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SOME INSECTS OF THE BC INTERIOR

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Ants         Mosquito Deterrents & Repellants

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ANTS

"The insect fauna of Central Interior and Northern British Columbia is very poorly known. It is not surprising then, that very little is known about the ants of this region. Very few collections of ants have been made north of the Chilcotin, so it is difficult to estimate the number of ant species present in this region. Based on collections, Francoeur (1997) estimated a minimum of 25 species of ants in the Yukon. Similar numbers are likely in the Central Interior of British Columbia. To date, we have found 23 species in three subfamilies near Prince George." - from Ants of Central Interior British Columbia

MOSQUITOES - Deterrents and Repellants
This compilation, including the mosquito image, is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License

This is the best information I could find. I certainly haven't tested all of these recommendations so use your own judgement and feel free to let me know what your experience or knowledge is.

NOTE: It is generally agreed that for most reliable protection, (e.g. where West Nile Fever is a risk) the best product is DEET. Note that DEET can damage synthetic fabrics and there are questions about its effect on the human body. The Government of British Columbia recommends that repellents used on children 2-12 contain no more than 10% DEET; with only one daily application for children six months to two years and not at all on children under six months. Lotions can be applied more effectively than sprays. Don't use with sunscreen because DEET should not be re-applied. Wash off after use.

A. On/in your body

1. Vitamin B-1 (Thiamine Hydrochloride 100 mg): 1 tablet a day.
2. No bananas: They make your body odour more attractive to the little ladies (yes, remember it's the females that bite).
3. Clothing: Wear loose-fitting, light-coloured, long-sleeve shirts and pants
4. Oil of eucalyptus: at 30% concentration prevents mosquito bites for about 2 hours (New England Journal of Medicine)
5. Garlic juice: Mix 1 part garlic juice with 5 parts water in a small spray bottle. Shake well before using. Spray lightly on exposed body parts. Lasts 5-6 hours (or as long as your friends can stand you).

B. In/around the home:

1. A fan or gentle breeze: Mosquitoes don't like moving air
2. Strips of cotton cloth dipped in garlic mixture (see above): and hung in areas, such as patios, as a localized deterrent.
3. Sage or rosemary: on the barbecue coals
4. Herbs (When the leaves are crushed): wormwood, lemon grass, lemon thyme, pelargonium and citronella.
5. Window screens
6. Mosquito nets: Not a common site in Canada but, properly used, are very effective and (in the long run) cheap.
7. Bat houses and swallow nesting boxes: They have to eat a lot though as mosquitoes make up less than 3% of a swallow's diet and less than 1% for a bat. (Christian Back, medical entomologist)
8. Standing water: Remove where possible, and change pets' dirinking water and birdbaths frequently.
9. Incense and coils: only use coils outdoors (e.g. not in tents) and regular incense indoors.
10. Shepherd's Purse: In the early spring, sprinkle the seed on water where mosquitoes breed. The mucilage of the seed will kill the larvae and greatly reduce mosquitoes in the area. One pound of seeds destroys ten million larvae, though it may cause a proliferation of shepherd's purse! (Wild Rose College of Natural Healing)

New research on DEET health risks (August 2009)
DEET, the active ingredient in many insect repellents used by some 200 million people every year, appears to affect proteins in mammals as well as mosquitoes and other target insects. Some previous studies have implicated DEET in seizures among children. A new study (PDF) by an international group of scientists, supported by Agence Nationale pour la Recherche in France, published August 5 at BioMedicalCentral.com (BMCBiology), reports that DEET "is not simply a behaviour-modifying chemical but that it also inhibits cholinesterase activity, in both insect and mammalian neuronal preparations." Symptoms of lowered levels of cholinesterase, an enzyme essential to proper nervous system function, can include nausea, headaches, convulsions and, in extreme cases, death. Health risks increase when DEET and other pesticides are used together. The researchers concluded that "DEET is commonly used in combination with insecticides and we show that deet has the capacity to strengthen the toxicity of carbamates, a class of insecticides known to block acetylcholinesterase." The new findings are "consistent with previous studies, says Bahie Abou-Donia of the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC," speaking to Science News. Abou-Donia's research found increased toxicity when DEET and chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate insecticide hazardous by itself, were used together. "These effects should be clearly labeled on products containing DEET, or N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide," says Abou-Donia. In Canada, he noted, "insect repellents can contain no more than 30 percent DEET. The United States - where 100 percent DEET repellents are available - should consider such restrictions." - Pesticide Action Network North America

Interior Health, June 18, 2009

West Nile virus has not yet arrived in B.C. but it has been found in Alberta and Washington State. So, Interior Health is advising residents here to take extra precautions against mosquito bites when traveling this summer. In 2008, the only human case of West Nile Virus in B.C. was found to be travel-related.  Western Canada had 19 reported human cases; 17 in Saskatchewan, one in Alberta and one in B,C. The western United States reported a combined human case count of 63 human cases in Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. Interior Health says it is continuing to collect mosquitoes for testing to detect the virus through the 2009 season, if, and when, it arrives. While West Nile virus has not yet been detected in mosquitoes or birds in B.C., Washington State has reported positive mosquitoes early in the season. IH officials say locals should establish a routine at home to reduce mosquito bites and that will help protect them while travelling outside of B.C. this summer. West Nile virus infection is a disease that primarily resides in birds but can be spread from birds to humans by infected mosquitoes. About 20 per cent of infected people may experience mild to severe flu-like symptoms, and a small number of people (less than one per cent of those infected) may develop a serious neurological disease. The best protection against West Nile Virus is to avoid mosquito bites, and reduce mosquito breeding areas. [see above] ------------------------------------- The province conducts a surveillance program for West Nile virus which includes testing of dead birds such as crows, ravens, magpies and jays. These birds are more likely than others to die from West Nile virus. It also includes trapping and testing mosquitoes from numerous sites in the province. Interior Health traps mosquitoes at 20 sites across the southern Interior and sends them to the provincial lab for testing. Interior Health also works with local governments to control mosquito populations and coordinate planning. The public will be notified when, and if, the first positive mosquitoes or birds are found in the province, say IH officials.

More information:

• Bugs of British Columbia. The illustrated guide to common insects of BC
• A Mosquito's Baby Album. High-magnification pictures of mosquito larvae (from The Tyee)
• West Nile Virus in the U.S.: Pesticide use on the larger scale, from the Pesticide Action Network
• Butterfly gardening

"People love the woods but can't abide the mosquitoes, so we spray inseciticide from airplanes, which ends up killing not just mosquitoes . . . but also monarch butterflies, ladybugs, lacewings, and the birds and lizards that eat the poisoned ants. " - Barbara Kingsolver in Small Wonder