Sandflies?

[Hans Petro]

Hi,
I´ve read a lot about Sandflies on the forum
Are they all over Tobago or are any beaches excluded? Do they have seasons or special times at the day for "eating"??
Better to use repellent every time you go to the beach?

Thanks for any tip

Hans

[David Watkins]

Hi Hans,in my experience the little xxxxxx's are everywhere!!!!Main meal times for them appear to be early morning and at sunset.They are also prevalent in short damp grass areas,definitely use repellant on the beach and wear long trousers inthe evening and don't forget you neck and arms(when lying on the beach they are as vunerable as your legs)
Regards David

[Julia C.]

Hans, you may be lucky, we were last time we went, neither of us think we got bitten by sandflies at all. We did get mosi bites though.
Anyone know of a good suntan lotion with an effective repellant in it?
For our next visit I'm trying to think of ways of cutting down on the number of lotion applications I need to make everyday. For after sun stuff I added citronella oil to it but for suntan lotion I think this will mess about with its effectiveness.

[David Watkins]

Julia, one of Boot"s sun lotions(water based)has citronella already in it.I can't remember the name but is in a grey metallic coloured bottle.I have found that once you get a good tan the sandflies don't bite.(or could it be the Stag?)
David

[Steve Fifield]

No, the Stag's don't bite either, nor the Moose. Which part of Tobago did you find them?

[David Watkins]

Tut tut Steve,surely you have seen them,especially after a couple of PUNCHES!!!!!

[Julia C.]

Julia, one of Boot"s sun lotions(water based)has citronella already in it.I can't remember the name but is in a grey metallic coloured bottle.I have found that once you get a good tan the sandflies don't bite.(or could it be the Stag?)
David

Thanks David, that solves that "problem".

[Emma Hetherington]

Right

All fixed, got the citronella and eucalptus, also the Avon So Soft shower suff, moisuriser, body spray etc. etc.. So how much of the essential oils are we talking about adding to shower stuff, moisturiser - a small bottle or a few drops - I know we'll smell like s...t but who cares if we're not scratching like .... not sure????????

Glad you're all there for us folks - will I cope without my My Tobago hit whilst I'm actually there? Just about I reckon cos of course there's this scientific work I have to do - Carib versus Stag - might take a while!

[Paul Tallet]

That's right Emma.

You will smell awful but you takes your choice.

The best places for sandflies are where the rainforest meets the beach ... places like Castara and Englishmans.

You need to take real care on a boat trip to places like Celery/Lover's Bay.

Places that are Sandfly free and where you can smell decent are Pigeon Point or any beach with Coral White Sand ... Store Bay and Mount Irvine OK too.

Cheers

[Julia C.]

Right
So how much of the essential oils are we talking about adding to shower stuff, moisturiser - a small bottle or a few drops

I used about half a small bottle to a bottle of the body spray. Add a bit then check it on a small patch of skin for an adverse reaction. I really don't know the right amount.
A friend of mine just came back from Gambia and used citronella oil straight! No bad reaction for her.

[David Watkins]

I arrived in Charlotteville on Monday,having been to Castara for 4 weeks,no problem with the b******s.Plymouth and Black Rock-no problem,C'ville is alive with the things,long trousers,deet,citronella whatever just seemed to be the Dinner Bell for the s***s-but zanazap to the rescue,prevented scratching and I hope infection.
From a sunny C'ville,David