Mosquitoes in Tuscany?
Aug 26th, 2002, 01:26 AM
#3
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This year we have had fewer mosquitoes than usual. Bringing a repellent might be still useful, but you should not be wading in a crowd of insects. Temperatures this year are pretty low. Afther the heat wave of June we have had a poor summer. On sunny days you might have a temperature of 25°C, but as it clouds or starts to rain the temperature easily drops to 20 or even 15°C even in August. Bring some warm clothing and some T-shirts as well.
Aug 27th, 2002, 02:52 PM
#4
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I was in Umbria this past June, in the area just south of Lake Trasimeno. In the week that I was there, I had a handful of mosquito bites (no West Nile Virus!). In the following 5 days in the Cinque Terre, I was eaten alive.<BR><BR>I think I must exude some sort of hormone that mosquitoes interpret to say "All You Can Eat Buffet!" in mosquitoese. When I was in Montepulciano for the entire month of July 1999, I was eaten alive.<BR><BR>Bring bug spray, bring anti-itch medicine, and bring cortisone, and you'll survive if you're mosquito-prone.
<BR><BR>Temps were comfortable - maybe in the mid-70's.
Aug 27th, 2002, 04:26 PM
#6
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I just got back from Venice and the last night we ate at da Raffaele by the canal and we were positively eaten alive by mosquitoes. It never even crossed my mind to bring bug repellent. They started handing it out at the restaurant! (Too late though)
Aug 28th, 2002, 02:52 AM
#9
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What you need to do it head to an Italian supermarket or hardware store. They have plug in the wall things called VAPE that will keep ALL mosquitoes away from you while you sleep! They plug in to any Italian plug and you can sleep with the windows open!<BR>Ciao<BR>Sia
Sep 2nd, 2002, 05:19 AM
#11
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Vape ad Deet (in Italy sold as Off and Autan) do keep mosquitoes off you (or kill them), but they also kill you slowly along with mosquitoes. Unless you really usually get eaten alive, citronella and geranium lotions and candles are a better choice. And, as I said before, this year we are having almost no mosquitoes.
Sep 2nd, 2002, 06:50 AM
#13
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Alice, you should not be spreading disinformation and scaring people unnecessarily. Repeated clinical studies over the last 30 or more years have shown DEET to be safe and effective for adults when used as directed (it's not toxic to mosquitos either, by the way). DEET-based repellants are, however, not recommended for small children. If you are interested in the facts I suggest you start with a review article that appeared in 1998 in a reputable medical journal. Here's the link: http://www.acponline.org/journals/an...8/mosquito.htm
Sep 2nd, 2002, 09:03 AM
#14
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Autan and Off boxes state very clearly that these products can be nocive if ingested and can kill water life (I mean fishes etc.). Now, if the producer himslef tells me that if I drop some of his product in my goldfish bowl, my little goldfish wil die. I just worry about my health. Since I am also Italian I do not stop using the product nor I get mad about it, but for sure I try to use it in a more considerate way.
Sep 2nd, 2002, 09:28 AM
#15
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I am sitting here in Bologna, Italy, having been prescribed cortisone, antibiotics and antihistemine for mosquito bites (called tiger mosquitoes). These are especially vicious little buggers, and my doctor said he had treated a dozen people these week with severe reactions. Reactions include pus-filled and oozing puncture points and red, hot and inflamed swelling. In my case , my hand has swollen so much I couldn't get my watch over my wrist. I also have had a low-grade fever both times.<BR><BR>The mosquitoes are definitely out and in force. I was in both Tuscany and Emilia Romagna this weekend, so I don't know where I was bitten. I also use Off and Vape and citronella.<BR><BR>
