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Mosquitoes

One thing we rarely had in central Texas was mosquitoes! Here, they will about carry you off. We’ve had so much rain and things stay so wet because about the time it almost dries out, it rains again. I go out with Oscar just before dusk and I can actually see the swarms of mosquitoes. I have to swat at them to keep them from going up my nose when I breathe. Every single vessel that had even a drop of water has been dumped and turned upside down so we’re not making it easy for them to find a place to lay their eggs.

Growing up in southwest Louisiana, we lived with mosquitoes. The mosquito spray truck would come by at least once a week during the spring and summer. We lived on a dead end road so he’d have to turn around in front of our house. We probably got double doses of the mosquito poison and back in the late 50’s or early 60’s . . I probably don’t even want to know what was in that spray.

So far, I have not seen a mosquito spray truck here. I don’t know if they do that any more. I don’t remember the mosquitoes being this bad last year but it’s probably the amount of rain we’ve had this year.

I dread going out early in the morning and any time after about 5 p.m. I’m constantly rushing Oscar. Yesterday he was taking forever and I thought . . Would I rather stand out here and be eaten alive by mosquitoes or have him go in the house? I opted to be eaten alive by mosquitoes but today . . I may not make the same decision.

During the summer when it’s hot and dry and I’m considering complaining, I’ll remind myself that . . at least we don’t have mosquitoes . . I hope!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Here in NEOhio, our city has the mosquito spray trucks. I am not sure when they schedule the spraying. You might call city hall and ask—just so you know.

    When we sit on our deck in the evenings I sometimes put a fan on the deck to keep the mosquitoes from biting the heck out of us. The breeze seems to keep them at bay.

    Mosquitoes love me but don’t bother my hubs much.

    Also, I use Benadryl® Extra Strength Itch Cooling Spray to help with the infernal itching. Really helps.

    • There’s no city hall for us. We’re out in the county and IF they do it in the city, I seriously doubt they come out this far. Thanks for the info on Benadryl Extra Strength spray. Never heard of it but I’ll order some.

  2. We have mosquitoes here in Nebraska and I use Thermacell mosquito repellent. It’s something you can carry with you or sit on the table if you are sitting outside. I love it and when I’m gardening it’s perfect for me. I get it at our local Menards. Maybe you don’t have Menards, but a store of that type.

    • I don’t know if we have Menards. Some place we’ve lived had them and it might be here. I’ll check that out. Thanks!

  3. I think many places stopped the spray trucks due to expense, realizing blanket spraying caused too much collateral damage to desirable insects, and figuring out that kids playing in insecticide fog isn’t the smartest thing.

    I use a variety of anti-itch creams or the Itch-Stop sticks for bites. I don’t know why, but what works one day doesn’t the next. Those sticks are ammonia and oil, so maybe a dab of plain ammonia might work? I’ve also read that meat tenderizer works on bites, that’s one I’ve never tried.

    • I keep Avon Skin So Soft and try to remember to use that but I worry about Oscar getting bit. I keep him on heart worm preventative but stlil worry.

  4. You can buy your own fogger now and spray you yard. They aren’t too expensive.

    • We should but I doubt Vince would do it because of how he feels about harming the environment. I’m out there swatting them and dancing around and maybe saying bad words and he says “mosquitoes have a purpose!”

      • Can he please tell us what that purpose might be? All I can think is to feed bats.Or to keep populations of warm-blooded creatures down by spreading disease.

  5. Just make sure he gets his heartworm pills each month. Mosquitos don’t have to have much water to hatch the eggs!! A single drop of dew or rain on a blade of grass will do it! Also, they love heavily bushy areas or thick grass plants. So there is no stopping them. All you can do is take precautions. Off is the best! Wear bright clothes also.

    • I won’t use anything directly on my skin other than Skin So Soft. There have been too many things through the years that were “proven” safe and then turned out not to be so. I will spray it on my clothes but just for going out for 5 minutes with Oscar, I just fight the mosquitoes. I will try something I can put in my pocket but not on my skin.

      Yes, our dogs have always faithfully been given the heartworm meds. Our vet has recommended Interceptor Plus instead of Heartgard. Our dogs have always loved Heartgard but I have to jump through all kinds of hoops to get Oscar to take the Interceptor. I do it but I dread it each month.

      • My dog would not eat a chewable pill but put it in peanut butter and she gobbled it down. My son-in-law taught me that trick.

  6. When we lived in MO and OH, I would be eaten alive by mosquitos every year. After moving to GA where they are just as plentiful, I read somewhere that taking vitamin B1 creates something in your body that is emitted through your skin and whatever it is, they don’t like it so it’s like a natural repellent. I figured I had nothing to lose, so I tried it and it really did work! I did it for the last three years and then I ran out and just forgot to start taking it again this year until I got the first couple of bites, so I started again and, they have left me alone! I’m now a firm believer!

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