Many people relish the opportunity to head outdoors for a Memorial Day picnic. You may have selected the perfect site for your picnic, created a menu that is tailored to your guests and selected items for activities that everyone will enjoy. Any time that you are having food outdoors, however, you may have unwelcome guests in the form of bugs. With some planning, though, you can keep bugs away from your food and your guests.
Choose a spot for your Memorial Day picnic that does not attract bugs. You will tend to find more bugs in humid locations, such as picnic sites near lakes. If you are not planning to go into the water, you may want to select a venue that offers you views of the water from a distance.
2
Encourage your guests to forgo perfumes and colognes. Scented products can attract bugs to your picnic, where they will pester guests throughout the picnic. The one exception to this rule is citrus scents, which can keep bugs away.
3
Apply bug spray to yourself and your family members prior to leaving for your picnic. You should spray any parts of your body where skin is exposed. You may also want to bring a few bottles of bug spray to your picnic for guests who forget.
4
Line your picnic area with citronella candles. The scent of these candles will deter bugs from approaching your guests and your food. You should place candles liberally around the picnic area wherever your guests may spend time instead of concentrating them in one particular area.
5
Protect your food with lids. Any time that the food at your Memorial Day picnic is not being served, whether it is warm or cold, you should keep it covered. This will keep bugs away from your food and help it retain its moisture so that it does not dry out.
Tips & Warnings
If you or your guests engage in athletic activities or go in the water, be sure to reapply bug spray. The bug spray will lose its efficacy if it is rinsed off by water or your perspiration.
If the containers you are using for the food being served at your picnic do not include matching lids, you can make covers for them from aluminum foil.
