Hi, Just been reading reviews on some beach located sites on the west cost of France. Seems like people just back are complaining about mosi bites. My wife can have a hard time if we camp where there are mosquitoes. Seen this on trip adviser for two different sites we liked the look of. Interested to hear views/ know if this is just a common problem in France with lake or coastal site, or perhaps worse this year because of the heat wave.
Thanks
George
------------- Happy Days
Carnac twice the years before
Garangeoire Vendee 2 weeks july16
Garangeoire Vendee 2 weeks June 17
Strathclyde march 18, Anstruther Week April, Blairgowrie, May 18
Chateau de Lez-Eaux Saint Aubin Des Preaux 2 weeks 2018
Loree du bois Les Mathes 3 weeks jul19
Belhaven Bay 1 week july 2020
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
It's a common problem in France - and is worse after a period of rain, so not to do with the heat really. If there has been a long dry period (whatever the temperature) then there is little stagnant water for mosquitos to lay their eggs, so fewer around. When it rains there is more stagnant water, eggs are laid, they hatch ten days later - and bingo, problems!
All you can do is take a strong and effective repellant. Rather than low-lying sites such as those on the west coast, or the Languedoc go higher up, inland, on lakeside and riverside sites, hope it hasn't rained ten days or so before your stay, and apply repellant every morning, and again in the evening and cover up arms and legs in the evenings.. Some people take a daily anti-histamine to prevent the worst effects of any bites which do happen. Others recommend taking Brewers Yeast prior to and during the holiday which apparently repels some mosquitos............... but it doesn't work for everyone.
You can try making a mosquito trap - a plastic bottle, cut in half with the top inverted to make a 'funnel'. Half a pint of water, a dessert spoon of sugar, and a teaspoon of active yeast. Stir. Leave in an area away from where you are camped. Apparently the carbon dioxide given off is supposed to attract them into the trap. We intended to try it but there are no mosquitos at all where we are at the moment in the Vercors.
Quote: Originally posted by Keyboard warrior on 22/8/2018
Mosquitos haven't been a problem for me this year,wasps on the other hand have been very aggresive and itched like a ..........
I agree -we were stung three times in one day by 'passing' grumpy wasps!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by Keyboard warrior on 22/8/2018
Mosquitos haven't been a problem for me this year,wasps on the other hand have been very aggresive and itched like a ..........
I agree -we were stung three times in one day by 'passing' grumpy wasps!
The plastic bottle trap works very well for wasps, I've used that method for years
We had one of those massive 'super wasp' things land on our table while camping in Malvern last week! Mind you we were surrounded by fruit orchards including two huge damson trees in the campsite!
I had a narrow escape with one of those 'Super Wasp' things, I think it was a hornet. I was enjoying a nice little bottle of Belgian beer doen on the Vendee this summer. I usually just quoff if uncoothly from the bottle but this time was using a small wine glass, I was pouring the remainder of the bottle into my glass when there was a big plop as this bedraggled hornet fell into it. Heaven knows what could have hapenned if I had been drinking straight from the bottle. I drained the lot back into the bottle and used it as a flying insect trap.
Dave.
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We have been using Halley insect repellant from Spain. Its been effective up to now both in Europe and also South America when we were in the subtropical jungle. Its best to apply it every 4 hours but its in a easy to use pump spray bottle. Smells quite nice too and doesnt soften plastics etc. Uses natural Pyerthium not Deet. We havent been bitten since we started using it
I found there were a few more mozzies than usual down near St Tropez, although the site we were on was in woodland so maybe to do with that more than anything else. Weirdly I didn't get bitten at all until the last couple of days but then got chewed to bits.
Wasps were definitely everywhere though. We stayed in a B&B in Troyes on the way back and the proprietor was saying this year was particularly bad. Some the size of small dogs
Hi GeorgeBB. We usually take 2 weeks in the Vendee during school holidays, but I have always suffered with insect bites in that region. Big blisters, surgical dressing, antibiotics-when-you-get-home sort of bites. So when we saw this Sky News report in April we decided to go further north; south Brittany, specifically Camping du Letty in Benodet. We were really pleased with that site, had a cracking holiday, and I only got one bite in the fortnight.
However, that was on the tail end of the European heatwave so the weather was lovely - the Brittany norm is cooler and rainier than the Vendee (I guess similar to Cornwall, maybe a touch warmer). So I wouldn't expect hot and sunny conditions from here on in 2018. But a lovely site and refreshingly bite-free :)
We tried Normandy this year, change from the usual Vendee, we were also lucky and had first week in the heat wave, then we had some typical weather, had a great time but being Scottish, there's a desire improve the chance of sunshine/heat on the summer trip. I dont mind the long drive, We like the look of charente maritime --- Flights to Potiers direct from Edinburgh make it even more attractive. Thanks for all the advice. looks like its better to choose an inland site and just use the car for the beach,
Merci ;-) Bon Vacance
------------- Happy Days
Carnac twice the years before
Garangeoire Vendee 2 weeks july16
Garangeoire Vendee 2 weeks June 17
Strathclyde march 18, Anstruther Week April, Blairgowrie, May 18
Chateau de Lez-Eaux Saint Aubin Des Preaux 2 weeks 2018
Loree du bois Les Mathes 3 weeks jul19
Belhaven Bay 1 week july 2020
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by Pickled Onion on 22/8/2018
I had a narrow escape with one of those 'Super Wasp' things, I think it was a hornet. I was enjoying a nice little bottle of Belgian beer doen on the Vendee this summer. I usually just quoff if uncoothly from the bottle but this time was using a small wine glass, I was pouring the remainder of the bottle into my glass when there was a big plop as this bedraggled hornet fell into it. Heaven knows what could have hapenned if I had been drinking straight from the bottle. I drained the lot back into the bottle and used it as a flying insect trap.
Dave.
That is a lesson I learned some years ago, I never ever drink from a bottle, always use a glass. 🍺🍺🍷🐝🐝
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: mosquitoes / recent heat wave- France
I drained the lot back into the bottle and used it as a flying insect trap.
