It’s that
time of the year along the lower coast.
MOSQUITO SEASON!
The mosquito
hatch generally starts here in March. Early March if February was a mild month.
It’s not a prolific hatch but they’re out and about doing what the blood
suckers do. As the daytime and nighttime mercury readings rise so does the
volume of mosquitoes. If we stayed out in the sun in the open we’d rarely
notice them. Move to the shade to cool off and they swarm us. The biting boogers,
in the cool of the evening, seem to find you no matter where you are.
The closer
you are to the damps and bogs the more exacerbated the mosquito problem is …
though one source that I read years ago mentioned that mosquitoes do not need
standing water in their propagation process – any piece of damp earth, pile of
damp leaves, or damp lawn is sufficient for the larvae to mature to fly their
way to you.
They are …
at the least … aggravating.
They can be
a lot worse than aggravating considering the infectious diseases they are
capable of carrying. Some of these diseases have been fairly well eliminated
through vaccinations and other control means in this country. Others have a way
of coming along that pose serious health threats. Like this Zika thing that has
found its way here.
Several
years ago, on my way to Point Clear to do a lawn for a lady, I picked up a
fellow that was hitch hiking.
It was a
really hot summer day and he looked like he needed some help. His foot powered
locomotion was labored. He looked harmless enough so I pulled over and offered
him a ride. He told me, on the short ride to his house, why he was in the
physical shape he was in. It was on account of a mosquito bite. Eastern Equine
Encephalitis.
Mosquitoes,
in less developed countries, pose a much larger health threat than they do here
in the United States. Here, for the most part, they are an annoyance that creates
a good case of the itches. The smart thing to do is to keep something handy
that repels the little blood suckers.
I am not a
fan of products containing DEET. I was when it came onto the market. DEET
works. No doubt about it. Mosquitoes don’t like it. Ticks don’t like it. DEET,
in fact, kills ticks. Then I saw first-hand what DEET does to synthetic
materials and plastics … things like the wasted away steering wheel in a truck
owned by a turkey hunting friend and that pair of snake boots of mine that were
ruined. DEET is potent stuff. I’ll use DEET only
if there is nothing else available.
REPEL makes
a natural product that is effective against mosquitoes. Cheap dryer sheets
rubbed on your exposed skin and clothes are effective. I’ve used Avon Skin So
Soft as a remedy against them. I can’t vouch for the effectiveness of Sawyer’s
Permethrin used to treat clothing as a mosquito deterrent. It does seem to work
for repelling ticks. I’ve used it a couple of seasons in the hunting woods. The
highly refined Permethrin supposedly
attaches itself to the clothing and lasts for eight weeks and multiple
launderings.
There are
numerous recipes to be found with a Google search that allows a person to
concoct their own natural repellents using essential oils. Ole Nessmuk had his
own recipe that he included in his book. I’ve never cooked it up but have
always wanted to sample it.
The smart
thing … being prepared before we go
out … is the best course to take. The smart thing, however, doesn’t always work
out like it should.
What do we
do then … short of building a smoky fire and staying in the smoke?
We use
what’s available in our natural surroundings.
Wax Myrtle
leaves, when crushed and rubbed on exposed skin, makes a fairly good mosquito
repellent.
Wax Myrtle,
also known as Southern Bayberry, grows in climate zones 7 through 11. It is
abundant here where we are. Most of us see it every day and have no idea about
what it is and what it will do for us. I’ve used it numerous times as a
mosquito repellent.
This also
happens to be a multi-use plant.
The Wax
Myrtle berries can be harvested and boiled to extract the scented wax to use in
candle making. Aroma therapy is always a good thing. I can’t help but to wonder
about the effectiveness of these scented candles in regard to repelling
mosquitoes.
Looks like I’ll be harvesting Wax Myrtle berries this year and
dabbling in candle making this winter.
The leaves
of the Wax Myrtle can also be used as seasoning in place of bay leaves.
I’ve not
cooked with it yet but do have a few leaves picked to do a culinary experiment
with.
I would be
curious to hear from folks that have experimented with the Northern Bayberry.
American
Beautyberry is an effective natural mosquito repellent.
I find it to
be quite a bit more effective than Wax Myrtle.
Simply crush
the leaves and rub them on exposed skin.
I’ve read
some articles on research being done on Beautyberry. It’s quite impressive.
What has been discovered in the research is that three different elements in
the plant combine to create a compound that not only effectively deters
mosquitoes but also deters ticks. One article that I read a year or so ago
stated that this compound is as effective as DEET in deterring ticks.
It will be a
long time, if it ever comes along, before a product containing this finding
discovered in folklore is marketed. There are A LOT of steps and finances involved
in getting something like this approved.
Knowing about this plant, and having done the experimental archaeology with it,
means there is no waiting for approval.
The ripe
magenta colored berries are also edible. Tasting them is still on my bucket
list.
I need to
make a statement here … something of a DISCLAIMER.
This
statement applies to all that I have already written, will write, have shared
in YouTube videos, and will share in video format.
Make sure that you can positively
identify wild growing vegetation before you experiment with it. I assume no responsibility
or liability for errors in your identification, judgment, or physical
conditions that may result in any kind of allergic reaction.
Having said
that, let me say this …
Don’t be
afraid to do some experimental archaeology. Have fun with it. Take your time
with it. Sample with small bites and build from there.
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