| McLeod |
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| June 15, 2004 at 04:47 PM |
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Reply with quote | #1 |
Bugs love me ;here in canada I get bitten a lot during summer .Less if I apply spray . We really want to see Roatan ; I have 2 children ages 5 and 7 . Are we crazy to go ; only my husband is a diver .I have done costa rica twice .We dont like the cancun resort thing .We are concerned with all the bug talk ;not afraid of bugs ; just want to enjoy trip .Please ,please honest input .thanx -------------------------------------- |
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| Steve |
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| June 15, 2004 at 04:47 PM |
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Reply with quote | #2 |
Off Skintastic, when you get out of the shower, Dusk and dawn especialy, oderless garlic capsules also help. Bugs love me too, but I have had no problems in Roatan and I have been there 8 times. Steve |
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| Soni |
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| June 15, 2004 at 04:48 PM |
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Reply with quote | #3 |
Aovn makes a product called skin so soft, that you mix 50-50 with water, and this should handle most of the bug problem. I go to Honduras quite often and stay at Fantasy Island Resort. Actually I will be there For 2 weeks starting Jan 3 04 I just love it there.............Soni |
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| Terry |
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| June 15, 2004 at 04:49 PM |
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Reply with quote | #4 |
Input I've seen here has been on target. I used to teach kids snorkeling and reef and fish id to kids during special programs in Roatan when parents were out diving. I took 100% deet, kept it with me at all times and slapped it on evey child as they came out of the water. the kids and I never had a problem. Parents, were another matter. I remember some "bad bug weeks" where parents got eaten up even though they say they used repellent. They were not under my supervision, so who knows what they really did. I have met several folks very susceptible to the bites and infection. Some never return even though they love the island, others do come back but are extra careful, and as far as I know are able to control the problem.
Note that these are not similar to the black flies and mosquitoes you are familiar with in North America, and problems with one bug do not necessarily carry over - but knowing that you are sensitive to your local critters should be warning to be extra cautious.
There are 2 species in the Bay Islands, I am less familiar with Belize. About a 21 day life cycle each. One species lays eggs in the sand in the damp water's edge - thus the reason you see so many laborer's raking the beaches. They are turning the sand so eggs will dry up. The other species breeds in the mangroves. Both species feeds heartily for about 10 days of their life cycle, and if you catch the period wrong you can hit both at the same time. You'll know it if you do. Other times there will not be a problem at all. Both species can fly for over a mile, so fogging a local area might knock down the population, but only for the period that the fog is in the air - a few minutes at best.
Finally, a few years ago I had the opportunity to talk to an army research scientist who had been studying insect repellents and applications for military use. She stated unequivocally that strong deet is the proven way to go. It will melt your plastic eyeglasses and anything else it touches, but tests show that it is safe to use . She said they have found some minor long term side affects but only after constant heavy use months at a time.
We have no-see-ums here in Florida as well and occasionally I have run into much thicker populations than anything I've seen in the islands. Different species apparnatly because on me they hurt and itch immediately but don't leave the tell-tale red circle and the pain is not long lasting. They are also much bigger. You can see them.
Hope this helps. |
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| Eve |
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| June 15, 2004 at 04:50 PM |
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Reply with quote | #5 |
We were in both Roatan and Guanaja this year and both times we tried Skin So Soft & Burt's Bees w/ bad luck. We ended up w/ 29% deet OFF and that worked but we were worried about putting it on the kids. By chance we met a woman we tried the 9% and 7% OFF and that WORKS GREAT! So . . . I feed my kids organic milk but in Honduras we use 9% deet! |
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| Jane |
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| April 20, 2008 at 08:55 PM |
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Reply with quote | #6 |
When traveling to honduras and belize do you have to take an antimalarial drug chloroquine? |
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