BajaNomad - Vitamin B for bugs

Vitamin B for bugs

frizkie - 10-19-2009 at 06:13 PM

A year or so ago somone posted that vitamin B1, or vitamin B3, was a good insect repellant if taken for a couple of weeks prior to meeting up with your first Bo Bos, mosquitos, or biting bugs of anykind.
I tried it and it did work well but I don't remember what number vitamin B it was....any ideas???

DENNIS - 10-19-2009 at 06:31 PM

Here's one thought. If you Google the subject, there's lots more info.

http://altmedicine.about.com/b/2008/08/18/can-vitamin-b-prot...

bajaguy - 10-19-2009 at 06:40 PM

Eat lots of garlic....that will keep anything away

Russ - 10-19-2009 at 06:51 PM

This guy came visiting tonight. I think he wanted my B-complex & half my finger. Short visit!

vitamin b-12

desertcpl - 10-19-2009 at 07:06 PM

many years ago when I was living in Puerto Vallarta,,, we took weekly vitamin B-12 shots

B1

BajaDanD - 10-19-2009 at 09:09 PM

Its B1 thiamin. It works for Misquitoes and fleas. I dont know about the no-see-umms.

oladulce - 10-19-2009 at 10:51 PM

Good lord Russ, please tell me those are only found on your side of the peninsula (even if they're not).

vandenberg - 10-20-2009 at 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by frizkie
A year or so ago somone posted that vitamin B1, or vitamin B3, was a good insect repellant if taken for a couple of weeks prior to meeting up with your first Bo Bos, mosquitos, or biting bugs of anykind.
I tried it and it did work well but I don't remember what number vitamin B it was....any ideas???

There may be some truth to this, but for me it's merely a myth. Mosquitos and all bugs love me and none of those remedies did ever any good. Just made for healthier bugs. :biggrin:

Even slathered in Deet the buggers still feast on me. :no:

elizabeth - 10-20-2009 at 01:53 PM

There's actually no scientific evidence that vitamin b, garlic, or any other food will repel mosquitos. I've tried everything...and like Vandenberg, I've just contributed to a population of healthier mosquitos.

Mosquitos, and other biting things seem to love me. They don't even seem to mind biting through a layer of deet or my clothing to get my blood. I read somewhere that people who have capillaries closer to the skin are more attractive to biting insects...makes some sense, but I can't find it again.

For normal people...here's an interesting chart which probably needs to amended for Baja mid summer sweating.

Table 1. Protection Times of Tested Mosquito Repellents

Products
Active Ingredient
Average Complete Protection Time

OFF! Deep Woods
23.8% DEET
5 hours

Sawyer Controlled Release
20% DEET
4 hours

OFF! Skintastic
6.65% DEET
2 hours

Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent
Oil of lemon eucalyptus; p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD)
2 hours

Bite Blocker for Kids
2% Soybean Oil
1.5 hours

OFF! Skintastic for Kids
4.75% DEET
1.5 hours

Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard Plus
7.5% IR3535
23 minutes

Natrapel
10% Citronella
20 minutes

Herbal Armor
12% Citronella; 2.5% peppermint oil; 2% cedar oil; 1% lemongrass oil; 0.05% geranium oil
19 minutes

Green Ban for People
10% Citronella; 2% peppermint oil
14 minutes

Buzz Away
5% Citronella
14 minutes

Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard
0.1% Citronella
10 minutes

Skin-So-Soft Bath Oil
Active Ingredient not known
10 minutes

Skin-So-Soft Moisturizing Suncare
0.05% Citronella
3 minutes

Gone Original Wristband
9.5% DEET
0

Repello Wristband
9.5% DEET
0

Gone Plus Repelling Wristband
25% Citronella
0

DianaT - 10-20-2009 at 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by elizabeth
There's actually no scientific evidence that vitamin b, garlic, or any other food will repel mosquitos. I've tried everything...and like Vandenberg, I've just contributed to a population of healthier mosquitos.

Mosquitos, and other biting things seem to love me. They don't even seem to mind biting through a layer of deet or my clothing to get my blood. I read somewhere that people who have capillaries closer to the skin are more attractive to biting insects...makes some sense, but I can't find it again.

I am also one of those "lucky" people that all biting insects love---John says all he needs is to have me around and he is safe from all mosquitoes, etc.

I can't remember where, but recently I read that one study concluded that people who were less uptight were the ones who attracted the little monster bugs--they said it was a chemical reaction in uptight people who repelled them--

Not sure I buy that one very well, but it is interesting.

David K - 10-20-2009 at 02:48 PM

OFF! Deep Woods
23.8% DEET
5 hours

WHY only 23.8% DEET... ? As the chart shows, the more DEET, the better the product! :light:

I avoid mosquitos and try to not camp where they are, however I do get bit even though I am a big fan of vitamin use... To put a stop to the mosquitos, I use 100% DEET (actually 95% with 5% other isomers)... Purchased at the camping department at WalMart. The scan isn't the best because the bottle is not flat! :lol:

[Edited on 10-20-2009 by David K]

Sallysouth - 10-20-2009 at 02:50 PM

Good grief Russ!What kind of nasty looking critter IS that???Think its a spider but looks more like a mutant of some sort. I also am one of those "lucky" people that attract the bugs away from everyone else.I've tried it all, only deep woods works and not all that well. :no:

David K - 10-20-2009 at 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sallysouth
Good grief Russ!What kind of nasty looking critter IS that???Think its a spider but looks more like a mutant of some sort. I also am one of those "lucky" people that attract the bugs away from everyone else.I've tried it all, only deep woods works and not all that well. :no:

Do a Nomad search for 'Deer Killer'. Here is a post with photo from Russ: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=38330

Good photo by vagabndo here:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=31329#pid3187...

Also called Camel Spider and Wind Scorpion... Matavenado in Baja.

[Edited on 10-20-2009 by David K]

DENNIS - 10-20-2009 at 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by elizabeth
There's actually no scientific evidence that vitamin b, garlic, or any other food will repel mosquitos.

I tried to point that out above but, It's Nomad. Nobody listens. They just want to be heard.

What ever happened to "Skin So Soft" that would repell critters? Made by AVON I believe.
Good enough for the military in Nam. Should be good enough for you bug-infested folks down south.

Sallysouth - 10-20-2009 at 02:57 PM

David, the latest pic that Russ posted looks quite a bit different than the photo in that thread.It looks like a cross between a spider and a scorpion.

DENNIS - 10-20-2009 at 03:00 PM

Actually, I'm guilty of the sins of my tirade. Elizabeth mentioned the stuff above.
Sorry folks.

DENNIS - 10-20-2009 at 03:02 PM

Got it David. I think we're posting all over each other.
Thanks.

David K - 10-20-2009 at 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sallysouth
David, the latest pic that Russ posted looks quite a bit different than the photo in that thread.It looks like a cross between a spider and a scorpion.

Yah looks different, see Vag's photo... identical.

David K - 10-20-2009 at 03:05 PM

No worries Dennis... I wish I was outside working! I will remove that post.

Anybody need some irrigation or landscape lighting done? :yes:

(Get me off Nomad) :spingrin:

[Edited on 10-20-2009 by David K]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!!

frizkie - 10-20-2009 at 09:33 PM

Yup, Baja Dan D,
That's it Vitamin B1!! Someone on here posted last year, that if you take B1 for two weeks prior to coming into contact with mosquitos, or no-see-ums, or biting bugs like that, then continue, while you are still in the infested area, to take 50mg of Vit B1 per day, you will get some relief. I tried it, and it worked really well for those darned critters, that I get at my place in El Chorro (Baja Sur), that love to bite my ankles. The locals call them "sancudos", and they drive me nuts usually....mostly at dawn and dusk, like no-see-ums and mosquitos. I won't say it totally solved the problem 100%, but it sure did help.
So, I'd better get out and buy some tomorrow, cuz' I leave Victoria, BC, on Oct 26th, to drive to Baja Sur...YAHOO :bounce:

only 6 more sleeps :spingrin:

and I'll be on my way to Southern Baja, and I'll be there for 6 months!! :tumble:

YAYYY!!!

Beachgirl - 10-21-2009 at 06:33 AM

Come on you guys...bugs bite women more because we are just plain sweeter! Russ, that monster alien spider looks as if he is on linoleum...so, ummmm, he was INSIDE your house? Yuck!

vandenberg - 10-21-2009 at 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Beachgirl
Come on you guys...bugs bite women more because we are just plain sweeter!

Couldn't prove it by me. :no:

But, I've also considered that the reason some folks seem to get more of the mosquitos attention, may be the fact that their immune system reacts differently and the welts, blisters and itching are in reality just an allergic reaction.

Bugman - 10-21-2009 at 08:04 AM

Hi Folks,
There is a reason my user name is Bugman and I don't drive a VW! I normally lurk on this board but since I am an entomologist this one brought me out of the shadows. The bug originally posted here by Russ is a vinegaroon. They are actually pretty harmless and about the only thing they may do when handled is emit a vinegar smelling liquid. That's how they got the name.
The original topic was vitamin B for bug repellent. Sorry to say but there is no solid proof that it works. For now, the best repellents out there and the only ones with a CDC endorsement are DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon/Eucalyptus and a new one called IR3535. Repellants go by many names but look for those active ingredients. You can check the CDC website for more detailed info at www.cdc.gov.
The active ingredient DEET is still considered to be the most effective. The amount of DEET in the product will indicate how long it will last. If there is at least 30% DEET in the product it should protect you for several hours. You can go as high as 100% but you really only gain an extra hour or two by going that high. Since DEET acts like a solvent around plastics be careful when using the higher concentrations as it will dissolve things like plastic buttons and watchbands.
One final note to save you some $$ is that electronic bug or rodent repellers are a waste of money and don't work. The bug zappers are a total waste of money as well since they attract mostly harmless bugs and mosquitoes are only very weakly attracted to light. Of course, if you really like the sound of bugs sizzling in the moonlight then be my guest! :coolup:

David K - 10-21-2009 at 08:06 AM

THANK YOU Bugman! :bounce:

DENNIS - 10-21-2009 at 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bugman
Since DEET acts like a solvent around plastics be careful when using the higher concentrations as it will dissolve things like plastic buttons and watchbands.

Are those more potent concoctions safe to rub into your skin? One would have to wonder.

Beachgirl - 10-21-2009 at 01:06 PM

Hey, Newbie Bugman....you have a fountain of info you could share on Nomads with us, so get your posts on more often, ok? Great info, so thanks! Very happy to find out Russ was not being confronted by a fierce beastie. A little vinegar never hurt anyone...

Russ - 10-21-2009 at 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Beachgirl
Come on you guys...bugs bite women more because we are just plain sweeter! Russ, that monster alien spider looks as if he is on linoleum...so, ummmm, he was INSIDE your house? Yuck!

That ugly vinegar beast was right behind my computer as I browsed the Nomad Posts.

Bugman - 10-21-2009 at 02:18 PM

DEET has been around for a very long time and according to the CDC there should be no ill effects when used according to directions. There have been some claims of bad reactions in some folks but those were never substantiated or linked to misuse (like eating the stuff). It is my repellent of choice when I have to go somewhere with biting insects. I just avoid using the really high concentrations unless I am headed to a mosquito haven. I was in Canada once and put on some 100% DEET and the stuff started dissolving my plastic watchband. Before I realized it my whole lower arm was turning black (same color as the band) and I had rubbed it on my white shirt a few times. Just made for a big mess. The mosquitoes left me alone though! :cool:

danaeb - 10-21-2009 at 03:17 PM

DEET also removes finger nail polish.