Please Help in: Fighting Mosquitoes ?

by **Samer2010** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 12:24 pm

During summer and spring Finland becomes a marvelous heaven because of its beautiful lakes and trees. Although I love going out for a long walk or to lakes, But I really cannot do so because of the f***ing nasty mosquitoes. I swear I have never ever enjoyed any outdoor activity without getting many mosquitoes bites.

While walking I usually move my hands all over my head like crazy to drive the mosquitoes away - But surprisingly I don't see other walkers (Especially Finns) do the same... I wonder how come they don't get bitten by mosquitoes ? Any magical tricks here (I have read some medical articles about this already) ? But my question is: How to avoid or reduce mosquitoes' bites ?

I used some of the sprays which are sold in the pharmacies, But they didn't help me - So, Could you please help me out ?

**Sponsor:**

by **FinnGuyHelsinki** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 1:02 pm

When walking around there's no way to avoid them, really, Finns do get bitten as much as anyone else. Proper clothing and the repellant use help somewhat, other than that it's a matter of getting used to it, it is what it is and "going crazy" doesn't help anything, similarly as e.g. dealing with cold weather. Mosquitoes are somewhat local to the area and e.g. for a cottage yard there are machines (costing a few hundred euros or more) that attract and kill them, which should reduce them in the surroundings.

by **Karhunkoski** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:25 pm

Google DEET insect r repellent and choose one with 50% DEET ingredient. Ebay is a good choice.

For home, if you have a spare grand, buy a mosquito magnet.

by **Kutittaa** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 4:44 pm

I agree with the DEET repellent we use that in Australia as well where we have sääski all year round.

I also recently bought a sääski karkotin which runs on gas but it takes about 20 minutes to start working and it won't work if you are moving around. It's just for putting nearby and it keeps them all away in a huge radius.

Repellent helps but there are many things you can do. They don't bite me anywhere except for on my neck for some reason so if I wear a jacket with a hood I'll only get a bite or two even if I stand still and let them try and get me.

by **Rip** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 7:46 pm

Suitable clothing is a good starting point. Optimal jacket should not make you sweat, be loose and have a hard surface (so it is loose around you snd the mosquito managing to drill through the hard surface will more likely find nothing there). Light colour is supposedly preferably (for also other reasons than avoid sweating). I've sometimes used white collar shirts (that are not good enough for their original purpose) when it is too hot for a jacket. Mosquitoes or others rarely suck or bite through jeans, but try to protect your ankles. The sprays help on those parts that can't be covered by clothing. Couple of bites you will likely get anyway.

by **menene** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:57 am

The first night staying at Finland resulted in seven mosquitoes' bites although the next ones were much better. After spending some time there I learned that appropiate clothing (as said above) and a spray - if you're likely to be nervous all the time with those little b******* - to cover those areas you can't.

Also, you're not alone. At least all my finnish friends are bitten by mosquitoes more than often in summer

by **Pursuivant** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:03 am

Ah, simple, bloodsucking mosquitoes are females, and Finnish females prefer foreign men :lol:

Its an allergic reaction of sorts when the mosquito bites flare up. What it is, you haven't been exposed to mosquitoes as a kid, meaning the Finnish ones, so you "notice" them. People lived in Finland for a longer time have an immunity so the bumps don't annoy so much, and theres also personal variation. Theres also some regional variation, so a "southern boy" will be looking like a pox victim first time "up north". Its not that people don't get bitten, you just don't notice...

Also, because funny foreigners smell pleasant to them mozzies and have sweet blood, or why do you think Finnish men have this 3-week old "eau de kossu" whiff all summer? :lol:

by **maurine** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:10 am

As crazy has it sound i got this iPhone app for mosquitoes sensor, whereby it produces a loud sounds when it sense the fly around you, pretty annoying sound but I hate Mosquitoes

by **Keravalainen** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 9:01 pm

Hi!
Use repellent, the one in small spray bottle is very handy. Spray it on your skin, on your hair (beware not spraying in your eyes!), on your clothes and on your hat. The mosquitoes stay away from you. Am currently at a cottage with some 1 mio mosquitoes outside. The repellent are available here even in smallest grocery stores etc.(You guess why!)
- Proper clothing is another thing, don't go to the woods wearing shorts. :-)

Here's a classic TV commercial. Freely translated, the Lapland man says "You man from the south, why you move your hands all over your head like crazy, why you don't take Off?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT7QNMPj7u8

by **Oombongo** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:04 pm

They are here for a thousands of years before you...so it is YOU who is invading their territory :mrgreen:

by **masao** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:20 pm

Oombongo wrote:They are here for a thousands of years before you...so it is YOU who is invading their territory

Hi,
Are they mosquitoes flying around your dorka head? :beamer:

t, masao

by CH » Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:28 pm

Pursuivant wrote:People lived in Finland for a longer time have an immunity so the bumps don't annoy so much

Speak for yourself! Yea... guess who was for dinner tonight? And for the last 40+ summers???? #!""#!"#¤ mosquitoes!!!!

Take an antihistamine, it will help so that the bites don't get quite as... bumpy... and itchy. Try not to scratch (yea... sure... but try). A mild cortisone salve (like Hydrocortisone) spread on the bite also helps with the itching. Avoid being outside in the evening when the sun is setting, that's when they are out in force. And get a friend who they love more than you... for instance I have always, since being a kid, drawn all the mosquitoes to me (no, I'm not volunteering).

by **tuulen** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:48 pm

Oh, my goodness! This must be the biggest Internet hoax of all time! There are no mosquitoes in Finland!

;-)

by **taliabee** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 2:42 am

if you can get (and, indeed, stomach) marmite and eat it very reguarly, it makes your blood smell more unappealing to them...it worked for me for many years but, i forgot about it when i went to finland last year and they even bit my toes!! i mean, harsh or what?!...the very nice pharmacist gave me antihystamines when i went in and begged him for relief but, they send me to sleep. marmite's what you need! : )

t xx

by **Erika Wong** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:12 am

The most natural way is to grow some mint plant in your house...the plant not only just carry good smell, can be served as spice for your food, but also drive away mosquitoes