Amie Sparrow shares practical tips on protecting yourself from mosquitoes.
Use these tricks to stay bite-free
Nothing can ruin a relaxing outdoor trip faster than having to be constantly on guard to defend against mosquitoes. Unfortunately, they’re a fact of life for outdoor enthusiasts because the things we love doing most while camping, such as running, exercising and exploring are the very things that attract the pesky little buzzers.
Fortunately, there are some things we can do to ease our defences against mosquitoes. Here are five steps you can take to prevent yourself from becoming a mosquito magnet on your next camping trip:
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Check your surroundings.
If you know where mosquitos like to hang out, you can better prepare and avoid the blood-sucking biters. Mosquitoes love standing water, marshy areas and tall grasses. Their larvae live in standing water; however, different types of mosquitoes have different preferences when it comes to what type of water.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), some mosquitoes lay their eggs in ‘permanent’ bodies of water such as in swamps and marshes, or lakes and ponds. Other mosquitoes lay eggs in areas that are damp or above the water line.
These smart little buzzers know that more water will come at some point, so while the eggs dry out initially, when the water comes, the eggs are ready to hatch. So, if you’re hoping to avoid mosquitoes, you may want to make sure your tent isn’t too close to that murky pond, stagnant puddles of water or an overgrown field.
Keep it breezy.
If you’re camping in an area with low winds, it might be a good idea to move your campsite to somewhere with a bit of a breeze, as this can make it more difficult for mosquitoes to land on you.
If you’re camped and sitting in still air, you might want to consider using a fan. This could help make it more difficult for mosquitoes to stay in flight, as mosquitoes are actually weak fliers. Even an oscillating indoor fan blowing on a medium setting can help keep them away. In addition, the fan adds another layer of protection by blowing – and therefore dispersing – the smell of carbon dioxide and other smells that mosquitoes use to find their next lunch.
Remember, mosquitos are most active between the early morning and late evening hours – dawn and dusk – and aren’t as active during the day if there’s bright sunshine, so plan your day (and your portable fan’s battery usage) accordingly.
Check the mosquito forecast.
Research your outdoor area ahead of time by checking the mosquito forecast. Pest control brand OFF! ® has developed a new tool called OFF! Cast Mosquito Forecast. The tool can predict mosquito activity anywhere across the U.S. – up to seven days in advance – based on mosquito biology.
To test the accuracy of the tool, the team validated the Mosquito Forecast by comparing it to six years of mosquito population data. That’s 33 million data points. These results confirmed that the mosquito forecast predictions matched the reality on the ground. So, before you set out on your next camping trip, get your local mosquito forecast as easily as your local weather forecast by using the mosquito forecasting tool.
Beware of booze.
Drinking with your friends by the campfire can be a great end to a day of outdoor activities. But do you know when you drink alcohol you become a delicious target for mosquitos?
A study published in the National Library of Medicine found that the percentage of mosquitos landing on volunteers significantly increased after ingestion of just 350ml of beer. In fact, if you’re looking for ideas for a mosquito trap, an open can of beer placed well away from where you’re sitting could tempt mosquitoes, as they are attracted to carbon dioxide, which is released from your fizzy can of beer.
And, if you’re hoping to get the mosquitoes drunk so they’ll go sleep it off somewhere, you’ll need to rethink your plan – mosquitoes unfortunately don’t catch a buzz from our blood.
Make a run for it.
Running and jogging may be good for your health, but it is definitely not helping to protect you from mosquitoes. One thing that really attracts mosquitoes is the carbon dioxide we exhale, so make sure you’re well-protected from mosquitos before you exert yourself on a hike or a run.
Mosquitos love the pheromones in people’s sweat, so keeping protected is required if you don’t want to come back covered in bites. In addition to carbon dioxide, mosquitos are also attracted to lactic acid. If you’re an exercise enthusiast, you’ll know that lactic acid is created during intense exercise, which will make you even more attractive to mosquitoes.
When it comes to outdoor exercise, you’re already at a relatively high risk of being bitten. So, make sure that you have time on your side! Mosquitos are most active early in the morning and late at night – they avoid peak sunlight hours. This is because direct sunlight can be deadly for them. They can get overheated and dehydrated in the direct sun. So, if you’re planning on exercising outdoors during these peak mosquito hours make sure you protect yourself from them.
Protecting yourself from mosquitoes: A few more tips.
In addition to the steps listed above, you can make sensible choices with your camping gear to further protect yourself. Having a screened enclosure to spend time in will definitely come in handy on your camping trip. Keeping your tent and screens zipped shut at all times is another way to ensure you won’t spend your night swatting.
As mosquitos (and other insects) are attracted to light, you may want to think twice before crawling into your tent with your flashlight on as it could act as a beacon to draw them into your tent with you. You don’t have to worry about your campfire, though, as the smell of the campfire is not attractive to mosquitoes.
You can also invest in mosquito-proof camping clothes, or wear thicker fabrics like denim and wool, which mosquitoes will have a harder time penetrating. If you’re wearing camping attire that is thin and tight to your skin, expect little-to-no resistance from the piercing needle-like nose of a mosquito.
Now that you know how to protect yourself, you don’t have to spend your entire camping trip scratching bites and swatting away mosquitoes. With a bit of pre-planning and some anti-mosquito tools or even mosquito-repelling plants in your arsenal, you can reduce your chances of becoming an insect’s lunch on your next outdoor adventure.
Sharing your tips for protecting yourself from mosquitoes.
What have you found that works best? Is there anything you would like to share to add to the above? Perhaps you have some other pointers to protect yourself from mosquitoes or have a story to tell when you were last out in the great outdoors. We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Amie Sparrow is a former news journalist who enjoys writing about all sorts of topics - especially when she can learn something new. She is a frequent traveler who has lived on three continents. When she's not working, she can be found relaxing with a glass of wine, planning her next adventure.
Now that I’ve found out about the OFF Mosquito forecast My family and I can take a camping trip without the worry of being attacked by Mosquitos!!
This is a very helpful post. My sons love camping and when they do, they use mosquito repellant patches. The downside of it though is that it is only good for 2 hours so they have to keep replacing them with new ones. I will let them know about clothes that repel mosquitos. I think that would be better.
These are some beneficial tips for keeping mosquitos-free while camping! Being prepared is key
Mosquitoes are definitely a big no-no, especially with all the bad things it carries. It’s better to be safe than never and those are some great tips to keep in mind.
These are great tips for sure as there is nothing worse than horrible mosquitos and the misery you feel when there are way too many and you feel literally eaten alive. I had no idea about the alcohol so great tips here for sure and I am bookmarking it next as we are camping this year 😉
Mosquitos can be awful! I’ve been trying out the mosquito-repelling plants technique, and it definitely does help. Thanks for the tips!
Though I love the outdoors and camping the thoughts of bugs and mosquitoes worry me. Those sting bites are so awful. Those are some very good tips that will be helpful to me on the next outing. Especially staying away from stagnant water bodies.
I didn’t know booze had anything to do with mosquitos and I thought running would attract more. Generally for me running is fun and booze is a kill joy so I awed to learn new things.
Mosquito forecasting app!!! I love camping and go on two or three camping trips yearly. This app is a must-download for sure! Thank you so much…
These are some amazing tips on how to stay away from mosquito bites when camping outdoors. Wearing mosquito-proof clothes, keeping it breezy by putting on fans, carrying sprays, and putting on mosquito nets while sleeping are some excellent tips. Even though mosquito bites are a problem in tropical marshy areas, I’m aware of mosquito repellent room fragrances and incense sticks available in India. And as you said it’s best to wear sweat-proof clothing while hiking and running and avoid putting a tent near ponds or swamps.
Great tips on how to protect yourself from mosquitoes at the campsite. Last year, in August in Alaska, I thought they would eat me alive. Whole swarms of mosquitoes did not let you rest even for a moment. I used mosquito-repelling plants, nets, and mosquito repellent. I also wore mosquito-proof camping clothes. I agree that keeping the tent and screens zipped is important, and don’t use too much light inside a tent. Next time I will check the mosquito forecast.
My tip is to eat a lot of garlic. I grew up in Finland where there are tons of huge sized mosquitos during summer. We would always feed our horses garlic powder with their feed because it was suppose to help with not getting bit so much. For some reason mosquitos have never liked me much and even though they are annoying, they don’t bother me. My husband however always gets so many mosquito bites during our visit to Finland.
I have never heard of mosquito proof camping clothes, I must check them out. I usually rub myself thoroughly with citronella oil and I still get bitten. Apparently, I am very attractive to mosquitoes.
Great tips to protect yourself from mosquitoes on a camping trip. I would also add, wearing long sleaves and long trousers and even tuck your trousers into the socks. Mosquitoes are mostly active around sunset – they get more quiet when it is dark. Even, if they get into the tent, I always find it easy to catch them in this enclosed space.
This is so helpful. Mosquitoes always seem to love me. I had no idea that alcohol made our blood sweeter to them, good to know.
You have some very good tips for protecting yourself from mosquitoes. While camping we must protect as we are in open and mostly don’t have proper arrangements to save ourselves from those tiny flies. Your tips are informative and very practical. Yes, I also use light colored clothes.
Wherever I go, I find mosquitoes everywhere. These are some really great tips to follow as, for outdoor camping, it is very important to protect ourselves from mosquitoes, or else your sleep can be deprived. Thanks for this useful post.
Mosquitoes are prevalent everywhere, especially outside. This article is really informative and should be read by everyone. Thank you for the great advice! I’m definitely adding this content to my bookmarks.
I had no idea that there was such thing as a mosquito forecast. I find this very funny. I am actually allergic to a particular type of mosquito, so I make sure every time I go somewhere where I expect mosquitos, to bring repellent as well. At home I noticed that as long as I let the spiders to their thing and don’t shoo them from around the windows and doors, no mosquito seems to be getting in. It’s been two years since I’ve last been bitten by a mosquito in my garden.
Your five steps for protecting yourself from mosquitoes on a camping trip are informative and practical. I especially appreciated the suggestion of wearing light-coloured clothing and using natural insect repellents. Your post will be helpful for anyone who loves the outdoors and wants to avoid pesky mosquito bites. Thanks for sharing!
I have mosquitoes and my partner and I struggled with them. These are great tips to protect ourselves. Thank you for sharing!
Hihi…I so much agree with you on becoming a great feast for the squitoes, when you have had some alcohol. You can’t easily fight them off since you are largely sedated by the substance.
Great post on steps to protect from mosquitoes during camping trips. I had no clue alcohol was a factor in bites. Very interesting and helpful tip!
Mosquitos can really ruin warmer weather activities. It is good to have some strategies for combating bugs. My kids complain so much about biting insects, and it can be such a detriment.
this is a really useful post with great tips to stay protected. Although not whilst camping I was bitten by mosquitoes when I went travelling to the far East. The bites were really painful.
All of these are great and I will keep them in mind, I also love that OFF has a mosquito app! I didn’t know that and will have to check out that useful tool for the next time we are headed out to go camping.
So grateful for your post. Of one the main things I want to avoid when camping is mosquitos!
I had no idea there was a mosquito forecast app! I’m going to have to check that out before we go camping this summer.
I could not be more grateful for this! Mosquitoes and other flying insects are like the bain of my existence when we’re out camping. So you better believe I’m going to be trying these out the next time we go; whenever that may be! Thanks so much for sharing!
There are some great tips here. Some I didn’t know about. I love that you suggest doing things other than the obvious like use bug spray. I will make a point of setting up my tent in a more breezy area and taking along a fan.
I have a hard time with being bitten by mosquitos. If I scratch them at all, they usually become eczema and take a long time to heal.
I keep a large baggie of various sprays in the trunk of my car so I can spray before hikes in the mornings and evenings. I have tubes of Benedryl and After The Bite stashed in every purse, day pack, with camping gear, and in my suitcase.
If I get bitten my routine is; first, don’t scratch. No matter what do not scratch. Next, grab the creams. Get After The Bite on there right away. While it is drying get the tube of Benedryl opened. (All the tube grabbing, opening, and applying is buying me time until the itching stops.)
Usually takes about 90 seconds to 2 or 3 minutes for the intense itching urge to ease off. I try and move around, and do anything to distract myself to get to the other side without scratching at all.
One time, mosquitoes swarmed my ankles (They love ankles because the skin is thinner there I read. How do they know that??!! Idk!) I got bit at least 20 times. Turned into eczema. It was miserable. It usually itches worse at night. I lost a lot of sleep. THREE YEARS and several dermatologists later, the skin on my ankles finally healed.
It is from this experience that the above strict regime was created. I never want to go through that again. I hate the idea of Deet, Permethrin, or any of those products being near me. But I give in and use a lot of them to keep those flying vectors off of me.