through exposure to the trade winds.

[andynap]

You just added to the list.

[LuckyKid]

How about assembling a list of villas with fully screened living areas.

I realize it's somewhat heretical, in light of the open design of most houses in the tropics. But we stayed in two villas with screens on our last visit, and I have to admit, it was great!

[andynap]

We have never stayed anyplace that didn't have screens so I didn't think of it. Screens are on the list now. There is no such list so ask your agent or owner.

[JEK]

I've never stayed anywhere that is totally screened. Open air areas predominate most villas. Screened pools? Screened central areas? Bedrooms, yes.

[MickinUS]

How about assembling a list of villas that are fully screened?

I realize it's somewhat heretical, but we stayed in two villas with screens on our last visit and it was great!

Bingo!!

[andynap]

Ask your agent. There is no list.

[JEK]

I've never stayed anywhere that is totally screened. Open air areas predominate most villas. Screened pools? Screened central areas? Bedrooms, yes.

Like this one.

[tim]

La Baleine is screened and has lovely outdoor areas as well, including the famous gazebo:)

[andynap]

Like this one.

Lol.

[dalbys]

Thanks so much for the guide! We have had problems on and off at different villas, even the ones very high up. The mosquitoes always seem to find a way to hide out of the wind. We have always used coils but sometimes nothing seems to help. I never thought about asking the villa agency to spray. We will definitely do that next spring as well as the rest of the hints!!! I hate mosquitoes!!!!!!

[italyhound]

Thank you, Andy.

Of course, I read this over our last breakfast this am. My wife is a veritable mosquito magnet, as am I this year for some reason. I think it may be medication related.

Even in breezy Colombier, this year the bugs are horrific.

Ive made a note to reread your post before we arrive next year.

[andynap]

Thanks. BTW I should edit the when mosquitoes fly section. The Chickengunya mosquito flies during the day.

[amyb]

I find that I see less buzzing near me when I am in light colored clothing. This anti mosquito advice that Andy has put together is really important to read before heading down-be prepared!

[JEK]

Andy, chikungunya mosquito is also the dengue mosquito and the yellow fever mosquito. No yellow fever yet!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aedes

Aedes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


This article is about the genus of mosquito. For other meanings, see Aedes (disambiguation).

Aedes
Aedes aegypti
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Culicidae
Subfamily:	Culicinae
Genus:	Aedes Meigen, 1818
Species
See List of Aedes species Aedes australis Aedes albopictus Aedes aegypti Aedes cantator Aedes cinereus Aedes rusticus Aedes vexans

Aedes is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents excluding Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity. Aedes albopictus, a most invasive species, was recently spread to the New World, including the US, by the used-tire trade. First described and named by Meigen in 1818, the generic name comes from the Ancient Greekἀηδής, aēdēs, meaning "unpleasant" or "odious". Some species of this genus transmit serious diseases, including dengue fever, yellow fever, and chikungunya. In Polynesia, the species Aedes polynesiensis is responsible for the transmission of human lymphatic filariasis.
Aedes can be detected and monitored by ovitraps.
The yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) genome was sequenced by the Broad Institute and The Institute for Genomic Research. The initial assembly was released in August 2005; a draft sequence of the genome and preliminary analysis was published in June 2007.^[1] The annotated genome is available at VectorBase.^[2]

Contents

[hide]

• 1 Characteristics
• 2 Role in disease
• 3 Systematics and phylogeny
• 4 References
• 5 External links

Characteristics[edit]

Aedes mosquitoes are visually distinctive because they have noticeable black and white markings on their body and legs. Unlike most other mosquitos, they are active and biting only during the daytime.
Role in disease[edit]

Members of the Aedes genus are known vectors for numerous viral infections. The two most prominent species that transmit viruses are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus which transmit the viruses that cause dengue fever, yellow fever, West Nile fever, chikungunya, and eastern equine encephalitis, along with many other, less notable diseases. Infections with these viruses are typically accompanied by a fever, and, in some cases, encephalitis, which can lead to death. A vaccine to provide protection from yellow fever exists, and measures to prevent mosquito bites include: insecticides such as DDT, mosquito traps, insect repellents, and mosquito nets.

[andynap]

Well that's fine but the edit button is gone.

[JEK]

Quote and edit the quote and I will replace in the original text.

[andynap]

Quote and edit the quote and I will replace in the original text.

Here you go:


Use as much DEET as you are comfortable with. Mosquitoes now bite from dawn to dusk and will also hide in the shade and under tables and chairs at all times.

[JEK]

Here you go:


Use as much DEET as you are comfortable with. Mosquitoes now swarm from dawn to dusk and will also hide in the shade and under tables and chairs at all times.

That text is already there???

[andynap]

I just edited it a bit more. Just replace what's there with the new one

[SherylB]

Thanks Andy. Just ordered Repel 100 from Amazon for our trip next week!

[Reed]

I might also add………..

Avoid staying in places where there is an abundance of dark woods and furnishings. I was at place when I arrived that while lovely, had tons of antiques and dark wood around the living area. TONS of mosquitos. I have taken to wearing a light cotton long sleeve t-shirt and pants which are both white, while lounging around. Seems to help………kr

[amyb]

I found that to be true, Kimberly. Light color clothing helps a lot

[debd]

Thanks so much, Andy. This is really helpful.