The presence of mosquitoes can sometimes be what makes or breaks a camping trip. Not only are their bites aggravatingly itchy, they can also spread nasty diseases such as the Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and even Dengue fever!
I’m one of those people that mosquitoes just love. In fact, some people just produce more of certain chemicals which attract mosquitoes, and certain blood types are also more attractive to mosquitoes! Unfortunately, this isn’t something you can avoid, but there are certain precautions you can take to try and stay bite free when you’re camping, touring or travelling.
If you’re looking for ways to prevent being eaten alive my mozzies this summer, or you live in a tropical climate, then read on for some of my best-kept secrets for avoiding mosquito bites.
During peak mozzie season, it’s difficult to keep insects at bay. Image: Thermacell
What are mosquitoes attracted to?
- Chemicals on our skin, such as lactic acid.
- Blood type – type O blood (in particular).
- Dark coloured clothes – this is because dark colours absorb heat which attracts their heat sensors.
- Deodorants and perfumes – particularly floral scents.
You might not know that dark coloured clothing attracts mosquitoes! Image: Coleman
How do I avoid mosquitoes at my campsite?
- Don’t camp near stagnant water.
- Wetlands, waterholes, tidal creeks and mangroves are mosquito havens.
- Avoid areas with no air movement.
- Avoid dark shady areas close to dense bushes.
- Keep away from long grass.
Avoid mozzie breeding grounds, such as stagnant water. Image: Coleman
I want to camp near the water, is there anything I can do?
- Avoid being outdoors at dusk and dawn when mozzies are most active.
- Use tropical strength (DEET) personal insect repellant.
- Natural repellents that contain sandalwood and citronella oils can be effective, but you may need to apply them more often and be more vigilant.
- Use bug zappers, or mosquito coils or citronella candles around your campsite – just make sure you are very careful to extinguish the candles when you’re finished up for the night.
- If you are permitted to have a campfire, the smoke will also act as a deterrent.
- Wear lightweight long sleeve shirts and pants in lighter colours as they deflect heat.
- Sleep under mosquito nets, or use mesh screen rooms or domes for sleeping and eating.
- Repair any damaged tent mesh screens before you leave home using seam sealant or screen patches and keep these items in your repair kit just in case the tear happens on your trip.
- Treat the mesh on your swag, shelter, or tent with a residual insecticide like permethrin to repel mozzies from your shelter.
If near water, make sure you’re covered up at dusk. Image: Coleman
What if I am fishing?
- Wear pants and a long-sleeved top in lighter colours.
- Drape a neckerchief on your neck – this will shield your neck and also help prevent sunburn.
- Make sure you’re wearing DEET repellent on exposed areas.
- Wear mosquito headnets to protect your face and neck.
If you’re fishing, wear repellant or cover up your exposed skin to avoid bites! Image: Dometic
How do I treat a mozzie bite?
- Most importantly, avoid scratching the bite as this will reduce the risk of infection.
- Apply a cold pack to the bite to reduce inflammation.
- Use a mozzie clicker to stop the itching – they really work!
- Apply anti-itch lotion gel such as ItchFix
- Tea tree or lavender essential oil (diluted in lotion/cream) may soothe the itch.
- You may choose to take an antihistamine.
Mosquito clickers are a great way to get rid of the itch. Image: Mozzigear
Are they mozzies or midges?
Midges (or otherwise known as sandflies) are not known for carrying diseases like mozzies but if you do get bitten, the bites can cause very strong reactions. If you scratch the bites, they can resemble chicken pox and even leave scars if you’re not careful.
Sandflies usually travel in a swarm, so in an instant, you can be bitten on all of the exposed parts of your body. The itch often flares up when you are warm, such as when you are under the covers at night time. This can be a pretty dreadful experience, so apply the same principles above to prevent being bitten by midges.
Is it a mozzie or a midge? Image: CSIROscope
Don’t forget to mosquito-proof your home for summer
When the weather is warm, or if you leave in a tropical climate year-round, there are a few steps that you can take to mosquito-proof your home
- Empty any containers, pipes, pots of stagnant water around your home, as these are a favourite breeding ground for mosquitoes.
- Check that your rainwater tanks are sealed up.
- Avoid clutter in dark/shady corners.
- Repair any damaged fly screens to prevent them from sneaking into your home.
- If you’re eating dinner or relaxing outside, then you can burn a citronella incense coil or candle which act as natural repellants.
- You can also set up a few lantern & mozzie zappers (two in one device), which will add some extra light to your outdoor area and zap mozzies in their tracks. The great thing about these is that generally the mosquito zapper & light work independently which gives you some flexibility.
A repeller device that sits on your table is a great way to prevent bites when entertaining. Image: Thermacell
Now that you know these secrets, you’ll be ready for those mozzies!
Having now learnt a bit about how to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, hopefully, you’ll be able to enjoy some outdoor activities in comfort and peace!
What do you do to fend off biting insects when you’re out exploring?
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Hi Bruce,
Sounds like the perfect way to go. Thanks for bringing the Nosi Life range to our attention.
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Can you spray a tent (inside and out) with an insect repellent?
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Hi Tony,
I wouldn’t recommend spraying a tent with mosquito repellent. DEET based repellents will deteriorate synthetic fabrics, and it will most likely effect the PU coatings which give a fabric its waterproof qualities. You would be better to utilise an insect/mosquito net inside the tent. Some of these come treated with a natural repellent called Permethrin. Alternatively, you can purchase Permethrin and wash it into your clothing and fabrics.
Hope this helps.
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Thanks Ben
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