I just read an interesting, albeit anecdotal, account regarding Vit. B as a possible mosquito repellant. The author claims that he took Vit. B complex supplements for 2 weeks prior to a trip into hot, humid, mosquito-y backwoods in the Carolinas. He continued to take the B supplements for the duration of his trip, and says he did not get a single bite! Has anyone else heard of this, or tried it?
Jonna
I’ve heard of garlic supplements doing that… but not vit b… of course… i guess you’d really have to like the smell of garlic to go that route :lol
LarsyParsy
Yes, I’ve heard the same. But like deet and the other poisons, everybody has a day where it doesn’t work here and there. I say give it a whirl, but have some netting to sleep in at night.
THA WOOKIE
vitamin ANYTHING!
I’m from New Jersey and they carry away dogs and small children
already. :lol
Mosquitos and biting flies are the only candidates deserving genocide, IMHO.
Scamp
Scamp
I take a supplement high in Vitamin B and I have noticed a large reduction in insect bites. However, this effect was only noticable when I was high with other people. I guess the mosquitos did like the Vitamin B but when your the only victim they don’t care.
Darth Pac-man
Speaking of which what is the occurance of pot heads on the trail. And before anyone freaks out or something, I’m not an undercover cop or anything. I’m asking as an “ex-pot head” (If there is such a thing, that is).
Pete
When my son was in Boy Scouts, he came back from a canoe trip in So. Jersey looking like he had measles. His face was a mess! The Jersey mosquitoes will just about carry you off. He was slated to go on a canoe trip to Canada, so I started giving him Brewers Yeast (vitamin B) about a month before the trip and also sent the tablets along with him. Sure did make a big difference although I suppose a lot may depend on one’s chemical makeup.
It was also recommended for cats and dogs to repel fleas. My cats loved the tablets and the powder in their food. Seemed to work. This was back before development of the current treatments.
Lady Di
i understand mosquitoes are more attracted to people with a lot of sugar in their diet. ??? tea tree, eucalyptus, and lemon oils are good to repel them. and i think i’ve heard the garlic thing and brewer’s yeast, too.
hephzibah
it’s been reported that mosquitoes are attracted to the color
blue.
I can’t confirm it, since I stay indoors after sunset.
NJ mosquitoes SUCK! I KNOW that! So do Sand flies, the ones
with black dots on their wings. Similar to the deer flies in
Maine, with the black stripe on their wings. I hate them all!
Scamp
Scamp
Consumer report and Backpacker Mags have had articles on what works and what don’t. The only remedy that was consistant was DEET. All others failed. The home remedies and other concoctions had little or no effect. Check out these sources. The AMA says there have been NO reported toxic reactions to DEET, ever. You hear about the neuro damage, but there is not a single reported insident since 1943 that can be contributed to DEET. I wore a head net on my hike and a small amount of DEET on my legs and arms and got no bites. One small solid stick lasted the entire trip GA-ME.
Papa Smurf