Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

Does anyone know of a herb or plant that can be rubbed onto the skin
that repels biting flies? I swatted four horse flies yesterday while
working in the garden. Luckily they seem fairly slow and clumsy and are
generally easy to swat before they take a bite. However, I still managed
to get a bite on my leg. I dislike having to wear jeans in the garden on
hot days rather than shorts just because of the biting insects.

The wife has a terrible reaction when bit - the last bite made her whole
forearm swell up and go red, it was touch and go whether she needed
anti-biotics, but on this occasion the swelling went down after a few
days. On other occasions she hasn't been so lucky.

Anyone recommend any leaves that can be rubbed on the skin that really
work as a fly deterrent? It doesn't matter if they smell horrible
because it is only for use at home in the garden. If such a plant exists
it will be well worth buying and growing.

--
David in Normandy.
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted
by a filter and not reach my inbox.

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

On Jun 29, 11:00*am, David in Normandy
wrote:
Does anyone know of a herb or plant that can be rubbed onto the skin
that repels biting flies? I swatted four horse flies yesterday while
working in the garden. Luckily they seem fairly slow and clumsy and are
generally easy to swat before they take a bite. However, I still managed
to get a bite on my leg. I dislike having to wear jeans in the garden .........

Generally speaking, David, I think that naked gardening is to be
discouraged, but what you guys do in France........

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

In article ,
David in Normandy wrote:

The wife has a terrible reaction when bit - the last bite made her whole
forearm swell up and go red, it was touch and go whether she needed
anti-biotics, but on this occasion the swelling went down after a few
days. On other occasions she hasn't been so lucky.

Antibiotics for histamine reactions are a SERIOUSLY bad idea.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

In message , David in Normandy
writes
Does anyone know of a herb or plant that can be rubbed onto the skin
that repels biting flies? I swatted four horse flies yesterday while
working in the garden. Luckily they seem fairly slow and clumsy and are
generally easy to swat before they take a bite. However, I still
managed to get a bite on my leg. I dislike having to wear jeans in the
garden on hot days rather than shorts just because of the biting insects.

The wife has a terrible reaction when bit - the last bite made her
whole forearm swell up and go red, it was touch and go whether she
needed anti-biotics, but on this occasion the swelling went down after
a few days.

Not anti-histamines? or corticosterioids?

On other occasions she hasn't been so lucky.

Anyone recommend any leaves that can be rubbed on the skin that really
work as a fly deterrent? It doesn't matter if they smell horrible
because it is only for use at home in the garden. If such a plant
exists it will be well worth buying and growing.

Bog myrtle (Myrica gale) is rumoured to repel midges.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

Stewart Robert Hinsley writes
Bog myrtle (Myrica gale) is rumoured to repel midges.

Scotland is full of bog myrtle ;-)

Seriously, I haven't found it to be particularly effective, but in the
absence of anything else, it's worth trying.
--
Kay

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

"David in Normandy" wrote in message
...
Does anyone know of a herb or plant that can be rubbed onto the skin that
repels biting flies? I swatted four horse flies yesterday while working in
the garden. Luckily they seem fairly slow and clumsy and are generally
easy to swat before they take a bite. However, I still managed to get a
bite on my leg. I dislike having to wear jeans in the garden on hot days
rather than shorts just because of the biting insects.

The wife has a terrible reaction when bit - the last bite made her whole
forearm swell up and go red, it was touch and go whether she needed
anti-biotics, but on this occasion the swelling went down after a few
days. On other occasions she hasn't been so lucky.

Anyone recommend any leaves that can be rubbed on the skin that really
work as a fly deterrent? It doesn't matter if they smell horrible because
it is only for use at home in the garden. If such a plant exists it will
be well worth buying and growing.


Well, pyrethoids originate from pyrethrums. Being similar to your wife in
the sense that if I get a bite I suffer a bad allergic reaction and have to
be careful not to get a bite infected, may I suggest that unless either of
you has some medical reason why you both shouldn't be around it, that you
apply an insect repellent containing DEET. It is very, very effective,
especially the high concentration stuff. But it is also an effective solvent
and can dissolve parts of some plastics, rayon, synthetic fabrics, leather,
paint or varnish, so you wouldn't want to be spilling any on your best
french polished table top... It is, however, my magic bullet for getting
through the summer without being bitten to shreds..

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

Martin wrote:


OTOH horse flies can transmit nasty bugs.

She had a horse fly bite on her leg once which needed antibiotics. As
you say they can transmit some nasty bacterial infections. Normally I
don't get a reaction to such bites, just a raised bump which is itchy
for a day or so.

--
David in Normandy.
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted
by a filter and not reach my inbox.

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

"wafflycat" wrote in message
...


Well, pyrethoids originate from pyrethrums. Being similar to your wife in
the sense that if I get a bite I suffer a bad allergic reaction and have
to be careful not to get a bite infected, may I suggest that unless either
of you has some medical reason why you both shouldn't be around it, that
you apply an insect repellent containing DEET. It is very, very effective,
especially the high concentration stuff. But it is also an effective
solvent and can dissolve parts of some plastics, rayon, synthetic fabrics,
leather, paint or varnish, so you wouldn't want to be spilling any on your
best french polished table top... It is, however, my magic bullet for
getting through the summer without being bitten to shreds..



Forgot to mention good old citronella oil candles - smell nice - mildly
effective against midges. I find that having a few citronella candles
burning (in suitably safe holders and in a suitably safe position) in a
bedroom before sleeping is effective at removing small flying biting things
from the area.

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:


Not anti-histamines? or corticosterioids?


On this last occasion she used some anti-histamine cream and her
reaction disappeared after several days. Her whole forearm was
eventually red and swollen before it started to go down.


Bog myrtle (Myrica gale) is rumoured to repel midges.

Sounds worth further investigation. Thanks.

--
David in Normandy.
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted
by a filter and not reach my inbox.

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

moghouse wrote:

Generally speaking, David, I think that naked gardening is to be
discouraged, but what you guys do in France........

If only the garden was near St Tropez. :-)

I never quite know what to do with my eyes on French beaches, many of
the women sunbathe topless. Well, actually I do know where to look, it
is just a question of for how long without inviting a slap from spouse
or anyone else. ;-)

I wouldn't fancy naked gardening. Too large a surface area to defend
from insects ;-)

--
David in Normandy.
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted
by a filter and not reach my inbox.

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

Martin wrote:

If there was such a plant instead of growing it and beating ones skin with the
leaves, they would extract or synthesise the active ingredient and call it DEET.

Now about these ticks ...

Deet eh? Worth an enquiry at the pharmacy; though in France it is
possibly called something else.

--
David in Normandy.
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted
by a filter and not reach my inbox.

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

wafflycat wrote:


Well, pyrethoids originate from pyrethrums. Being similar to your wife
in the sense that if I get a bite I suffer a bad allergic reaction and
have to be careful not to get a bite infected, may I suggest that unless
either of you has some medical reason why you both shouldn't be around
it, that you apply an insect repellent containing DEET. It is very, very
effective, especially the high concentration stuff. But it is also an
effective solvent and can dissolve parts of some plastics, rayon,
synthetic fabrics, leather, paint or varnish, so you wouldn't want to be
spilling any on your best french polished table top... It is, however,
my magic bullet for getting through the summer without being bitten to
shreds..



Deet sounds like the bees knees so to speak. It will be fun asking for
deet at the pharmacy here in France. If I ask if they have deet; it will
likely cause confusion as deet (pronounced deet) means "has spoken". So
it would be like going into a chemist in England and asking the
pharmcist if they have spoken. Oh the joys of communicating in bad French.

--
David in Normandy.
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted
by a filter and not reach my inbox.

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lusername/
http://www.timdenning.myby.co.uk/
"wafflycat" wrote in message
...

"wafflycat" wrote in message
...


Well, pyrethoids originate from pyrethrums. Being similar to your wife in
the sense that if I get a bite I suffer a bad allergic reaction and have
to be careful not to get a bite infected, may I suggest that unless
either of you has some medical reason why you both shouldn't be around
it, that you apply an insect repellent containing DEET. It is very, very
effective, especially the high concentration stuff. But it is also an
effective solvent and can dissolve parts of some plastics, rayon,
synthetic fabrics, leather, paint or varnish, so you wouldn't want to be
spilling any on your best french polished table top... It is, however, my
magic bullet for getting through the summer without being bitten to
shreds..



Forgot to mention good old citronella oil candles - smell nice - mildly
effective against midges. I find that having a few citronella candles
burning (in suitably safe holders and in a suitably safe position) in a
bedroom before sleeping is effective at removing small flying biting
things from the area.

You could have a look at Neem tree products, I believe they're supposed to
be quite effective, probably doesn't have the same effectiveness as DEET.
I don't know about growing it though in your garden though :-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neem

Bit more info here
http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/397...uito-repellent

HTH

Tim

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

"David in Normandy" wrote in message
...
wafflycat wrote:


Well, pyrethoids originate from pyrethrums. Being similar to your wife in
the sense that if I get a bite I suffer a bad allergic reaction and have
to be careful not to get a bite infected, may I suggest that unless
either of you has some medical reason why you both shouldn't be around
it, that you apply an insect repellent containing DEET. It is very, very
effective, especially the high concentration stuff. But it is also an
effective solvent and can dissolve parts of some plastics, rayon,
synthetic fabrics, leather, paint or varnish, so you wouldn't want to be
spilling any on your best french polished table top... It is, however, my
magic bullet for getting through the summer without being bitten to
shreds..



Deet sounds like the bees knees so to speak. It will be fun asking for
deet at the pharmacy here in France. If I ask if they have deet; it will
likely cause confusion as deet (pronounced deet) means "has spoken". So it
would be like going into a chemist in England and asking the pharmcist if
they have spoken. Oh the joys of communicating in bad French.



Pour vous..

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/N,N-di%...9thylbenzamide

http://www.pharmacorama.com/ezine/lupourvous41.php

http://www.webmarchand.com/a/liste_p...te_produit.htm

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

David in Normandy wrote:
Does anyone know of a herb or plant that can be rubbed onto the skin
that repels biting flies? I swatted four horse flies yesterday while
working in the garden. Luckily they seem fairly slow and clumsy and are
generally easy to swat before they take a bite. However, I still managed
to get a bite on my leg. I dislike having to wear jeans in the garden on
hot days rather than shorts just because of the biting insects.


The horse flies are intolerable this year, not quite sure why. Maybe
the unseasonable heat, I always thought they liked standing water and
there isn't much of that around. Ground is bone dry, actually.

I don't know if DEET is authorized in France, but it is the best
available, normally. If you get some, let me know what it's called.
I have some 23% from the US, which I sprayed liberally before going
out to mulch a field (sadly not enough farmers left here to want the
extra hay, and its very good this year), the horse flies stayed off
for a couple of minutes then were as thick as ever. They pretty much
ignored the DEET, and I don't know anything better.

Wormwood is meant to repel flies, but as mine is currently covered with
blackfly I shan't be performing the experiment. :)

-E

P.S. David, saw your thunderstorm the other day, impressive. Whole
sky was lit up, the power cutting in and out with the strikes. But
we hardly got a drop of rain from it, all went north your way.

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

In article ,
David in Normandy wrote:

Deet sounds like the bees knees so to speak. It will be fun asking for
deet at the pharmacy here in France. If I ask if they have deet; it will
likely cause confusion as deet (pronounced deet) means "has spoken". So
it would be like going into a chemist in England and asking the
pharmcist if they have spoken. Oh the joys of communicating in bad French.

Actually, it's pretty ineffective. The substance that worked a lot
better was DMP, but that was banned many decades ago, on the grounds
that it was carcinogenic. I believe that it is still used in some
countries on the grounds that the risk from cancer is smaller than
that from malaria, yellow fever etc. etc. That is, after all, why
people took prophylactic quinine, despite it causing deafness and
peripheral neuropathy.

But it's about the best that you can get in Europe ....


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

"Emery Davis" wrote in message
...


I don't know if DEET is authorized in France, but it is the best
available, normally. If you get some, let me know what it's called.
I have some 23% from the US, which I sprayed liberally before going
out to mulch a field (sadly not enough farmers left here to want the
extra hay, and its very good this year), the horse flies stayed off
for a couple of minutes then were as thick as ever. They pretty much
ignored the DEET, and I don't know anything better.



23% is not strong enough - buy the 100% stuff it works. They hate the stuff.

This is what I have used:-

http://abc-wholesale.amazonwebstore....ource=GB&id=uk

I can say that very time I have used that - whilst out on cycle trips,
sweating copiously in such a way that normally attracts clouds of flies
(lovely mental vision there ... not!) I have not been bitten or stung. Yet
without it, being bitten or stung is normal for me. Sigh...

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

On 2009-06-29 13:06:02 +0100, David in Normandy
said:

wafflycat wrote:


Well, pyrethoids originate from pyrethrums. Being similar to your wife
in the sense that if I get a bite I suffer a bad allergic reaction and
have to be careful not to get a bite infected, may I suggest that
unless either of you has some medical reason why you both shouldn't be
around it, that you apply an insect repellent containing DEET. It is
very, very effective, especially the high concentration stuff. But it
is also an effective solvent and can dissolve parts of some plastics,
rayon, synthetic fabrics, leather, paint or varnish, so you wouldn't
want to be spilling any on your best french polished table top... It
is, however, my magic bullet for getting through the summer without
being bitten to shreds..



Deet sounds like the bees knees so to speak. It will be fun asking for
deet at the pharmacy here in France. If I ask if they have deet; it
will likely cause confusion as deet (pronounced deet) means "has
spoken". So it would be like going into a chemist in England and asking
the pharmcist if they have spoken. Oh the joys of communicating in bad
French.

Anti-moustique or anti-mouches de cheval, eh? ;-) She could try Avon
Skin so Soft - it's very good but they're not allowed to sell it as
insect repellent, so don't be put off by not seeing that beside its
name.
http://www.avon.uk.com/PRSuite/home_page.page
and she might be a candidate for the Magellan range of clothing with
insect repellent in it:
http://www.magellans.com/store/Healt..._Women?Arg s=
--


Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

In article ,
Martin wrote:

Deet sounds like the bees knees so to speak. It will be fun asking for
deet at the pharmacy here in France. If I ask if they have deet; it will
likely cause confusion as deet (pronounced deet) means "has spoken". So
it would be like going into a chemist in England and asking the
pharmcist if they have spoken. Oh the joys of communicating in bad French.

Actually, it's pretty ineffective.

That's news to me. It has always worked well for me including when used in the
tropics in S America.

Maybe African insects are less easily put off - certainly, the diseases
they carry are worse (or, at least, more prevalent).


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

On Jun 29, 1:51*pm, Emery Davis wrote:

The horse flies are intolerable this year, not quite sure why. *Maybe
the unseasonable heat, I always thought they liked standing water and
there isn't much of that around.

Back in 1957 I was sent to an army cadet camp in Buckingham Tofts in
Norfolk. On the first day we were sent out on an exercise and we all
got severely bitten by horse flies, some even had to be shipped out to
the nearest hospital. A sergeant had decided insect repellant would
not be issued on the first day to "toughen us up". We got it on the
second day - it was foul smelling stuff in a metal bottle and it
worked, so it is possible to repel the horse flies. Unfortunately
there was no name on the bottle, but it was so effective that I have
not been bitten by a horse fly in the ensuing fifty years!

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

In message , K
writes
Stewart Robert Hinsley writes
Bog myrtle (Myrica gale) is rumoured to repel midges.

Scotland is full of bog myrtle ;-)

It was the curator of the Highland Folk Museum in Kingussie that told us
that bog myrtle keeps the midges away. So we tried bog myrtle potpourri
to keep the midges out of the caravan.

Seriously, I haven't found it to be particularly effective, but in the
absence of anything else, it's worth trying.

There was something a few years ago about commercialising a bog myrtle
extract as an insect repellent.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

Stewart Robert Hinsley writes
In message , K
writes
Stewart Robert Hinsley writes
Bog myrtle (Myrica gale) is rumoured to repel midges.

Scotland is full of bog myrtle ;-)

It was the curator of the Highland Folk Museum in Kingussie that told
us that bog myrtle keeps the midges away. So we tried bog myrtle
potpourri to keep the midges out of the caravan.

Did it work?

--
Kay

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

Emery Davis wrote:

The horse flies are intolerable this year, not quite sure why.

I flattened another four this afternoon while working in the garage.
They are persistent little devils, just swishing them away doesn't work
they keep coming back until they are allowed to land ... then SWOT!
I've only seen the odd one or two in previous years, this year there
seems to be a plague of them.


I don't know if DEET is authorized in France, but it is the best
available, normally.

I will ask at the local pharmacy, possibly the veterinary pharmacy may
be better - and cheaper. A little Googling shows it to be used
extensively for horses, though I don't know about in France.

P.S. David, saw your thunderstorm the other day, impressive. Whole
sky was lit up, the power cutting in and out with the strikes. But
we hardly got a drop of rain from it, all went north your way.

The rain was the fastest/hardest I've seen since living in France.
Luckily we are in a position unlikely to flood.

--
David in Normandy.
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted
by a filter and not reach my inbox.

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

In message , K
writes
Stewart Robert Hinsley writes
In message , K
writes
Stewart Robert Hinsley writes
Bog myrtle (Myrica gale) is rumoured to repel midges.

Scotland is full of bog myrtle ;-)

It was the curator of the Highland Folk Museum in Kingussie that told
us that bog myrtle keeps the midges away. So we tried bog myrtle
potpourri to keep the midges out of the caravan.

Did it work?

We thought it did, but of course we didn't do a controlled experiment.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

David in Normandy wrote:
Does anyone know of a herb or plant that can be rubbed onto the skin
that repels biting flies? I swatted four horse flies yesterday while
working in the garden. Luckily they seem fairly slow and clumsy and
are generally easy to swat before they take a bite. However, I still
managed to get a bite on my leg. I dislike having to wear jeans in
the garden on hot days rather than shorts just because of the biting
insects.
The wife has a terrible reaction when bit - the last bite made her
whole forearm swell up and go red, it was touch and go whether she
needed anti-biotics, but on this occasion the swelling went down
after a few days. On other occasions she hasn't been so lucky.

Anyone recommend any leaves that can be rubbed on the skin that really
work as a fly deterrent? It doesn't matter if they smell horrible
because it is only for use at home in the garden. If such a plant
exists it will be well worth buying and growing.

Garlic is used for horses in the UK, it's sprinkled in their feed and it
does work to some extent.
Personally I've never had any joy with any of the DEET formulations,
especially for skeeters and midges, the latter being prominent in the
Limousin area which I visit regularly.

some herbal suggestions here, although I can't vouch for them:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...q =herb+insec
--
Phil L
RSRL Tipster Of The Year 2008

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

wafflycat wrote:

"David in Normandy" wrote in message
...
wafflycat wrote:


Well, pyrethoids originate from pyrethrums. Being similar to your
wife in the sense that if I get a bite I suffer a bad allergic
reaction and have to be careful not to get a bite infected, may I
suggest that unless either of you has some medical reason why you
both shouldn't be around it, that you apply an insect repellent
containing DEET. It is very, very effective, especially the high
concentration stuff. But it is also an effective solvent and can
dissolve parts of some plastics, rayon, synthetic fabrics, leather,
paint or varnish, so you wouldn't want to be spilling any on your
best french polished table top... It is, however, my magic bullet for
getting through the summer without being bitten to shreds..



Deet sounds like the bees knees so to speak. It will be fun asking for
deet at the pharmacy here in France. If I ask if they have deet; it
will likely cause confusion as deet (pronounced deet) means "has
spoken". So it would be like going into a chemist in England and
asking the pharmcist if they have spoken. Oh the joys of communicating
in bad French.



Pour vous..

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/N,N-di%...9thylbenzamide

http://www.pharmacorama.com/ezine/lupourvous41.php

http://www.webmarchand.com/a/liste_p...te_produit.htm




Thanks, that's very useful. I will get some of the stronger stuff.

-E

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

"David in Normandy" wrote in message
...
Does anyone know of a herb or plant that can be rubbed onto the skin that
repels biting flies? I swatted four horse flies yesterday while working in
the garden. Luckily they seem fairly slow and clumsy and are generally
easy to swat before they take a bite. However, I still managed to get a
bite on my leg. I dislike having to wear jeans in the garden on hot days
rather than shorts just because of the biting insects.

The wife has a terrible reaction when bit - the last bite made her whole
forearm swell up and go red, it was touch and go whether she needed
anti-biotics, but on this occasion the swelling went down after a few
days. On other occasions she hasn't been so lucky.

Anyone recommend any leaves that can be rubbed on the skin that really
work as a fly deterrent? It doesn't matter if they smell horrible because
it is only for use at home in the garden. If such a plant exists it will
be well worth buying and growing.


Have you tried elder leaves bruised and rubbed on the skin? I understand in
olden days horse keepers used to pick sprigs of elder and tuck them under
the brow band of their horse bridle to keep the flies off. Haven't tried it
myself. but might be worth a try.

I also understand Avon Skin-So-Soft lotion is very effective against midges.
It does not stop them bothering you but apparently they aren't able to bite
you. It may or may not work for horse flies.
A horse fly bite can cause lots of problems in some humans. My mother
almost had to be hospitalised.

Tina

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

On Jul 6, 10:49*pm, "Christina Websell"
wrote:
"David in Normandy" wrote in . fr...



Does anyone know of a herb or plant that can be rubbed onto the skin that
repels biting flies? I swatted four horse flies yesterday while working in
the garden. Luckily they seem fairly slow and clumsy and are generally
easy to swat before they take a bite. However, I still managed to get a
bite on my leg. I dislike having to wear jeans in the garden on hot days
rather than shorts just because of the biting insects.

The wife has a terrible reaction when bit - the last bite made her whole
forearm swell up and go red, it was touch and go whether she needed
anti-biotics, but on this occasion the swelling went down after a few
days. On other occasions she hasn't been so lucky.

Anyone recommend any leaves that can be rubbed on the skin that really
work as a fly deterrent? It doesn't matter if they smell horrible because
it is only for use at home in the garden. If such a plant exists it will
be well worth buying and growing.

Have you tried elder leaves bruised and rubbed on the skin? *I understand in
olden days horse keepers used to pick sprigs of elder and tuck them under
the brow band of their horse bridle to keep the flies off. *Haven't tried it
myself. but might be worth a try.

I also understand Avon Skin-So-Soft lotion is very effective against midges.
It does not stop them bothering you but apparently they aren't able to bite
you. *It may or may not work for horse flies.
A horse fly bite can cause lots of problems in some humans. * My mother
almost had to be hospitalised.

Tina

I ride horses, frequently and horse flies, mozzies and anything that
has wings are bothersome. I use a Jungle spray, on ankles, behind the
knees, wrists, elbows and back of neck. It works, fortunately, I come
home without bites. How is it that after I have showered that I get a
mozzie bite behind my knee????

Judith

Herb or plant that repels flies?
 

On 2009-07-06 23:04:20 +0100, Judith in France
said:

On Jul 6, 10:49*pm, "Christina Websell"
wrote:
"David in Normandy" wrote in messagenews:
...



Does anyone know of a herb or plant that can be rubbed onto the skin th
at
repels biting flies? I swatted four horse flies yesterday while working
in
the garden. Luckily they seem fairly slow and clumsy and are generally
easy to swat before they take a bite. However, I still managed to get a
bite on my leg. I dislike having to wear jeans in the garden on hot day
s
rather than shorts just because of the biting insects.

The wife has a terrible reaction when bit - the last bite made her whol
e
forearm swell up and go red, it was touch and go whether she needed
anti-biotics, but on this occasion the swelling went down after a few
days. On other occasions she hasn't been so lucky.

Anyone recommend any leaves that can be rubbed on the skin that really
work as a fly deterrent? It doesn't matter if they smell horrible becau
se
it is only for use at home in the garden. If such a plant exists it wil
l
be well worth buying and growing.

Have you tried elder leaves bruised and rubbed on the skin? *I understa
nd in
olden days horse keepers used to pick sprigs of elder and tuck them under
the brow band of their horse bridle to keep the flies off. *Haven't tri
ed it
myself. but might be worth a try.

I also understand Avon Skin-So-Soft lotion is very effective against midg
es.
It does not stop them bothering you but apparently they aren't able to bi
te
you. *It may or may not work for horse flies.
A horse fly bite can cause lots of problems in some humans. * My mother
almost had to be hospitalised.

Tina

I ride horses, frequently and horse flies, mozzies and anything that
has wings are bothersome. I use a Jungle spray, on ankles, behind the
knees, wrists, elbows and back of neck. It works, fortunately, I come
home without bites. How is it that after I have showered that I get a
mozzie bite behind my knee????

Judith

Mozzies hover in the shower - warm and humid, and with the certain
knowledge a nice juicy, unsuspecting human is going to get in there and
wash off all that protection. What more could they ask?!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon