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Don't wear blue in the garden

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  • Sam 37Sam 37 Posts: 1,271
    B3 said:
    Another theory is that everyone gets bitten but only the unfortunate react
    Wow!
  • WaysideWayside Posts: 845
    I start the year rather afraid of them, but by the end just let them feast on me.  If I clobber them in place the mouth parts seem to stay and I get a worse reaction.  But it did lead me to getting rid of the pond.  Shady areas are off limits.  I was bitten by a horse fly in Dorset - on a cattle field - and that was another level.  They wouldn't leave me alone.  Didn't touch my partner.  So really could do without them.  I have tried citronella potions and they do nothing.

    Everyone goes on about Avon SSS, does it actually work or is that the stuff of urban legend.

    As deet melts plastic, I'm rather put off using it.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Not an urban legend. There would be a lot of people unable to hillwalk, or do the long distance routes like the WHW up here through summer if it didn't work. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • WaysideWayside Posts: 845
    Avon SSS appears to have Icaridin in it as the repellent reading about it.  (Rather than Citronella given my experience.)  And actually it works out cheaper than some products.  So will give it a go and report back.  Will be amazed if it works!

    I like hover flies, not so much blue bottles, wasps and other biters.
  • 2000GTV2000GTV Posts: 112
    Mosquitoes love my husband and even though he wears anti-mosquito spray (Autan) is still bitten. He is even bitten through his socks having sprayed his feet with Autan. He therefore wears thick socks in summer ... I also use Autan and am rarely bitten. He has (had - grey now) dark hair and quite a swarthy complexion. I am a pale-skinned, freckly redhead. We find the anti-mozzie bats effective especially OH's - which is so effective I missed the mosquito but zapped my ear - ow!  
    Martina Franca, Puglia, southern Italy
    Love living in Italy but a Loiner at heart 
  • TenNTenN Posts: 184
    I was camping once and boasting of how I'd never been bitten when my very drunk friend leaned over and sank her teeth into my arm, didn't have a reaction other than bleeding. She was mortified in the morning.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    The Avon stuff doesn't work for me, but I know people who swear by it.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    It doesn't work for me either, @JennyJ.  Max strength Jungle Formula applied everywhere is the only thing which works.  I got bitten by a horse fly through my gardening glove (no JF on the backs of my hands) last summer.
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
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