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SOME INSECTS OF THE BC INTERIOR

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, 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. Mosquito nets: Not a common site in Canada but, properly used, are very effective and (in the long run) cheap.
6. 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)
7. Standing water: Remove where possible, and change pets' dirinking water and birdbaths frequently.
8. Incense and coils: only use coils outdoors (e.g. not in tents) and regular incense indoors.
9. 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)

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

The information on this site is accurate to the best of our knowledge but we make no guarantees and recommend that if the information is important to you that you cross-check with another source.