Tl;dr: mosquitoes are good at learning, but they’re unlikely to become attracted to deet outside of laboratory environments in which their response to it is directly being tested, because they go a long time between feeding and each formulation they encounter is more likely to be different. Additionally, it was difficult to get them to feed the first time in the presence of deet, so the risk is probably highest when the repellent is wearing off, meaning you should reapply following the instructions on the product.
kinky fuckers
So… Instead of biting me, they mount me and try to mate?
Flamethrower time
Good news, all that spray repellent serves double purpose!
Permetherin time, shit works great for all types of insects. Lasts about 6 weeks on clothes, kills insects and ticks.
Just keep the treated clothes away from cats, it’s toxic to them even when dry
Almost no ticks since I started treating my field work clothing with permethrin. One I did find was in obvious distress. I still get mosquitos landing on exposed flesh when wearing treated clothing.
At this point, slathering mud over all exposed body parts is the only solution.
That’s what natives in South America did. I think.
Anyway.
Mud.
I can’t stand bug repellent. I’d rather get bitten. Honestly, unless it’s a swarm big enough to carry me away, I barely notice mosquitoes anymore. The one benefit I have found to tinnitus is when you can’t hear the little bastards, they’re surprisingly easy to ingnore.
sounds suspiciously like something a mosquito would say
Would a mosquito constantly hear a high-pitched whine? Possibly. Would they recommend not covering your tasty flesh with chemicals known in the state of California to be hazardous for all parties involved in a mosquito bite? Likely. But would they advocate wearing your ear buds as often as possible and listening at high volumes to drown out the sounds of insects? I have no idea and I am not suggesting it, but I’m just saying it’s not all down side.
One round of dengue will change your mind.
Or malaria, or Ross river, Japanese encephalitis, etc
I don’t agree about bugs/repellent but I do follow the same principle for sunscreen. I hate putting it on, I’d rather get burnt. Or, more likely, I’ll find a shaded spot and set up camp
Well, I suppose there’s precedent elsewhere in the animal kingdom. Specifically anyone who likes stinky cheese, or enjoys tucking into things like hakárl or lutefisk.
Or anything spicy
or caffeinated. couple of herbs like mint also fits
There are a lot of plant oils that are as good as deet at repelling insects, like peppermint, or catnip oil.
Those insects won’t be compelled to peppermint, because reasons.
“As good as deet” is making some insane assumptions.
I grew up in Florida, deet was miles more effective. Peppermint oil doesn’t do shit to the mosquitoes down there.
There are some pretty big downsides to essential oils. They can be an allergen to some people, they don’t last nearly as long, and they don’t tend to work as well.
The CDC does not recommend them for use in areas where mosquitos harbor disease.
DEET and Picaridin are just fine for people to use, they last much longer and actually repel mosquitos very well. You’re unlikely to breed resistant mosquitos because there’s already plenty of mammals around that don’t use repellent (like wildlife) for them to feed on.
Peppermint and Catnip work as well as deet.
Going to need some actual evidence to back up that claim.
It was in the news some years back, I know because I made a joke ad nausea about the catnip oil, I’m not going to tell you it because I don’t like you.
No problem champ
