Take the 'Ouch!' out of sandfly & mossie bites!

[SpongeDiver]

There are 700 known species of sandflies - the 'Sicilian' sandfly prevalent in Cyprus - maybe there are other species in Cyprus, too, but as yet unidentified.

Vinegar is a well known antidote for wasp stings, as is bicarbonate of soda - however, the most effctive 'after-bite' treatment is my 'Roy's Bite Balm': here's the recipe - a mix of medical ammonia, 10% baby oil [to hold the ammonia in emulsion], and a few drops of tea-tree, or lavender oil. Save your empty [Johnson's 'Off'] spray bottles for this. You can buy all the ingredients at pharmacies in TRNC.

To say that sandflies can only fly to a height of 3', or even three metres, is 'bulls-wool'!

Light does attract them - carbon dioxide - more. As for sh1t...........open to debate!

Farts are a sure sandfly attractant; so, if sitting on your patio and you feel a fart 'loading' - best to race out round the other side of the house to 'express' yourself!

Spray bedroom walls, flyscreens and curtains [back & front] with 'Alpha Cypermethrin' - now available in 'Homebase' - it wasn't before. While in 'Homebase', buy their [green & white coloured] 1500ml pressure sprayer - you'll only need 2ml of 'Alpha Cypermethrin', then fill it to the 1500ml mark with water and give it a thorough shake up. This is a relatively safe chemical as far as humans and animals are concerned, which is why it's extensively used in motels, etc., in Australia and USA and many other countries.


You could inquire at the little agricultural chemicals shop near Girne hospital - they may stock an insecticide containing 'Alpha Cypermethrin' now.


This spray will deal to any other 'nasties & bities' - ants, cockroaches, bed-bugs, etc.!

The 'Sicilian Sandfly' has long been immune from 'Permithrin' sprays, which seem to be the only available one in TRNC.

If spending evenings on the patio, make sure you spray walls & furniture.

[Deniz1]

Been using tea tree oil for years on bites of any description.

[jen]

I add a few drops of tea tree to shampoo,conditioner,shower gels etc and also to cleaning products,love the stuff ,and after years of being a blood donor for all things bitey I now rarely get bitten

[Groucho]

'Raid' includes Cypermethrin... and you can buy that here in the north already.

[SpongeDiver]

Ah, yes, Groucho - but one 'buzz-bomb' of [NZ speak for aerosol] 'Raid' - a few 'puffs' and it's gone - costs nearly as much as one little bottle of 'Alpha Cypermethrin' [from 'Homebase], which will last you a year or more, maybe two.

[Groucho]

BTW it's deadly to fish - so don't use it if you have an aquarium... No one likes to see fish floating upside down on the surface...

[SpongeDiver]

Even the blandest Pyrethrum/Pyrethrin aerosol [spray can fly-killer] is deadly to aquarium fish. Answer when spraying any chemical is obviously to cover bowl, fish tanks, etc.