midges and vitamine B

[John85]

At Beechgrove potting shed a listener adviced to take vitamine B to immunise yourself against bites.
Has somebody tried that and how effective was it?

[Maggi Young]

That was an interesting one, John.  I never heard of it before. 
There is vitamin B in so many foods that I never thought to take a supplement.
One of the symptoms of an overdose of Vitamin B is a rash and itchiness... so that risk is as bad as the midgie bites, heh?!!

[John85]

The lady said that you exude then a substance through your pores that is repellent for midges .
As a member of the Scottish tourist board said that midges were the worst enemy of tourism in Scotland and that some people working in forests have to wear as much protecting clothes as a beekeeper may be it is well worth further investigation.

[gote]

As Maggie said, the side effects could be worse than the midges.
There are reasonably well working repellents (And confusants) that are applied externally.
At least they work for mosquitos which are my problem. Midges are rarely a problem here nowadays.
Göte

[David Lyttle]

At Beechgrove potting shed a listener adviced to take vitamine B to immunise yourself against bites.
Has somebody tried that and how effective was it?

It is part of the folklore for repelling sandflies in this part of the world - I dont think it is very effective. Biting insects here tend to be preferentially attracted to floral scents and delicate female flesh. To avoid being bitten, take a lady with you in the field and avoid washing unless compelled to do so. Failing that use insect repellent though this does not always deter hungry insects.

[mark smyth]

As a member of the Scottish tourist board said that midges were the worst enemy of tourism in Scotland and that some people working in forests have to wear as much protecting clothes as a beekeeper may be it is well worth further investigation.

Not only Scotland but here also. I carry a midge net in the car for when I go out to do bat surveys

[fermi de Sousa]

Biting insects here tend to be preferentially attracted to floral scents and delicate female flesh. To avoid being bitten, take a lady with you in the field and avoid washing unless compelled to do so.

This has all the hallmarks of a Benny Hill sketch - something about when you'd be compelled to wash the lady....
 
cheers
fermi

[chasw]

I have heard that the Army use Avon skin so soft to deter the midges

[gote]

At Beechgrove potting shed a listener adviced to take vitamine B to immunise yourself against bites.
Has somebody tried that and how effective was it?

It is part of the folklore for repelling sandflies in this part of the world - I dont think it is very effective. Biting insects here tend to be preferentially attracted to floral scents and delicate female flesh. To avoid being bitten, take a lady with you in the field and avoid washing unless compelled to do so. Failing that use insect repellent though this does not always deter hungry insects.

Biting insects have different preferences. My mosquitos are attracted to warm preferably sweaty bodies. I have found that a quick cold shower or dip in the lake will make them less interested in me (until i have worked myself hot again). I have noted that cool ladies are less attractive. Perhaps I should have s bodybuilder work out nearby.
Göte

[jandals]

Spent 10 years living with sandflies in Fiordland . Ate lots of Vegemite which, according to the label, is one of the world's richest sources of vitamin B . It didn't stop them biting but no one in the family had any bad reactions to the bites .

Single malts also work well . If you have enough of them you don't notice them biting . Also the sandflies tend to get drunk and fall over

[John85]

Found on the web that vitamine B12 helps against the harvest mite(trombicula autumnalis)
So may be  it is effective only when the right vitamine B is taken.
Is Avon skin so soft also a effective repellent against harvest mite?It is a very nasty thing here and not only for cats and dogs!

[Maggi Young]

I'm not sure if the Avon spray would be effective against the "chigger" or harvest mite (Trombicula autumnalis).  
 It may do no harm to try it since there is little to irritate in it. Avon says that they believe the only deterrent is the citronella scent of that particular spray..... but it works for me against the midges, for whatever reason, so I'm happy!

[SusanS]

I am very prone to insect bites, perhaps one of the reasons Darren likes to take me with him when he goes for a walk .....

I have found that Marmite does have some effect on reducing the number of bites.  I didn't believe in it's effectiveness as an insect repellant myself, but I certainly could tell when I stopped having it on my toast.

Susan

[Darren]

I am very prone to insect bites, perhaps one of the reasons Darren likes to take me with him when he goes for a walk .....

Susan

Susan is also really good at finding places that provide tea and cake, and more importantly, is more likely than me to have the cash to pay for them. 

Though I can confirm she makes a great decoy for the midges.