BonaireTalk Discussion Group
Bonaire Nature & Nature Organizations: Defense against mosquitos and no-see-ums?
Bonaire Talk: Bonaire Nature & Nature Organizations: Insects and Arachnids of Bonaire: Defense against mosquitos and no-see-ums?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous on Sunday, April 22, 2001 - 7:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We will br visiting Bonaire the first two weeks of November. What should we expect from insect pests like mosquitos and no-see-ums, and what is the best defense---they love my wife.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Monday, April 23, 2001 - 8:11 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Mosquitos mainly, and only in dark areas (especially under the tables in restaurants at night! :-) ).

Whenever we go out for dinner here, any time of year, we either wear long pants/socks, or spray some Off insect repellant on our legs. Does the trick any time of year.

Should your bedroom/hotel room have attracted mosquitos they will also come out at night. For this we tend to have a few minutes of mosquito hunting (and splatting) before going to sleep, with Off as a back-up for exposed skin.

The mosquitos here on Bonaire can bite without you feeling anything, but the resulting bite area may get itchy a day later.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Hirsh on Monday, April 23, 2001 - 8:13 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Obviously they have good taste.. Bring a good repellant, that is Bonaire's "rainy" season and the mosquitos, no-see-ums (flying teeth), and Limpi's (don't bite but get into everything)can be annoying. I used Ben's or Deepwoods Off. The higher the DEET level the better, you can de-tox later (grin)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Chalk on Monday, April 23, 2001 - 8:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

One other tip is wear light colored clothing, they really seem to be attracted to black, I have worn both black and white or light colored clothes and when wearing the black, they will attack with a vengence.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By kelly sheehan (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 9:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Please HELP!!! How do I get no see ums out of my apartment we are getting bit daily from them. What should I use to get rid of them. Thank you in advance for any help or suggestions on getting rid of these little buggers.

Thank you,

Kelly & Alexa

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Smits (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #259) on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 5:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Why not use Baygon or some other stuff?
When I leave for the beach I close all the doors and windows and spray. When I com back, everything is dead.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wally and Eva (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #733) on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 7:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Better put the cat out :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Smits (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #260) on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 2:53 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Wally: LOL

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wes Burgess, MD, PhD (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Sunday, August 2, 2009 - 2:08 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ah, yes. Mosquitos.
Here's what I remember. True flies with a single pair of wings-- the other pair is modified into gyroscopic structures which account for mosquitos high-pitched whine and their ability to hover. Unusual for flies in that they have scales, which is a defense against being caught in spider webs. Most species don't bite humans-- in any case, only the female feeds on blood for protein before laying eggs. Have feather-like antennae which give them the ability to home in on water vapor and CO2 in the air-- for this reason, heavily exercising and hypermetabolic individuals beware.

Mosquitos are crepuscular-- that is, they are active at dusk and dawn, and there lies the story. If you can simply avoid going out at the critical times (mostly dusk in Bonaire) then you can avoid the brunt of the buggers attack. Just stay in for an hour or two in the evening-- and you will see few mosquitos earlier and later than this critical time.
How do you find this time? My strategy is this. Whenever I am in a new place, I lounge around in the evening well before sunset until I am bitten once or twice. Then, I look at my watch and plan to stay indoors after that time. Usually by deep nightfall the mosquitos have retired for the day and you will be safe. This method is not foolproof, and you may have adjust your "danger time" slightly, but it beats covering yourself with chemicals or heavy clothes in the heat.

By the way, Kelly's posting is on the mark-- DEET is the best repellant in most tests. The key is to apply it to all exposed skin, and reapply before you sweat it off.

I have not seen any long-term safety trials, so the effect of lifetime exposure to any of these chemicals is unknown. Don't use them with DMSO, or they could end up in your bloodstream. There are also some companies selling bug-proof clothing, now (railriders.com???), but I haven't tried it.

My wife and I will be in Bonaire August 8-13 at Buddy Dive, if you want to look us up.

Wes (zatochi)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bud Gillan (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #363) on Saturday, August 8, 2009 - 9:55 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The DEET vs. non-DEET discussion has been discussed in detail on BT. A few links below point out some of the info/research DEET users should be read, including new French research published this month. With more and more effective all-natural repellents now on the market and approved by the EPA, there are other, DEET-free products to consider. After 10 years of field testing insect repellent products, a few things I can tell you: (1) nothing works on everyone (including DEET), (2) some all-naturals overstate their claims, (3) DEET causes dermatological problems with some skin types, (4) effectiveness is a personal and personal chemistry thing, (5) DEET dissolves many products/plastics/nylon/TFT screens/etc., (6) DEET and all-naturals cause allergic problems in some humans, and (7) EPA significantly reduced the recommended DEET % use in children. There is an interesting effect some people have on mosquitoes. These are the folks that are "mosquito magnets". They are out there. I have heard from many of them.

I am currently testing 3 all-naturals on Bonaire. Also folks on or going to Bonaire should sign up for the new Dengue Fever Clinical Study.

Bud


http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/08/04/Research-DEET-neurotoxic-to-bugs-animals/UPI-31551249431113/

http://www.quantumhealth.com/news/dangers_of_DEET.html

http://www.mercola.com/article/pesticides/deet.htm

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lonnie Maxor (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Monday, March 22, 2010 - 12:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I was on Bonaire a few years ago and did the same as Bob smits, when I went out to dinner would spry the room and when we got back the room was mosquitoe free for the night until the maid let them all back in in the morning. I am not sure that the TSA coming from the UD will allow me to bring anything like that so was wondering what people on island or frequent visitors use or recommend and where can I buy it on the island?
Thanks

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eric M. "CamMan" (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #519) on Monday, March 22, 2010 - 8:03 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

You can pack it in your checked bags.

e.

 


Visit: The Bonaire WebCams - Current Bonaire images and weather!
The Bonaire Insider - the latest tourism news about Bonaire
The Bonaire Information Site, InfoBonaire
Search Bonaire - Search top Bonaire Web sites


Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration