AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Caye Caulker Sandflies

it's not the tan but the temperature of your blood that changes about a 1/2 degree

Don't believe everything you're told.

Over the last 20 years I've been told by dozens of people in Belize that they controlled sandflies by raking the sand. But then I've heard from dozens of others that they had no sandfly problems because they hadn't disturbed the mangroves and other growth on their seafront and wouldn't think of raking the sand.

I've also been told by many that DEET works hardly at all at controlling sandflies. And other Belizeans grabbed the DEET from me and sprayed it on their legs.

Many have said that the longer they stay in Belize the less they are bothered by sandflies. And then there are the old Garifuna ladies in Hopkins who show the sandflies bites all over their legs.

As I say, don't believe everything you're told.

--Lan Sluder

Would agree 100% Best solution that works for me is: Canola oil mixed with 10% Castor oil. Then add a half teaspoon of Thyme. Shake up the contents and put it in a bottle. Apply to your legs/ankles etc. If anyone has been to Moho Caye....(the island Marina just a half-mile off the coast from Belize City) at dusk when there is no wind, you will wish you had the above concoction, because it is EXTREMELY BRUTAL!! their. The stuff WORKS!....IT REALLY DOES! I know it sounds gross...but fear not..you don't need a Putty knife to get it off...just a shower with soap/shampoo.

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"I only fish on days that end in "Y"

Some science?
Try DEET,baby oil or the other mixtures on one ankle and a sock on the other.
Sock always wins.
Try DEET on one arm and baby oil on the other.I find they both work a bit if you are soaked in baby oil, and keep soaking it as it rubs off on everything around you.That mess ended that experiment.
Try scratching like a new guy on one arm and ignoring them on the other and you will find the main source of a tan guys "immunity"
The other source is lifestyle.Avoiding no wind spots at sunset, moving off when they get bad,etc.....
I think raking the sand or spraying malathion kills some things that eat sandfies and mosquitoes. The biting bugs have short life cycles maybe days, and many of the predators take months(dragonflies) or years (birds) to recover.Once you stop poisoning or raking there is a big rush of biters which finally subsides. Many of us have noticed this.

Since you contradicted every statement you made, one is left with no choice but to not believe anything you said?

My take is immunity through acclimation, people who get bitten enough by poisonous snakes no longer get bothered.
No pain, no gain?

You are hearing Lan and I relate our actual real life experiences and those reported to us.It is not a simple thing to understand-that is why they are still biting us despite our defenses.
All the folks who live here would like to have an immunity through acclimation.They are not available to an allergic reaction from the anti coagulant the sandfly injects.
I get my "immunity" from a lifestyle change and wearing socks.

I believe you, BTW,my experiences are real life also. I have lived there for years myself and gotten bitten until it ceases to either bother me or happen at all, it's not like they are easy to spot, especially after the sun goes down and they come out.
I still say no pain no gain, too much pain for some, but worth it in the end if you can handle it.
I love to fish so much that I get too preoccupied to deal with them and consequently I get enough injections to get immunity.

This works for me...I put it on in the morning and unless I have been diving, it's good for the day.

http://www.sawyer.com/CR.htm

Samba, I'm going out to buy the oils and thyme. Thank you!

No Deet for us ever again. If you use it and have any open wounds, the Deet just burns holes into your skin and you can end up with legs that look like someone took a lit cigarette to them. Our legs swelled so bad and turned purple, we were almost hospitalized and on heavy duty antibiotics. It was the only time we used Deet and will never touch the stuff again.

Socks and pants etc. just aren't practical in the heat and sometimes I just want to sit on my deck and there simply is no breeze, so anything natural whether on me or put around the house is an option I am particularly open to.

I haven't tried this one yet and it's supposed to be for mosquitos but worth a try for both:
2 cups catnip, stemmed
1 cup dried peppermint
1 cup rosemary, cut into 6 inch sprigs
2 cups grape see oil or almond oil

Crush them on your counter with a rolling pin, put all of it into a jar with lid and put in a cool, dark cupboard for two weeks, shaking the jar once a day, for two weeks. Strain and rub on exposed skin, good for up to 8 months. Anyone want to give it a try and report back? We're not down there again for a couple of months.