Mosquito solutions

I'm delicious, mosquitoes just love me. I also dont want to be slathered in bug spray all the time. So I'm looking for recommendations for what to use to keep them at bay, whether it's on my patio or during a hike.

I see there seem to be 2 main categories, things like the mosquito repellent stations( like thermocell) and then there are the mosquito traps be it zappers or the uv/fan style.

What works best from your experience?

 

40% DEET, Thermacell works if you don't want to taste DEET

 

One vote thermocell

 

Picaridin and DEET are the best repellents. Picaridin is newer and does not have the greasy feel or scent that DEET does. Repellents are good for hiking/camping. Thermacell if you're sitting around, those units get very hot.

 

Picardin. Keeps me free from chiggers, skeeters, tics, no see ums in mutiple tropical and semi tropical climates.

Not as harmful to plastics as Deet, not as toxic to you as Deet.

Rum crook cigars can keep the buzzies out of your face if you are in an extra infested area, like a salt marsh swamp.

Former Florida cross country surveyor here. Also lots of time in rural areas of Guatemala, Honduras and Cuba.

 

I was just looking into adding some barrels around the yard with goldfish to try to start cutting back the mosquito population.
I started trail running last year and hate spraying down with bug spray but started using a deet spray after continuously getting ticks. The mosquitoes don’t get me running but around the yard I get eat up!
I looked at Picardin but it hasn’t been around as long as deet and the long term effects aren’t as well known yet. That being said I’ll probably pick up some picardin next time to try out.
I wish there was something more natural that worked well.

 

Avon Skin So Soft works for some people.

Dragon flys love mosquitos, so anything you do to support their habitat will help.

Wild turkeys love ticks. Sounds like you need to import some.....

 

Long sleeves and pants
Pacardin is good
Citronella tiki torches
Cigarettes
Not being near water also good

 

Picaridin is about as effective as deet but nothing is more effective than deet . Thermocell is also effective. The rest of the various repellents are crap. Citronella is a joke.
If using a deet product you don’t need a high percent concentration. 25 to 30% is all you need and that will last a couple or more hours. Higher concentrations don’t repell any better they just last longer.

 

If you want to go natural, look up citronella oil from doterra or young living but beware of the multi level marketing people.

 

I use this on exposed skin: https://www.sawyer.com/products/picaridin-insect-repellent
And treat my boots, pants, hat with this (do not apply directly to your skin): https://www.sawyer.com/products/permethrin-fabric-treatment

 

We purchased a thermacell repellant station. One of the battery powered units. So far it has proven to be pretty effective.

I have also set up 5 gallon buckets with water to bait the mosquitoes in to lay their eggs. Then I treat the buckets weekly with mosquito dunks to kill the larva before they hatch. Will update as we experiment more

 

My wife and first born are also. My daughter and I just hang out around them and are left pretty much alone! ...but seriously, i use a Thermocell if I have to sit or work in one spot (and they aren't around).

 

I second a few of the other posts that Thermacell works pretty well. Plus the smell isn’t as strong as other options.

 

Any thoughts on pet safe options? apparently Thermacell is not

 

I wouldn't waste Themocell juice on my back deck.

I have some mosquito coils. basically an incense that supposedly keeps them at bay. seems to work. not sure where my wife buys them. probably chinatown. but both the smoke and Thermcell rely on calm winds. any breeze and game over. the mosquito can fly against the wind, my products can't.

I just got back from Brazil. I coated all my clothing with that bug treatment. the Amazon jungle!!! basically where they invented mosquitos. I was unscathed except one night I wore shorts. the no-see-ums got me, but still no mosquitos.