Well folks, after lots of smug advice I have given regarding Vit B etc and avoiding the dreaded bites, I got bloody ravaged this year!! Why is that??? Some people they just dont touch. What is really strange is that I got TEN at the airport coming home and they have been the worse ever reactions. Does anyone know if these are 'commando' mozzies with supersonic stings?? Next year I will be covered from head to toe homeward bound!
hey,
i grew up in arilas- i get attacked every year i come but they dont touch anyone else in my family. use "OFF" mosquito/bug repellant. it works & isnt too stinky.
I hope they`re not as bad in September as they were July , i always get eaten alive by them , but July was particularly bad, tried everything from vit b garlic capsules , jungle formula and still got bit, im trying twiglets before we go , i`ll try anthing to stop being bit my reactions end up like mountains, and they`re still there off 5 weeks ago
Ive come to the conclusion that no matter what I spray they will always find me, I only got bit a few times in June but boy did I get a reaction, took my pills and rubbed in the cream but they still rose like volcanos and weeping all the time,then to top it all one night a commando landed on my nose how i didnt see it....my oink looked like something from the elephant man..I just hope I dont get bit too bad in 3 weeks time.
Ang
Hi Ang,
'Sorry to hear about your bad reaction to the mozzie bites, both my sister and sister-in-law react like this too. My sister now takes anti-histamines for one week before she goes on holiday and it really has made a difference for her.
My sister thinks along the same lines as Ang and Jo, does anyone else think that there are 'commando' mozzies.
Eileenxx
They must have been this year , hubby never gets bit and had 32 bites on one foot alone, so i think they may have been more than commandos this year, hope they`ve calmed down a bit for September , had to buy antihistamines from Sidari and they cost 13 euro , so will be taking some wth us this time just in case.
I will try the anti-histamines a weeks prior, though they do knock me out a bit and Ive got a heavy work load on at the mo so I will have to be carefull....my OH never gets bitten and my Daughter is just due back from Zante and I will bet she never got a bite either..they must just love me..ah how sweet of them to show how much.NOT.
Ang
I was advised to take anti-histamines two weeks prior to leaving the UK. They dont stop the bites but drastically reduce the effects . I had anti mozzie bands on my wrist and ankles and got bitten below the band!!
hi guys,
i dont want to rub it in but i never get bit but if i do its just like a little spot then its gone within 2days (thats how small they r!)
also this year my mum and i were both quite shocked that we didnt see any mozzies!!! we didnt get bit or anythin!!!!
marie xx
Hi Marie,You didnt see any mozzies because they were all biting me!!!! It was nice to meet you and your mum,cx
I would tend to agree about these Commando mozzies. When staying in San Stefanos last June I hardly got bitten but my best friend got eaten alive and we were sleeping in the same apartment so the Mozzies had equal feeding rights on each of us. I never used any spray but my friend was covered in it, they just seem to have a vendetta against certain people and it seems there is nothing you can do if they take a like to you. Well smoking is supposed to help (scares them away) but that's hardly good advice is it.
I have been reliably told that the later in the year you go the loss mozzies there are and that this year there was an unusually high amount of the little pests in the early season. After saying all this I can see me getting bitten alive in September now. :-(
hi Carol!!!
it was good to meet you too. at least now i no who im talking to!!! :)
marie xx
Join the club it don't matter what I put on they still get me. One night one little hungry one got me five in a row up my ankle and leg. They don't like me at all and I think this year has been one of the worse anybody out there got new suggestions??
Hi,
I don't know if any of this will help and hope not to offend anyone, but here goes.
At the university that I work at ( no I am not one of those academics just an administrator) we have some experts on parasitology and I asked them about mozzies. After listening to them for some time the bare bones of it were about 4 points worth remembering.
1. Peoples reaction to the bite, and it is a bite not a sting, varies and is the real reason some suffer more than others. Those with bad reactions can get relief or prevent extremely bad reactions by taking anti histamines and yes garlic and vitamin B can also help but take them before going and keep taking them until you return.
2. Apparently some people give off more pheromones that are the smells that attract mozzies. These are very common in people who sweat a lot or in particular have feet that sweat a lot. The advice is shower with a nice smelling shower gel morning and night to lessen your attractiveness.
3. And this one I guess is common sense, wear long sleeved shirts or blouses and trousers not shorts or short skirts in the evenings, which is apparently the time when they are the most active.
4. iS ALSO COMMON SENSE AND ALREADY WELL KNOWN BUT AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE DO NOT DO IT AND THAT, IS CLOSE ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS AT NIGHT, PLUG IN THE ELECTRIC MOZZIE KILLERS AND SPRAY THE ROOM BEFORE YOU LEAVE FOR YOUR NIGHT OUT AND ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT BE UNCOMFORTABLE KEEP THOSE WINDOWS AND DOORS SHUT UNTIL YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING.
As I said I hope I haven't offended anybody and you find some of the tips useful.
Thanks John I think it must be the pheromones in my case lol...no bad feet and nice smellies when I shower
Ang
I always get eaten alive, but this year have been to greece twice and only returned with one weenie bite, I used aftersun with mozzie repelent also applied rollon Autan and then sprayed with Autan - the one bite I got I used this new click thing which whilst my husband scoffed at it - it stopped the itching immediately and reduced the redness within an hour - so I wont be leaving home without it in futire - I think it was called Mossiguard click it.
Tracey
I know the little gizmo, I took one in june...but it didnt work for me, the principal is good and no doubt it does work..but I rest my case
Ang
good advice john
thanks for that
suexx
thanks tracey for the i nfo
about mossie guard
im going to get some
where did you buy it from?
suexx
Sue I bought mine at Tesco they are about £5 but I think I also saw them in Boots
Ang
I remember a local lady told us to keep all the doors and windows (as well as the curtains) shut but leave the shutters open, so that if any blighter does get then it can also get out when reacting to the repellents (sprays, plug ins etc) as these are not "killers" but just repellents. But, then on the other hand you dont want them getting in at all, but they are death defying and get in anywhere! I got more bites in Arillas this year than anywhere else I have been on holiday abroad! Took 3 weeks for the scars to heal on my legs. I hope you fare better.
Sue
I bought mine in Boots - superdrug, Asda also sell them - it is called "Click It".
Good luck with it
Tracey
I bought one on eBay and promptly left it home! That was a waste of time!
I work as a practice nurse & advise travellers to use repellants with 50% DEET. So acting on my own advise used spray & got four bites on first night out! Also took some mosiguard which I used after that & that worked a treat. Also worth remembering not to wear perfumes or perfumed deodorants, although you wont need it with mosiguard, my husband aid nothing would come near me, it does smell strongly of tea tree oil & citronella.
Karen
x
I bought some Shea Butter that smells very strongly of Citronella, works great in the UK, if only I had remembered to take that with me to Arillas too.... I had heard though that they are clamping down on Citronella stuff at the airports is that right? My theory is that they want you to only buy it in Corfu in the local shops.
I believe Citronella has been banned in commercial fly sprays by the EU from the 1st September this year, this has caused a problem for horse owners as they used this extensively, however you can make your own spray with Citronella.
I went on a weekend to Wales and got bitten (1 week before flying to Corfu), had a nasty reaction to it, my arm swelled to twice its size. Get to Corfu use good old Jungle formula, only 2 bites and no reaction.
It's always through the night they get me. I lock all the windows and check the room, I make sure I am under the cover with only my face showing and the little blighters still manage to bite my feet and ankles. Spiro tells me he hides them in the wardrobe and gives them instructions to attack through the night.
Jill
Hi Jill
I had some bites on my feet when I was in Arillas in June. Got me at the Coconut when we arrived in the early hours and went drinking with Spiro!! Had forgotten to put on the Autan of course! He told me to get paddling in the sea and they soon disappeared.
Every night we sat in the back at Portofino after our meal, Spiro would shout "snake" to Jannis and he would bring a burning coil to put under the table!! We also use these whenever we sit out on the balcony at night - seem to work well and a packet of six can be purchased at Ina's or Alex's for less than 2 euros - bargain!!
Fiona
Good advice! Will remember that for next year!