• Last year 2009 there were not many mozzies in Abruzzo. Not quite sure why but they did not appear until August and then they went away after that.
• This year (2010) is a different story however. I think it is because we have had lots of rain in Abruzzo this year. The mozzies were out in force from May onwards and we seem to have been plagued by mozzies of all sizes and shapes, but especially the tiny ones. They hurt when they bite and they fly in your face all the time. They are very annoying.
• How to overcome the mozzies? I prefer all natural methods. I use citronella oil that I buy in bulk on the internet. Just Google “Essential oils direct” that works. I pay about £5 a litre and it goes a very long way. I also share it with all our friends and neighbours who love it.

Recipes:

• To spray on the skin I half fill small spray bottles with citronella and the other half water and spray on every hour when you are outside in the evening.
• To hang from windows I mix half oil and half citronella and dowse a piece of rag in it. This keeps most mozzies away if you do not have mozzie nets. Remember to refresh at least once a month.
• You can also burn oil in those lantern burners, again mix half citronella and half vegetable oil.
• You can burn oil in a normal oil burner too, put a few drops in a base of water.

I find it much better to use than the commercial products because DEET is the normal chemical used in mozzie sprays and that is very strong, strong enough to melt plastic, NO I don’t want to spray that on my skin thanks.