insect-prtctn-msg

insect-prtctn-msg – 1/11/06

Camping with insects. Insect protection and repelling them.

************************************************************************

NOTICE -

This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.

This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter.

The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors.

Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s).

Thank you,

Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous

Stefan at florilegium.org

************************************************************************

Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 16:09:12 -0700

From: "Laura C. Minnick" <lcm at efn.org>

Subject: Re: SC - Stopping Bities...

Just occurred to me to mention-

It's not really food related, but I drag a large washbasin, washstand,

towels, and a bottle of Dr. Bronners castile soap with me to tourneys.

(Everyone in our encampment knows I'm dangerous until I have the tea on

the inside and the bath on the outside- that water on my stove at 8 am

is _sacred_!) I've found that an all-over sponge bath with either the

peppermint or eucalyptus soap goes a _long_ way towards keeping away the

insects. And you feel tingly all over too! I prefer the peppermint- the

eucalyptus reminds me to much of Vicks Vapo-rub. And an aside to all of

that- a basin of tepid water with the peppermint soap in it is a real

treat for a sweaty fighter when they come in off the field. While I

rather like fighter smells (better not to ask!), many people in camp are

happier when the fighters have cleaned up, and minty fresh is quite

nice! ;-)

I don't know if Dr. Bronner's keep away vampires though. They'd have to

get past the garlic on our breath...

'Lainie

Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 18:05:00 -0500

From: "Sara K. Tallarovic" <electricfish at earthlink.net>

Subject: SC - Insect repellants

Hello! I've been lurking on the list for a while now, gathering recipes

and cooking tips, and Q wanted to share a finding on the topic of biting

insects. I once happened upon a great combination of insect repelling oils

while camping in the AnTir woods (the Cascades of Oregon to be exact). I

had a small collection of essential oils that I had gotten for different

reasons...citronella oil (originally purchased both for mosquito repellant

and to repel my cats from things I didn't want them in), and also rosemary

oil and pennyroyal* oil, both for homemade hair conditioners. I tossed

them all into my camping bag since the labels had rubbed off and I didn't

have time to open each one to find the citronella. Our campsite had

mosquitos as well as biting flies (deer flies, maybe?) and those

excruciatingly annoying black flies that buzz around your head and drive

you mad. I dabbed a few drops of each oil on in sequence and suddenly I

was free of bugs of ALL kinds! The mosquitos were most likely repelled by

the citronella (which I put on first), but it was definitely the rosemary

and/or the pennyroyal* that seemed to best repel the flies (and they seemed

to work best together). The poor dog was trying to nap but was being

harassed relentlessly by black flies, so I gave him a dab of rosemary

between the ears and one near the tail and the next thing I knew he was

also bug free and happily napping. Other folks with me also tried it much

to their relief. If you are looking for herbal insect repellents, these 3

oils worked quite well combined, not to mention they smelled rather nice.

*A note of caution regarding pennyroyal oil: It is for external use

only! It is extremely dangerous to take the oil internally (I hear it can

kill you), so never use it anywhere that it could be consumed, and maybe

even be very careful about the amount used, lest it absorb in large

quantity through the skin. I wouldn't recommend using it on a pet or a

small child.

Cheers!

- -Shu'la

Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 23:18:33 GMT

From: "Julia Robertson" <robertson_julia at hotmail.com>

Subject: Re: SC - Insect repellants

My own recipe for insect repellant is

10mls Eucalyptus oil

10mls Citronella oil

10mls Peppermint oil

blended into 200mls of alcohol

It works wonders and a bottle that size lasts for ages

Valeria

>I once happened upon a great combination of insect repelling oils

>...citronella oil (originally purchased both for mosquito repellant

>and to repel my cats from things I didn't want them in), and also rosemary

>oil and pennyroyal* oil, both for homemade hair conditioners

Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2000 07:17:57 -0400

From: Elaine Koogler <ekoogler at chesapeake.net>

Subject: Re: SC - Insect repellants

That rings true...I was told some years ago that I could hang bunches of

pennyroyal in my pavillion to help drive away flies. Thanks for the reminder.

I'll have to try growing some next summer for use at Pennsic!! I understand

eucalyptus works well also...and that can be purchased anywhere they sell

dried/silk flowers for arrangement.

Kiri

Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2000 23:53:39 PDT

From: "Bonne of Traquair" <oftraquair at hotmail.com>

Subject: SC - Insect repellant = sekanjabin

I've been ignoring the insect repellant threads but was idly reading the

vinegar bottle at dinner this evening and came across this on the back of

the label under 'Other Uses for Vinegar'

PEST FIGHTER A teaspoon of vinegar for each quart bowl of drinking

water helps keep your pet free of fleas and ticks. The ratio of

one teaspoon to one quart is for a forty pound animal.

While I was doing the mental math for dosing our 6 lb kitty, my husband was

doing the mental math for a 180 lb fighter. He said that was about the same

ratio of vinegar to water as he likes his sekanjabin to be.

So, now we have another reason to serve sekanjabin to the fighters: internal

bug repellant.

Bonne

Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2000 08:07:04 -0400

From: "Nicholas Sasso" <NJSasso at msplaw.com>

Subject: RE: SC - Insect repellant = sekanjabin

<<<<< PEST FIGHTER A teaspoon of vinegar for each quart bowl of drinking

water helps keep your pet free of fleas and ticks. The ratio of

one teaspoon to one quart is for a forty pound animal.

. . . . . . . .SNIP . . . . . . . . So, now we have another reason to serve sekanjabin to the fighters: internal bug repellant.

Bonne >>>>>>>>>>

My experience has been that the sugar content outweighs the vinegar benefit. The sugars from the day's meals leaches out in sweat, thereby attracting the bugs and counteracts the vinegar repelling. YMMV, of course, but maybe less sugar and more vinegar would help me. Either way, I just stop eating anything sweet by 2pm to avoid buggies at nightfall. Animals don't eat refined sugar, so have less of an issue with this. It's incredible what we sweat out of our systems.

I have condsidered LemonBalm and/or Lavender in ointment/balm to ward of biting beasties in light of my sugar-bug magnet problems.

niccolo difrancesco

Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2000 14:16:45 -0400

From: "Philippa Alderton" <phlip at morganco.net>

Subject: Re: SC - Insect repellant = sekanjabin

Olwen skrev:

>This is weird and very not period, but, of all things, Bounce dryer sheets

>claim to be an insect repellent when worn on your belt, ankle, etc. I have

>a country friend that swears by it. I can't try it cuz the fragance sets of

>my asthma. hmmmmm.

Not so weird, Olwen. Most of the hunters around here don't go into the woods

without one of those dryer sheets tucked under their hats, protecting their

necks. Think also that Avon's Skin-So Soft has the same rep- have we

discussed this on the List before?

Of course, you can't really ask me for input, since mosquitoes don't like me

in the first place.....

Phlip

Philippa Farrour

Caer Frig

Southeastern Ohio

Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 00:05:29 -0700

From: david friedman <ddfr at best.com>

Subject: Re: SC - Insect repellant = sekanjabin

At 11:53 PM -0700 9/20/00, Bonne of Traquair wrote:

>I've been ignoring the insect repellant threads but was idly reading

>the vinegar bottle at dinner this evening and came across this on

>the back of the label under 'Other Uses for Vinegar'

...

>So, now we have another reason to serve sekanjabin to the fighters:

>internal bug repellant.

I know people who say that this works, but one needs to start

drinking it a couple weeks before one needs the repellant effect.

I've encouraged my kids to drink it at and before Pennsic on that

basis. I've never done any controlled experiments, though, so am not

sure it works.

Elizabeth/Betty Cook

Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 21:55:32 -0400

From: Elaine Koogler <ekoogler at chesapeake.net>

To: sca-cooks at ansteorra.org

Subject: Re: OT Re: [Sca-cooks] Period gardening

MtLion wrote:

> Borage is a skeeter repellent.

> Purple Martin Birds (although not period nor European, but natural)

I know I'm chiming in rather late here...I'm not an herb expert, but was

told several years ago by one who does know herbs rather well that

pennyroyal, which grows very easily, also is a good mosquito repellant,

as is eucalyptus (not easily grown, but easily found wherever dried

flowers are sold). We usually hang a bunch of one or the other (or

both) in our pavillion at Pennsic...and it seems to work pretty well!

Kiri

Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 19:12:06 -0700

From: "Laura C. Minnick" <lcm at efn.org>

To: sca-cooks at ansteorra.org

Subject: Re: OT Re: [Sca-cooks] Period gardening

Elaine Koogler wrote:

> I know I'm chiming in rather late here...I'm not an herb expert, but was

> told several years ago by one who does know herbs rather well that

> pennyroyal, which grows very easily, also is a good mosquito repellant,

> as is eucalyptus (not easily grown, but easily found wherever dried

> flowers are sold). We usually hang a bunch of one or the other (or

> both) in our pavillion at Pennsic...and it seems to work pretty well!

I'm sure I've said so before, but I'll say it again- this is why I take

Dr. Bronner's liquid castile soap for bathing at events- the peppermint

or eucalyptus either one work well for keeping the bugs away. I prefer

teh peppermint, as smelling like a cough drop is not my favorite thing.

And it's Dr. Bronners- all natural, plant oils, etc., and very

biodegradable.

'Lainie

Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 13:14:32 -0700 (PDT)

From: Ruth Frey <ruthf at uidaho.edu>

To: <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>

Subject: [Sca-cooks] Re: Sca-cooks digest, Vol 1 #30 - 14 msgs

> > I know I'm chiming in rather late here...I'm not an herb expert, but was

> > told several years ago by one who does know herbs rather well that

> > pennyroyal, which grows very easily, also is a good mosquito repellant,

> > as is eucalyptus (not easily grown, but easily found wherever dried

> > flowers are sold). We usually hang a bunch of one or the other (or

> > both) in our pavillion at Pennsic...and it seems to work pretty well!

> >

> > > Borage is a skeeter repellent.

Citronella is good, of course, though not likely

Period (but, as a native of Asia, it's *possible*). I've

also seen lavender and dried sweet woodruff recommended

as strewing/scenting herbs.

-- Ruth

From: Jane Sitton [jane.sitton at radioshack.com]

Sent: Friday, April 26, 2002 12:57 PM

To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org

Subject: RE: [Ansteorra] Stumping the Florgillium

And white chalk is good to keep ants at bay.

Madelina

Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 05:29:47 -0700 (PDT)

From: Alexa <mysticgypsy1008 at yahoo.com>

Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] herb uses

To: Cooks within the SCA <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>

Somewhere in a box that has yet to be unpacked, I have

a book out of a Time Life series. It is an herbal

encyclopedia/dictionary. There is a section in there

on insects. There were also sections in there for

home cleaning, various bath and body selections and

even a section on pet care. Needless to say, I don't

know where it is off the top of my head to give you

the author or title.

Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of herbs has insect

repellants, etc listed in the index. You have to go

to each individual herb to read about it and is often

listed in the 'other uses' area. Being arranged by

herb instead of use makes for lots of page flipping.

Alexa

Date: Sun, 12 Jn 2005 15:53:05 -0500

From: "otsisto" <otsisto at socket.net>

Subject: RE: [Sca-cooks] herb uses

To: "Cooks within the SCA" <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>

It's a PDF

http://www.gilbertiesherbs.com/herb_guide/GILB_HO-repel_insects.pdf

These are for my records but thought you would be interested.

http://www.loe.org/favorites/herbs.htm

http://www.homegrowntexas.com/issues/NovDec03/

http://www.sheridannurseres.com/GardenSite/

subGARDENTIP25mainframe.htm#REPELINSECTS

http://www.organicdownunder.com/Herbs%20in%20the%20Vegi%20Garden.htm

For the horses :)

http://www.naturalhorse.com/archive/volume1/Issue4/article_2.php

tussie mussie

http://www.muranna.com.a/herbs.htm

Buggy

http://www.co.st-louis.mo.us/parks/herbs3.html

Has a few bug repel info.

http://standeyo.com/News_Files/Food/Herbs.Spices.html

Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 14:35:45 -0500

From: "Helen Schultz" <helen.schultz at comcast.net>

Subject: [Sca-cooks] Dealing with Stinging Insects

To: "Cooks within the SCA" <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>

I purchased a lovely Medieval style bee catcher several years back, and it

is a wonder to behold. I saw one a few years ago that was much smaller, but

identical. It is a glass jar with a hole in the bottom that is raised about

an inch on feet. It has a removable top for cleaning out later, and for

adding a sweet liquid around the hole. The bees are smart enough to get

into the thing, but can't seem to figure out how to get back out again

(unless you accidentally leave the top off <grin>). Having such a catcher

just outside your place of food set up is invaluable, as they tend to go

after its sweet smell and leave the other stuff alone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meisterin Katarina Helene von Schˆnborn, OL

Shire of Narrental (Peru, Indiana) http://narrental.home.comcast.net

Middle Kingdom

Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 12:43:38 -0800

From: "Laura C. Minnick" <lcm at jeffnet.org>

Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Dealing with Stinging Insects

To: Cooks within the SCA <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>

At 11:35 AM 11/15/2005, you wrote:

> I purchased a lovely Medieval style bee catcher several years back,

> and it is a wonder to behold. I saw one a few years ago that was much

> smaller, but identical.

We did something similar last week when we were having a problem with some

fruit flies that was not going away. Got an empty glass pint jar, put about

1" of sherry in it, put foil over the mouth of the jar (and put the canning

ring down over it) and then poked a dozen or so fruit-fly sized holes in

the foil. Worked like a charm. It seems that fruit flies really like cheap

sherry!

'Lainie