more mosquito research

Hmm, here is an interesting article on why some people get bit more than others.

While I seem to possess none of the "higher risk" attributes listed in the article, I just know that if I don't tie myself to my beach chair I run a substantial risk of being dragged across the sand kicking and screaming as the mosquitoes haul me away to feast on at their leisure. If I'm around, nobody else even has to use repellant!
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />

Maybe bad genes. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> I'm the one who can sit there until everyone else is two inches deep in Off before I get a nibble. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Banana.gif" alt="" />

Not mentioned in the article was smoking.

I was totally immune to mosquitos when I was a smoker.
I quit 7 years ago cold turkey(and +40lbs) and now the little buggers love me.

One of the few disadvantages of quitting I have found since I had my last smoke. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

I used to smoke 4 packs a day and the Mosquitos were all over me, I think I got them addicted to nicotine. I quit in 2006 cold turkey also but my drinking went through roof for about a year to compensate for the cigs.
Now I still get bit by Mosquitos unless someone just down from the states sits by me. They like foreign blood, it's a status thing. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

I read the other day that drinking alcohol, as little as one beer, increases your attraction to mosquitoes. Apparently they can smell the alcohol in your perspiration and they like it.

What I take away from this is that if you're going to drink, you need to drink enough that you don't care!

Diabetic people are more at risk of mosquito bites because their blood has a sweet quality that mozzies love !

Does anybody know if you can by a Thermocell or refill packs at Kmart on St. Thomas?

Re/ alcohol and it's attractant powers (speaking only of mosquitoes here btw), perhaps counter-intuitively, I have found that gin makes a pretty good repellant. Works best when just a bit is applied to ankles, neck, etc. And smells better than OFF. If you don't mind wandering around Cruz Bay reeking of gin. Which I don't. Mind.

Flotsam: There are a lot of people who believe that it is better to apply the gin internally. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

"T'was like mother's milk to 'er!"

Thank you, Liza.