I'm Back BEWARE BUGS AT AKL

[dreamflight99]

Since fighting the SWARMS of these nasty little chigger-like BITERS, I finally found the best repellent. Believe it or not...it's AVONS "SKIN SO SOFT" BATH OIL! Yep...not the bug repellent, but the OIL. I even spray some deet underneath and over my clothing (which truly does not deter them much) and then I spread the oil on any exposed limbs. For some reason, they are afraid of the "oil" and will not land/bite! Works like a charm! I even tested it with a late-night walk on the beach last summer...no bites.

As for the Green-headed YELLOW FLY, a dreaded biter in Florida, they truly have no effective deterrent to protect you from this pest. Stay away from water and shrubs/animals at dawn/dusk, and KEEP MOVING if you happen to be near these areas around these times (early morning/late afternoon).

The BEST deterrent (rated #1 recently by fish & game) is OFF DEEP WOODS "SPORTSMAN" repellent. This spray has the highest concentration of spray available, and will repell most insects for the longest period of time.

With all the viruses carried by these pests (mosquitoes=west nile, etc), I'm more than cautious when out and about in Florida. Also, for anyone with allergic reations to insect bites, be sure to carry some form of benedryl, antihistamine, and an epi-pen (available through prescription). These meds can save you a lot of time and misery.

http://www.drugstore.com/products/p...xp2=70554&trxp3=1&trxp4=1&btrx=BUY-GFI-0-PPCS

This one is similar--used by the US Military. Both have 95% DEET.

*We can all enjoy Florida, and all of WDW, if we just use some safeguards. Hope this info helps some of you, and prevents some pain and inconvenience.

stitch79 (Amanda) & JCW~Those flies are the most tenacious and persistent creatures I've ever encountered. Also, the bite was definitely the most "painful" I've ever experienced, just behind the knee. Instantly, after she injected her saliva, I felt a "burning" sensation. The skin rapidly became "hot" to the touch, swollen and painful. I've been bit my a gazillion mosquitoes, and no see-ums, but NEVER incurred any reaction to those bites. The swelling lasted almost a week (after the meds were administered), and the bite is still visible. Those mandibles are sharp and take a BIG BITE! I'll be on the lookout for them this summer. You'll see me in the full bug netting-suit! LOL...

CAN YOU SEE ME?! If not...then hopefully the BUGS CAN'T EITHER!

TTFN...DF99

 

[fran99999]

dreamflight 99



Nope all I see is Swampthing

I have always used Avon's Skin-so-soft Bug guard plus in the summer It is both a sunscreen SPF30 and insect repellent. My kids seem to think it works well.

One of the reasons the SSSoft Oil works so well is one of the ingredients has the same smell as the citronella bug candles. I think it is really citronella oil but Avon insisted its not. I am very allergic to citronella and when I have used this on myself or one of my kids I have broken out severely. I tend to disaggree.

I already purchased my Bug guard for this year. OH one more thing I was told to reapply every hour or so. As the Sunscreen is topical and as you sweat it is removed and diluted. As both myself and DS5 are Redheads I reapply every hour this has worked. If I forget and go 2-3 hours WOW what a difference. Talk about RED, ouch.

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by fran99999
dreamflight 99



Nope all I see is Swampthing

I "DARE" those flies to bite the DREAMFLIGHT SWAMPTHING!

I agree with you about the oil...as I "smell" citronella in the oil. It's also "messy" and DD doesn't like ANYTHING "greasy" on her skin! So, I'm ordering the Avon SSS Bug guard to try this summer. Also, thank you SO much for the "reapplication" tip. It only makes sense, as during the humid summer we tend to perspire more, making reapplication necessary (actually VITAL to insect repelling!).

Thanks...for the great tips, and FUN sense of humor!

TTFN...DF99

 

[Susiesnowflake]

Dreamflight99,
You just gave me the biggest chuckle with those pictures!! I could use one of those full bug nettings though...the black flies have arrived in Maine!

 

[mum4jenn]

I think tose must be the critters that bit me while waiting in line at Jungle Cruise last week. I never felt anything but by the next morning I was itching like crazy and the bites swelled up into hard areas much larger than silver dollars. I tried all kinds of stuff to releive the itching but nothing helped. I also have marks where the bites occured than now resemble a mark from a bad shot.

 

[Tiziminchac]

Originally posted by Gabrielle


I got back from WL yesterday. Do you think it was those flying black bugs that were biting? I noticed them everywhere.

-Gabrielle

Those bugs were most likely love bugs. It's love bug season down here, but they are harmless. Except to your vehicle's paintjob. Make sure you take your car to a car wash and clean the dead ones off. If left for too long they will ruin the finish on your vehicle.

 

[luv2nascar]

aren't avon products DEET free
I though there was some potential for harming children if DEET was used on small children??
I'm going to have to double check on the internet
now I'm curious

 

[Juls]

Yes I agree about higher concentrations of DEET being harmful to children. I actually just read an article on sunscreen and they reccomended not using sunscreen with bug repellant, because you have to keep reapplying the sunscreen and it cold cause high levels of deet to build up. Dont know if it's true, it's just what I read.

 

[floridafam]

We use different sunscreen and bug repellant.

We try and put on long pants if we go outside at night at Vero Beach.

If it is really windy that helps keep the noseeums off your body.

I believe we look for bug repellant where the DEET concentration is under 7% or something and use it only when we absolutely need to. We always shower upon return to the room after using bug spray.

 

[720L]

Avon Skin-So-Soft does not have DEET in it. That's all I use on the kids because of the warnings about DEET. I'm considering putting OFF on them at Disney though....those bites sound painful.

 

[fran99999]

yes SSS is DEET free thats also why we use it.

OH and it works well.

 

[Cris]

Originally posted by floridafam
My little girl kept saying she didn't want to see any more "museums" and we couldn't figure out what she was talking about for days until we realized she was talking about the noseeums.

ROTFLMAO to cute!!

 

[*Fantasia*]

Will those repellent lotions stain the clothings? I wear a lot of white tops and I would hate to ruin all my tops.

 

[MermaidsMom]

I wonder if they used to spray for the bugs at WDW because in years past we were never bothered by bugs, and on our last trip there we had to spray everynight! We used to comment on how Disney must not allow bugs on property!

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by Cris
ROTFLMAO to cute!!

"NO-MU-SEE-UMS!" ABSOLUTELY PRECIOUS! I hope you wrote this one down somewhere. Thanks, Chris.

We used to notice concentrations of "Dragonflies" in different locations. When I questioned a Disney "suit" about these sightings, he explained they were a secret combat ally in the war against insects/bugs/pests on the Disney property. This was a couple of years ago, and we did not notice them last summer (when I experienced the Yellow-fly bite). Like MermaidsMom, we also noticed a higher concentration of mosquitoes/pests last summer. Disney SHOULD add information about such pests, and the prevention of bites, etc., in the little brochure they hand every guest at check-in. I am much more cautious than I used to be, and am more wary after dusk *(when everything leaves the trees and hits the crowds!).

*Fantasia*~I'm not sure about the lotions. I also wear white, but have yet to experience any staining from the SSS products. I also have not had the same PEST problem when visiting the PBH, one of my FAV off-Disney property resorts. Have you experienced any problems at the RPH? How did the Relocation~trip go? I always recall you posting in regards to the "Luau" at the RPH (dancers by the pool), and how they offered you a job! What a FUN line of work that would be!! So, did you check-out the schools, area, housing, etc.?

 

[G&J's Mom]

I live in Georgia and we also have tons of nasty flying beasties terrorizing us at every freakn' hour of the day. Coppertone has a lotion called Bug and Sun with 10% Deet and 30spf. I have "always" used it on my kids (4 and 2 years) and it works great!


Denise

 

[dreamflight99]

All this BUG talk only serves to remind me...as much as I enjoy visiting Florida every summer... I could never live there. Too many bugs, mosquitoes, humidity, etc. We have NONE of those here in So. California. We sit poolside, without a "lanai" or special screened area, or citronella candles burning, bug zappers,...and NEVER get bothered by ANYTHING~! We can literally do this year-round, with a cozy gas patio heater for enjoying our cool (50's) winter eves.
We even use an outdoor fireplace on summer eves.

Whenever my folks visit from upstate NY, they always remark about the ability to sit outside all eve in the summer, without fearing/fending-off any insects. They constantly remind me of the swarms of mosquitoes and other bugs which "come alive" from their backyard pines as soon as the sun is fading. They also love the endless CLEAR BLUE skies...with nary a cloud in sight. And, of course...ZERO HUMIDITY. I can walk outside in the summer, and just feel the cathartic rays of radiating sunshine on my skin...instead of the "sauna" I endure in Florida/East. Rain, is also a rarity!

So...I'm completely in love with the west coast, and all the PERKS which go with life here. One of the best moments of our summer vacation includes touching-down in Los Angeles, and hearing the Airline captain speak these words: "As we arrive in Los Angeles, the skies are clear, and the temperature is a perfect 72 degrees!" It never seems to change, over the past 14+ consecutive years of travel. (LOL)

 

[Pocah]

I believe the CDC recommends using separate products for insect repellent and sunscreen, especially if the insect repellent contains DEET. I also vaguely remember reading somewhere that sunscreen may be less effective if applied at the same time as insect repellent. I remember thinking to myself that next time I go to WDW, I should apply sunscreen first, wait 15 minutes for it to become "active," then apply repellent.

 

[tinkerb]

Just back from WL.... and the most annoying bugs that were everywhere, especially around where you wait for the buses, where the lovebugs...........eeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwww..........