How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes While Camping

Avoiding contact with mosquitos provideds the best protection against unpleasant bites and the host of diseases they may carry.

Campers and mosquitoes share a long history, but not a happy one. The best way to eliminate the aggravation of itching bites and the possibility of a list of dangerous diseases is to keep these pesky insects away before they ever get a chance to bite. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention lists 10 viral diseases known to be transmitted by mosquitoes, including dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever and West Nile virus.

Things You'll Need

• EPA-registered insect repellant (containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus)
• Long-sleeve shirt
• Long pants
• Socks

Instructions

1. Wear long-sleeve shirts, long pants and socks when outdoors to minimize the amount of exposed skin.

2. Apply mosquito repellent to exposed hands, arms, legs and feet by spraying and then rubbing in.

3. Spray repellent into your hands and rub them on your head, neck and face, avoiding your eyes and mouth.

4. Spray repellent on clothing; mosquitoes are capable of biting through your clothing.

5. Reapply if mosquitoes start biting you. The time it takes between applications will vary by product, concentration of active ingredients and aggressiveness of the mosquitoes.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid the outdoors all together at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are at their peak.

• While a variety of nonspray repellents are on the market, some of them, such as mosquito coils and citronella candles, are effective only when your skin is actively exposed to the smoke they produce.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Mosquito-Borne Diseases
• Mosquito Solutions: Mosquito Facts