Mosquito Repellent

[Waters_Donna@msn.com]

Will I need it?

[ruffnrocky]

probably, it doesn't hurt to be prepared. 

 Listening to: some Hayes Carll

[420Sugaree]

Yes, you'll most definitely need mosquito repellent. I'm in Fort Collins, just up the road from Rocky Grass, about 30 miles north. I go outdoors every day hiking, jogging, and riding my bicycle. This year we have way more mosquitoes than normal. We've had way more moisture than normal (record snowpack, and record rains). West Nile virus can be easily found here in our mosquitoes. Coloradoans don't want people or their livestock (horses, llamas, alpacas) getting bit by mosquitoes and getting West Nile virus. When West Nile virus outbreaks do happen here, some Colorado towns will resort to spraying chemicals, insecticides, and other nasty stuff - where we live. This is insane! We don't want to be sprayed! Please, protect yourselves from mosquito bites, for everyone's sakes. Thank You!.

Deet-based repellents have a bad reputation. These repellents are being replaced by safer repellents with a NEW Active Ingredient. Look for the active ingredient, Picaridin (15%). Consider wearing protective clothing (long sleeves) during dawn and dusk hours. Apply mosquito repellent when they're biting. Read the label and follow directions. Avoid spending "too much" time nearby streams, pools, and stagnant water.

For example, this Cutter spray is a picaridin-based insect repellent. It features a heavy-duty formula yet feels light and clean on the skin and is essentially odorless! I bought this product in summer, 2007. I went backpacking 6 times in the mosquito-infested backcountry of Colorado's high country with my Picaridin repellent. IT WORKS!

Last week, I tested my picardin-based Cutter "Advanced Outdoorsman" spray again. Even though my repellent has been on my shelf for 4 years, IT STILL WORKS! I recommend repellents with 15% Picardin as the active ingredient.

• Now available in the United States, picaridin has been used worldwide and is the best-selling active ingredient in Europe and Australia

• Long-lasting 15% picaridin solution effectively repels up to 8 hrs. mosquitoes that might carry West Nile Virus

• Kid-friendly formula is safe for children over the age of two years

• Formulation is safe to use around synthetic clothing and will not harm fishing line

• Active ingredient: picaridin (15%)

• Flammable item - must be sent via surface (ground) shipping. Sorry, no air shipping. Cannot be sent to Alaska, Hawaii, APO, FPO or international addresses.

[Waters_Donna@msn.com]

Thanks for the info!  I bought some repellent, but didn't wear it tonight, and of course, got bitten!     

[erndog]

Try this - active ingredient is IR3535 - way more effective than Picaridin and last's longer, too.  Up to 8 hours, but in clinical testing and field studies, it's been effective for 10-12 hours.

http://www.colemanrepellents.com/skinsmart.php

REI usually has this product.

[scody311]

yep...
you needed it.

[420Sugaree]

yep... and the mosquitoes are still out, all along the Pourdre River Trail corridor in downtown and old town Ft. Collins.

The grasshoppers came out 5 or 6 days ago. They're infesting everywhere in the tall weeds and grasses, same thing every year. (I'm guessing the grasshopper density right now is about 10 or 15 per square meter, maybe more.) On my 2-hour bicycle rides this past Fri and Sat, I killed scores of them. It was snap, crackle, and pop as I rode down the trail. There were hundreds and hundreds of crushed grasshoppers on the trails.