5 ms·

I spend much of my time in Florida wetlands, aka swamp. The mosquitoes are perennially surreal on all but the coolest nights and simply bellicose throughout the

by eth0up 7y ago

I spend much of my time in Florida wetlands, aka swamp. The mosquitoes are perennially surreal on all but the coolest nights and simply bellicose throughout the summer. One can bathe in repellant, but must then wear earplugs to mute the bloodletting frenzy. Imagine exceedingly libidinous and hyper fecund GMO California raisins with fangs, ...on bathsalts and antigravity. Then give them 2-stroke weedwackers and encephalitis. Against my better judgement, I often pray that some rogue scientist will destroy them, earth be damned. In the meantime, I use picaridin. Picaridin, in contrast to DEET, does not destroy plastics, isn't greasy, and is more effective at preventing the bastards from actually making contact. DEET, is more effective at preventing bites - but not contact. I prefer to remain less molested while incurring a few bites rather than function as a mosquito stadium. Other than deet and picaridin, nothing works. Ultrasound, lights, oils, permethrin, gasses - they are useless for me. My type comprises a potential gold mine for anyone who discovers an eco-friendly, dry, more effective solution. Please do!

summertimelover 7y ago
this was such a joy to read
mindfulhack 7y ago
Neem oil works 100% (and is a single-source natural plant oil), but it's a smelly oil (strong nutty smell) and, being oil, means you have to get all slicky in order to be effective. With neem, they may fly around you, but they never land on you. They hate its smell, and also, the oil's compound kills them / makes them and all other small insects sterile. So yeah if you're wearing clothes then they have to be ones you're prepared to get oil on and then wash it out using hot water and baking soda or whatever.
- ignoramous 7y ago
  Burning neem-tree [0] leaves is in regular practice in most non-urban Indian neighborhoods, to stave off insects and flies, including mosquitoes. Not sure how effective it is, though. I must point out that Wikipedia has a page on neem oil and warns of toxicity if consumed raw [1]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azadirachta_indica https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azadirachta_indica [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neem_oil https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neem_oil
chrisweekly 7y ago
> "I often pray that some rogue scientist will destroy them, earth be damned." Do you think eliminating mosquitos per se would have dire consequences for the planet, or is it more of a "slippery slope" concern about the idea and potential consequences of deliberate extinction?
- eth0up 7y ago
  Observing them in the abundance I do (harvest lbs per hour with a cricket bat), it seems obvious that they're a rich food source for wildlife, from ground to sky. Wildlife and ecology are uncommon concerns in Florida, unfortunately. Such can be clearly deduced from the repugnant new developments scourging the state, which are basically micro Epcot centers stripped of all aesthetics, ie fantasy villages divorced from indigenous reality. The Everglades, for example, is a keystone system, for the planet, and undoubtedly a geiser of mosquitoes. Eliminating any non invasive species, but notably the mosquito, would imo, have negative consequences despite brief anthropic jubilee. My brutal loathing aside, I'd be very reluctant to fulfill my prayer. I don't think it's a slippery slope, but it's one that through means intenional or not, we'll probably see as populations grow under current practices.

by eth0up 7y ago

summertimelover 7y ago

this was such a joy to read

mindfulhack 7y ago

Neem oil works 100% (and is a single-source natural plant oil), but it's a smelly oil (strong nutty smell) and, being oil, means you have to get all slicky in order to be effective. With neem, they may fly around you, but they never land on you. They hate its smell, and also, the oil's compound kills them / makes them and all other small insects sterile. So yeah if you're wearing clothes then they have to be ones you're prepared to get oil on and then wash it out using hot water and baking soda or whatever.

ignoramous 7y ago
Burning neem-tree [0] leaves is in regular practice in most non-urban Indian neighborhoods, to stave off insects and flies, including mosquitoes. Not sure how effective it is, though. I must point out that Wikipedia has a page on neem oil and warns of toxicity if consumed raw [1]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azadirachta_indica https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azadirachta_indica [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neem_oil https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neem_oil

chrisweekly 7y ago

> "I often pray that some rogue scientist will destroy them, earth be damned." Do you think eliminating mosquitos per se would have dire consequences for the planet, or is it more of a "slippery slope" concern about the idea and potential consequences of deliberate extinction?

eth0up 7y ago
Observing them in the abundance I do (harvest lbs per hour with a cricket bat), it seems obvious that they're a rich food source for wildlife, from ground to sky. Wildlife and ecology are uncommon concerns in Florida, unfortunately. Such can be clearly deduced from the repugnant new developments scourging the state, which are basically micro Epcot centers stripped of all aesthetics, ie fantasy villages divorced from indigenous reality. The Everglades, for example, is a keystone system, for the planet, and undoubtedly a geiser of mosquitoes. Eliminating any non invasive species, but notably the mosquito, would imo, have negative consequences despite brief anthropic jubilee. My brutal loathing aside, I'd be very reluctant to fulfill my prayer. I don't think it's a slippery slope, but it's one that through means intenional or not, we'll probably see as populations grow under current practices.