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Mosquitoes

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 7:54am
19 replies986 views12 members subscribed
Debora22

Posts: 16

Location: Catral

Joined: 15 Oct 2017

We are moving to Spain and looking at Elche or Catral areas.

I get bitten a lot by mosquitoes and when looking around Guardemar in May I was badly bitten!  Are some areas worse than others for Mosquitos?  I didn't know if Guardemar was worse because of the Salt Lakes???  Would being further inland at Elche or Catral be better?

Thanks for your help

Stephanie86

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 1:17pm

Stephanie86

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Posts: 2748

2065 helpful points

Location: Lliber

Joined: 4 May 2017

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 1:17pm

We are further North than you in the Jalon region, which is approx 15 km from coast. The mosquitos are equally vindictive in this area. We had an estimate from a professional who installs complete anti-mosquito systems (imported from the USA I believe) who told us that the problem now is that the Tiger Mosquito has colonised this area of Spain and is moving inexorably North across Europe. We did have our outside area ‘fogged’ (basically a long lasting spray) which lasts about a month or so depending on area but one then has to have it re-done. It was very successful; if we could afford it we’ve have the ‘installation’ as, like you, I suffer miserably. I don’t think you can avoid them at all - just slather any exposed skin with Autan or similar - and industrial quantities of Anthisan!

mal johnson

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 2:09pm

mal johnson

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Posts: 193

131 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 1 Jul 2016

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 2:09pm

Hi Debora22, I have seen this type of post numerous times on the various forum sites in Spain, and one of the best pieces of advice I was given years ago, (and I always post on the forums), is eat Marmite on your bread/toast on a daily basis. I know it sounds daft, but there is something in or about Marmite that Mossies don't like.  My wife used to laugh at me when I took jars of Marmite on holiday to the Carribean, but guess who came home with no Mossie bites. It was further confirmed when she asked one of the Dominican hotel staff how they coped with mosquitos, and their reply was Vegemite. (same stuff different name).

SClayton

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 3:09pm

SClayton

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Posts: 159

192 helpful points

Location: Santa Pola

Joined: 11 Aug 2017

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 3:09pm

Anywhere where there are mosquitos, I have alway been the target of them when in a group of people. I have grown up in Melbourne, (lots of mosquitos) and after being out in the evenings with a group of six to ten people, I would be the only one bitten all over by them. The same when I was in North Carolina. Every bit of flesh on show or not was food for them. The same still happens to this day so I know how much of a problem and how uncomfortable it can be.
 

I lived in Elche for a whole summer (April to September) some years ago but did not experience the problem there. I am now moving to Santa Pola where I now I get bitten by mosquitos. I have found two solutions.

Firstly, there are repellents. I know the idea is not a pleasant one and for years I was bitten rather than the idea of something "smelly" on my skin. When I started using it, I wish I had done it sooner as the products have greatly improved since they first came out - no smell, no stickiness, no mosquitos bites.

Secondly, if you only get bitten at night, as I do in Santa Pola, I find those plug-in repellents are effective and do not use the spray on product. If you are in Elche, you may find it is not a problem at all.

I hope this was useful.

jimtaylor

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 3:35pm

jimtaylor

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Joined: 2 Feb 2017

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 3:35pm

Debora

I live inland between Rafal and Callosa de Segura. It's a farming area, with irrigation canals all over the place, but where we live the canals are all covered, albeit the numerous sluice gates are open to the air. The water isn't static, although if there isn't a farmer watering his fields locally, it may move very slowly.

In the twelve years I've lived here, I've never even heard a mossie at home, let alone been bitten by one. There are small flies that can bite, and of course wasps. The lack of mossies may be because there isn't any static water, or it may be because of all the lemon trees - I don't know.

Something to bear in mind when you're house hunting.

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68verity

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 5:30pm

Posts: 59

28 helpful points

Location: Catral

Joined: 12 Sep 2015

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 5:30pm

Debora22 wrote on Sun Oct 15, 2017 7:54am:

We are moving to Spain and looking at Elche or Catral areas.

I get bitten a lot by mosquitoes and when looking around Guardemar in May I was badly bitten!  Are some areas worse than others for Mosquitos?  I didn't know if Guardemar was worse because of the Salt Lakes???  Would being further inland at Elche or Catral be better?...

...

Thanks for your help

I live in Catral and get bitten, it is the Tiger Mosquitos now which can give very nasty bites.

We have mosquito nets at all our windows and doors and use plug in repellents to help keep them out of the house.

I use Halley repellent which is the one my Spanish friends use and it works to a point. A Jim said, it can be the irrigation that brings them, I see clouds of them where the sluice gates are.

Also being out at dusk can be the prime time for getting bitten. 

The wasps have been a major issue for us for the last two summers. Not sure if we are unlucky or just where we live.

Steve1956

Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 12:56pm

Posts: 16

10 helpful points

Location: Crevillente

Joined: 14 Jul 2017

Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 12:56pm

Debora22 wrote on Sun Oct 15, 2017 7:54am:

We are moving to Spain and looking at Elche or Catral areas.

I get bitten a lot by mosquitoes and when looking around Guardemar in May I was badly bitten!  Are some areas worse than others for Mosquitos?  I didn't know if Guardemar was worse because of the Salt Lakes???  Would being further inland at Elche or Catral be better?...

...

Thanks for your help

No matter where you live the mosquitos have been rife this year due to the very dry long hot summer we live in between catral and elche the mosquito's have been sparce apart from last week the problem seems to have died down now I have to say on the urbanisations like quesada its much much worse than in the countryside as there are more victims! Avoid glass tabletops the mosquitos think they're water buy the spiral smokers light them at ground level if you want to sit out and use jungle formula or similar, at night an hour before you go to bed spray the room with insect spray you should be fine. Mosquito's are attracted to certain blood types that's why some people get bit and others don't, be safe 

Basil brush

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 8:51am

Basil brush

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Posts: 275

223 helpful points

Location: Almoradí

Joined: 9 Apr 2018

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 8:51am

We have lived here for only three years but although there are many drainage ditches I would say there are no more here then some places we have lived! 

Mossies would typically fly half way round the world to bite me ( must like me?) and the first year here sitting outside at a restaurant I was getting bitten when a lady on the next table suggested “ auqa water” which I believe is for babies and most supermarkets etc sell it , well all I can say is it works for me! You buy it cheap as chips and I put it in plastic spray bottle and any evenings we go out any exposed flesh gets a squirt and iam totally covered from them! 

Also I have read up on them and typically they will not venture further then 100mts from their source/ water....so even a half full bucket or pot of water/ water butt will attract them or open drain etc. I think that is where they come from in towns as the drains are stagnant from lack of rain and smelly typically as the Spainish don’t do traps for smells! 

Andrea Murphy

Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 11:43am

Andrea Murphy

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Posts: 525

350 helpful points

Location: Almoradí

Joined: 22 Feb 2018

Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 11:43am

The Spanish tell me to use the large bottles of Cologne that you get in supermarkets.   Have your shower, get dried and then spray the Cologne all over you.   It worked, I was not bitten by the mossies.   You do have to keep replenishing it when the Cologne smell wears off but you can put a small bottle in your handbag and spray it all over you and your clothes when you are out.   It really does work and the Cologne is very economical only around 2 - 3 euros for a large bottle.   Good luck.

SClayton

Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 1:28pm

SClayton

Helpful member

Posts: 159

192 helpful points

Location: Santa Pola

Joined: 11 Aug 2017

Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 1:28pm

Hello Andrea,

I am replying to your post but am assuming those who posted before you will be reading this as well. As someone who is eaten alive with tens of bites at any one time, these posts have been very helpful. I believe, as has been mentioned, they are drawn to certain blood types because since childhood I would be the only one out of groups of people who suffered bites all over; I had bites than ran into the tens. They made every summer an absolute misery. Recently, I used insect repelent as I came out of the shower, which seemed to do the job but  I will try out the recommendations on here of "Aqua Water" and Cologne before using insect repellent. I would welcome any handy hints about keeping them out of the room without having to use insect spray although I will do this as a last resort.  Has anyone compared the sprays with plug-in products?

Thank you.

S

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