BajaNomad

No Seeums

Sparetimewanted - 4-3-2018 at 09:19 PM

Going to be camping on a few beaches later this month. I have always used some type of stinky insect repellant that works ok, but I don't like coating up with it nightly. Someone told me that there are some hand lotion-type products that work. Anyone have any experience with this, or any other good repellants?

Gracias

Maderita - 4-3-2018 at 09:38 PM

Avon's "Skin So Soft" lotion has been popularly reported to be effective for decades. Consumer Reports disagrees:
https://www.consumerreports.org/insect-repellents/avon-skin-...

I've been chewed up by jejenes. The aroma of 100% DEET (aka: jungle juice) is now a welcome scent!

bajabuddha - 4-4-2018 at 06:30 AM

I learned this from a cook at the Serenidad in Mulege 22 years ago this month... VANILLA. You have to search for it, but buy the clear Mexican vanilla; the dark stains skin and clothes. It's totally easy on the eyes and skin, and makes you stink purty. Doesn't work on drillers or biting flies, but is great for the Li'l buggers.

BajaBlanca - 4-4-2018 at 07:28 AM

Poor Les had a horrible time this year with the noseeums in La Paz. We would be sitting outside and he would be going crazy while all of us would be fine. They hardly ever bother me.

wilderone - 4-4-2018 at 07:35 AM

There are pleasant smelling insect repellants (OFF "Tropical Fresh" and others). Also, individual wipes - after I wipe my feet, ankles, elbows, I tie the wipe to my sandal or back of my hat. I spray my clothing, not my skin. Covering up with lightweight clothing is best.

Alm - 4-8-2018 at 11:18 AM

If it doesn't have a strong odor, it doesn't work. Forget about finding something with nice odor and so mild that you won't notice it.

Pennyroyal Essential Oil has peppermint odor, strong but not as unpleasant as DEET-based repellents. Same toxic as DEET - in fact, more toxic than DEEt if ingested. Wash your hands thoroughly after this. One drop smeared all over the exposed parts. Sells on Amazon.

Bob and Susan - 4-8-2018 at 11:37 AM

actually we haven't seen any this year : )

woody with a view - 4-8-2018 at 11:41 AM

Check your blood type. The little buggers like type O just like mosquitoes.

AKgringo - 4-8-2018 at 12:26 PM

With the changes in my vision over the last few years, the group of insect pests called "no seeums" continues to expand!

TMW - 4-8-2018 at 12:32 PM

Eating garlic helps some people as well and taking a dip in salt water and air dry off.

Paco Facullo - 4-8-2018 at 12:51 PM

Speaking of biting insects, this wasn't in baja but still on subject.
I had just interred Vietnam down the Mekong river. I had came from Phenon Phen, Cambodia and arrived at the small town of Chau Doc.
It was a quite relaxing ride that had stopped once at the boarder station to stamp our passports along with a beer replenishment and a pee relief.

Soon after arriving I scoped out a hotel. The interesting one I found was a floating hotel and restaurant combo, well it was many large rafts that had rooms built on them. I was shown a few rooms , the ones right next to the shore were the least Dong ( money ) there was zero view and had mosquito nets over the beds . Then I was shown a room further out on the river with a sliding glass door with a kinda balcony of sorts that looked onto the river with a great view of all the river action. When I inquired of why there was no mosquito net on the bed for this room I was told that it wasn't a problem because "not close to shore" I thought that odd but he should know since he works here?

I get the view room, crack a beer and smile inside , as I watch the fishermen throwing the nets just outside my fabulous room. After relaxing Iand taking a shower I have a couple of shots of Tequila ( I always travel with fine Tequila and shot glasses ) a must as you never know when you will make good friends. I head out to explore the new town I'm in. I end up at a bar overlooking the water and write up a trip report for the friends back home. For the many hours that I'm there there is always a most mosquito coil burning ( even so I still get some bite on my ankles )
IT's late by now, I'm drunk and hungry so I go get some noodle soup at a roadside late-night stand. The soup is great !
I catch a rickshaw back to my room and pass out for the night.

I awaken and in my hungover state and suddenly feel awfully itchy down in my nether regions ?
The itch is REAL BAD and upon further investigation I find out that my room REALLY did need a mosquito net after all...
I guess, in my drunken state I went to bed in the buff and must have exposed my ass during the night. Oye Vay !!!

Those Damn Moosies musta had quite the party as there are probably ( now I am only estimating mind you ) 20 bites in a 3" circumference around my bung hole. Those moosies had to get drunk themselves on my vary high blood alcohol level , I could just see them saying " hey look Fred my spike sinks in this skin like butter and it has quite the kick" " I LOVE IT , let's party "! and so they did...

Needless to say I got the hell outa there and vamoosed to Saigon that day.

[Edited on 4-8-2018 by Paco Facullo]

David K - 4-8-2018 at 12:52 PM

I have been pretty lucky, I guess... I only had experienced noseeums in San Blas (mainland Mexico) and never in Baja. Mosquitos, yes... they love me (O+ blood) and no amount of B vitamins helps. I don't usually camp in mosquito areas. Bahía Concepción is a place I have had to deal with them. Thank goodness Shell Island hasn't any, at least where I camp. Africanized Bees have been an issue a few times in Baja, however! :o

Alm - 4-8-2018 at 07:29 PM

Mosquito coils don't work well, even indoors where there are fewer bugs and less dissipation of smell.

I heard good things from people on mainland about these racket-looking zappers, for indoors: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WW6831F/ref=ox_sc_act_t...

Chinese quality as usual, some stop working next day, some last longer. But they won't come to this Zapper to die, you have to swap it.

Bob and Susan - 4-9-2018 at 04:54 AM

nothing works to eliminate bugs

paranewbi - 4-9-2018 at 05:56 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan  
nothing works to eliminate bugs


Sure there is;

"Poor Les had a horrible time this year with the noseeums in La Paz. We would be sitting outside and he would be going crazy while all of us would be fine. They hardly ever bother me."

We all just need a 'little Les' in life. :bounce::bounce:

AndyP - 4-9-2018 at 05:59 AM

My wife has an especially hard time with noseeums, gets covered in bites. Deet doesn't seem to work that well, or pennyroyal oil, or any other repellents we've tried.

I was in Cambodia a while back out at some islands with nasty sand flies, and everyone just used coconut oil rubbed on fairly heavily like a lotion. It was incredible, totally stopped all bites... I guess they physically can't bite through the oil. And my skin felt great too.

I'm not sure if those sand flies were the same thing as Baja jejenes, but I'll be bringing coconut oil on my next trip.

Sparetimewanted - 4-9-2018 at 06:08 AM

Thanks all!

BajaBlanca - 4-9-2018 at 06:23 AM

paranewbi - thanks for the belly laugh!

David K I have type O blood and rarely do mosquitoes or noseeums come to me.

Coconut oil sounds wunderbar.

vandenberg - 4-9-2018 at 08:23 AM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view  
Check your blood type. The little buggers like type O just like mosquitoes.



Tough to change :biggrin:

bajarich - 4-12-2018 at 09:40 PM

in our new (last year) FourWheel camper my wife sewed some noseeum netting to velcro over our regular screens and I replaced the screen door screen with noseeum screen. That helped but still, on our recent Alaska and Baja trips, we still had a lot of noseeums buzzing around the lights.

The perfect solution we found to be one of those paddle like bug zappers. In just a few minutes you can fry all those little critters and have a good nights sleep. The only downside was it scarred the cat at first with all the popping noise. We notice now she seems to have gotten used to it.

David K - 4-12-2018 at 10:50 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca  


David K I have type O blood and rarely do mosquitoes or noseeums come to me.


See woody's reply before mine... I only mentioned that to confirm his post on O+. I wonder if this mandates a poll? ;)

woody with a view - 4-13-2018 at 05:43 AM

I have O+ as well. The little buggers will pass by everyone else in a 50’ radius to feed on me. I first realized it in Oaxaca in the late 80s when after a few days all the welts made me look diseased. My buddies hardly got bit.

El Jefe - 4-13-2018 at 07:18 AM

Could it be that we all get bit, but that some react differently than others? Seems like folks just visiting an area are more prone to the big welts etc. Whereas long time residents are not bothered as much.

Just my very un-scientific observation.

Paco Facullo - 4-13-2018 at 09:56 AM

Who the heck knows ? I have A+ and those little Bastards love my ass !

I have heard that drinking lot's of beer will help repel them do to the yeast content of beer.

But I am hear to attest that beer does NOT help as I have personally done extensive research into this rumor .

I'm talking decades worth of drinking mass quantities of the delicious liquid beverage.

BajaMama - 4-13-2018 at 11:00 AM

My hubby is O+ and our designated sacrificial lamb with all biting bugs.

bajabuddha - 4-13-2018 at 11:11 AM

I personally don't believe in the blood type theory, but I do think it has to do with body biochemistry, as in mainly PH factors and diet.

I believe in eating at least 3 or 4 bananas daily, enough to secrete banana oil out on your skin, so when the little buggers come down to take some blood they slip and break their little noses. :biggrin:

Alexmcnc - 5-11-2018 at 03:11 PM

I think different people have different immune responses (white blood cells/histamines/antibodies) to the saliva (proteins) of the invading parasites. Some immune systems decide the foreign invasion requires an immediate and dramatic response (welts), and others just shrug. The bugs are attracted by heat and CO2, so I think we are all targets. At least that’s what I’ve read.

[Edited on 5-11-2018 by Alexmcnc]

SunDevil - 5-11-2018 at 03:57 PM

We use a coconut oil based suntan lotion for noseeums. The bugs get stuck in the oil and probably suffocate.

willardguy - 5-11-2018 at 04:06 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Alexmcnc  
I think different people have different immune responses (white blood cells/histamines/antibodies) to the saliva (proteins) of the invading parasites. Some immune systems decide the foreign invasion requires an immediate and dramatic response (welts), and others just shrug. The bugs are attracted by heat and CO2, so I think we are all targets. At least that’s what I’ve read.

[Edited on 5-11-2018 by Alexmcnc]


lets see...which famous nomad is known to exhale copious amounts of hot CO2....:light: