[victoria24]

any in NZ?

[JandL]

Sandflies! Argh!

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=15509&highlight=mosquitos
http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=17758&highlight=mosquitos
http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14863&highlight=mosquitos
http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=95&highlight=mosquitos
http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=86&highlight=mosquitos

[victoria24]

mmm.. various reports there. would you recommend taking some repellant on a recce trip if we are primarily keeping it eastcoast (homeboy)

[JandL]

We went in winter and didn't need anything. Maybe others can help with the summer.

[Carey]

Yes, have some insect repellant or be eaten alive. At dusk they find you and find their way into your house.

[Janey]

yes yes yes and scars to prove it,

Neil, Superdrug did a spray called buzz off which seems to work and books have a cream for insect repellant both work for me not found an NZ equivalent yet

[dilanium]

I started getting bitten in November and have been getting bitten (worse and worse) since. Though now I use repellant and it's been helping a lot, I occasionally forget.

[victoria24]

thanks guys.. bought some woodland fresh today off tinternet.
janey.. pm me your number so we can catch up later this month for a coffee!

[Francoise]

Where did you manage to get the Avon product on-line? I'm in South Africa and downloaded their latest catalogue, but there doesn't seem to be anything of that name in the brochure??

Thx
Francoise

[victoria24]

from here.. http://www.alternativeinsectrepellent.co.uk/

[clairelouise]

Mosquitos are the bane of my life! Actually pretty much any biting insect is as I seem to be like a magnet for them- and every bite seems to swell up like half a tennis ball! Although..... I've been using "Repel" here and for the last week at least it's all good! And the only thing that works for me to stop the itching when I have been bitten is Anthisan.

[BkyMonster]

Haven't actually encountered any skeeters. Flies though. Don't talk to me about flies!

[Sam B]

I would say there are about the same amount of mosquitoes here as in France

[925dancer]

Bugs of all sorts love me! First week in NZ first time round I was eaten alive and the poor girl in the pharmacy nearly fainted when she saw how I reacted to them! From then on there was repellent in my bag and a plug-in in my bedroom.

[James 1077]

Lots of mozzies around where we live in Devonport (need to get the garden sprayed sometime). They really go for me while studiously ignoring my wife!

I've given up with repellent now though as I've received enough bites that my system is no longer flaring up with them. Hopefully my daughter will start doing the same as her bites flare up amazingly (although don't seem to bother her at all).

[victoria24]

sounds like nz isnt as bug free in comparison to oz as theyd have you believe!

[BkyMonster]

IMO there are a lot less things here that EAT bugs (spiders, bats etc) so there end up being more bugs...

[Angel2850]

I find there are more bugs here than anywhere else - even SA, and Aus.... lots more flies, lots and lots and lots of little spiders (nothing too harmful, but the webs!!!) and mozzies too... but they are a bit slower and definitely more stupid here than in SA... easy to kill.
Advice to anyone who reacts badly... cover the bite with tiger balm, and over time you won't react as badly anymore, and the tiger balm should get rid of the itch pretty quick.

[dilanium]

I used to live in a very swampy area of the Midwest and there were WAY more biting insects out there (swarms so big that huge areas would be greyed out when looking out of the house). But the bites I get from the sand flies here react way worse for me (I assume because I'm not used to them).

But I think it comes down to where in NZ you are as to how many bugs you'll see (and how attractive you are to them as well).

[seattle]

Any good ideas for repellent for kids? We've never had to use spray before and it seems like most of them have deet- which can't be good for kids? I do agree that the mossies here are slow and easy to get...

[BkyMonster]

I find there are more bugs here than anywhere else

I find exactly the opposite. That is something that keeps surprising me, how few crawlies there are. The only spiders I see are jumping and running types (hardly any web builders) and I see something other than a fly maybe once a week.
I think Oregon has much higher biodiversity, especially in terms of insects, than many other places in the world though. Not nearly as many flies though :D

[YouMeAndThree]

I use Mosquito Milk purchased from Boots in the UK - It's a roll on and lasts ages as you don't need to put it on all over, just a few swipes here and there. Sadly I'm half way through the last bottle and haven't thought about looking for a replacement, must do that quickly! It's working wonders on me and the girls.

When we've forgotten I put Tiger Balm on the itch.

Lx

[limeo]

For a somewhat hefty price, I found that the Bushman repellent (I think that's the name) worked very well - it even smells decent. During the winter months there are very few insects... this last time we went (a few weeks ago) there were so many freaking sandflies!! I looked like an idiot waving my hands about - but I didn't get bitten I'll tell ya that much ;)

[Red Devil]

'Bug Off'... no seriously, that's the name of the stuff we got last March whilst doing our 3 week 'recce'.

When we arrived in Greymouth on the West Coast, the lady on reception asked us where was we heading next... "oh we're heading south and plan on calling off at Buller Gorge (http://www.bullergorge.co.nz/)" this was quickly replied with... "well don't forget your repellent".

We thought nothing of it to be honest, however when we arrived at Buller Gorge I noticed the odd sand fly about... but after 15 minutes there was loads of the little barstewards, maybe something to do with my aluminous white legs, who knows!

Anyway, after that day we bought some 'Bug Off' from a local supermarket and it kept the Sand flies at bay but I'd still recommend covering up if you plan on going near the 'bush'.

[victoria24]

i dont go near the bush....

[Red Devil]

... me neither, I much prefer a tree (very wide one mind) :D

[incredible hulse]

Not sure whether they're mozzies but something bites me whenever I'm outside without repellent on. Absolute nightmare. Must say I'm put off eating outside because of it - just can't enjoy a good bbq like we used to in the UK