Fact or Fiction: The Truth About Mosquitoes

Every camper knows that mosquitoes can be the worst part of your camping experience. They buzz, bite, annoy, and frustrate you until you can’t stand to be outside anymore. Not to mention they carry diseases that can be detrimental to your health! You could always buy sprays or try natural remedies to help get rid of them, but that can be expensive and, often times, ineffective. There are so many products and myths about mosquitoes out there that it’s hard to tell what’s fact and what’s fiction. So let’s debunk them and get the truth about mosquitoes!

MYTH #1: Mosquitoes are repelled by garlic, citronella, bug zappers, and bats. This is a myth for a few different reasons; garlic may repel people, but mosquitoes love it; citronella is only effective for the first 3-10 minutes of lighting or spraying; bug zappers only kill a handful of bugs; mosquitoes make up a very small proportion of bat’s diets, so they do not actually get rid of that many.

FACT #1: Peppermint oil, beauty berry, and catnip repel mosquitoes. Yes, catnip! It’s said to be 10 times more powerful than DEET! These may not keep them all away, but in addition to some personal spray or commercial spraying by pest control, it can be extremely effective.

MYTH #2: Eating bananas will make you more likely to get bit. It is true that bananas break down lactic acid, which mosquitoes are attracted to, but that is only if you have lactic stores for the banana to break down, which is unlikely for the common camper.

FACT #2: Mosquitoes are attracted to blonde hair, perfume, and dark colors. Blondes may or may not have more fun, but studies do prove that blondes will get bit more often than brunettes.

MYTH #3: Mosquitoes will bite regardless of your size. Actually, larger people tend to get bit more often because of the extra body heat and emitted carbon dioxide that mosquitoes are oh so attracted to.

FACT #3: Mosquitoes are the worst at dawn and dusk. This is absolutely true. If you are planning on being outside, make sure you choose midday and after dark to spend some quality time outdoors.

MYTH #4: Mosquito spray for kids works just as well as the kind for adults. Actually, the kid’s spray is less effective than the adult spray in terms of the length of time it will keep the mosquitoes away. Kid’s spray lasts about 1.5 hours, where the adult spray lasts for about 2.5 hours. If you still want to use the kid version for your little ones, make sure you reapply often!

FACT #4: OFF! Deep Woods will keep away more than ticks. OFF! Deep Woods is your best option in keeping mosquitoes away for long periods of time! It is found to repel mosquitoes and other bugs for 5 full hours before needing to be reapplied. So one spray for a night around the campfire can keep you worry and mosquito bite free!

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