Summer officially arrived yesterday (Tuesday), along with what may seem like a few million mosquitoes. As yet, most Iowans have seen only a few of the flying pests but they’ll be here in force soon enough. While the experts say to clear your yard of standing water to ward off ‘skeeters, that doesn’t always work. “The problem is your neighbors. You can get all the water out of your yard, but if your neighbors aren’t doing it, the mosquitoes will fly over to you.” That’s Helen Rogan, executive editor of Organic Style magazine. She says there’s a simple solution to keeping the biting bugs off of your arms, legs and neck. Rogan says “If you set up a fan that rotates you will drive them away because even through they’re nasty, they’re very weak little things.” Rogan recommends using natural products instead of those with the chemical DEET. She suggests small doses of vitamin-B. She says “If you take 25 to 50 milligrams three times a day, it will create a tiny smell on your skin that, I hasten to add, people can not smell, but bugs can and they hate it.” Rogan says no matter how vigilant you are, the mosquitoes will still bite, and there are several potential remedies. Whether it’s ice, meat tenderizer, baking soda, Tiger Balm or Vicks, she says any of those things will relieve the itch and make the swelling go down.
