Did you know that there are 3,500 species of mosquitoes in the world that mosquitoes transmit more diseases than any other creature on this planet!
And, that means they are in almost every last corner of the earth. Yes, you heard it right, there is no place to escape from mosquitoes.
As if getting bothered by mosquitoes at home isn’t enough, they find will find you even if you try to escape from your day to day life through camping.
Most people go to camps to relieve themselves from stress and spend some quality time with family or friends. But joining your party is the most populated and dangerous creature of the earth, yes, its mosquitoes.
And instead of spending quality time, you just scratch your head and ask yourself “How To Repel Mosquitoes While Camping?”
But just like impossible has a possible hidden inside it, there are ways you can stop these small groups of irritation from getting in the way of your camping. Want to know how?
Places You Find Mosquitoes During Camping
To solve a problem, you need to understand the problem and get to the roots of it. So, first let’s find out everything about mosquitoes, how they live, and where they live.
As you already know there are 3500 species of mosquitoes in the world but only 175 species are found here in the States.
There are male mosquitoes and then there are female mosquitoes. Male mosquitoes have a life span of 10 days and female mosquitoes live for 30 days. During 30 days, female mosquitoes lay 100-300 eggs every couple of days. And these female mosquitoes are the ones that you have to repel because only female mosquitoes suck blood.
Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle, and so they search for stagnant water to live and breed.
So, any place with stagnant water is a potential home of mosquitoes and you need to avoid it at any cost if you are to have any chance of a mosquito-free camp.
What Attracts Mosquitoes?
Now that you know where the mosquitoes are most probably hiding, you must know what draws a mosquito’s attention.
Different species of mosquitoes have different factors attracting them, but most commonly dark colors like black attract a mosquito.
Dark colors like black and brown absorb heat while light colors give out heat. Mosquitoes have highly sensitive heat sensors in their body and this probably plays a part in them getting attracted to darker colors.
This is just one of the factors. Initially, the carbon dioxide you exhale will attract them. Once they get close, they will respond to the smell of your skin.
It has also been scientifically found that specific blood groups, especially O, tend to attract more mosquitoes.
So, there are a lot of things that attract mosquitoes, but one thing you must keep in mind is that you should avoid wearing dark colored clothes before going to a camp.
Natural Ways To Prevent Mosquitoes While Camping
As of the things we have known about mosquitoes, there are a few things you can do, to begin with
1. Prevent Water Sources:
Are you planning to go camping near a water body?
If you don’t want mosquitoes to interfere with your camp, you must abort the plan right away.
Since, mosquitos’ dwell in stagnant water sources, setting up camp as far as possible from water sources is the logical thing to do. It doesn’t ensure that you are completely mosquito-free but at least 50 mosquitoes are way better than 500.
Also, you may see a water body, not find a single mosquito nearby and set up your camp, but you must remember that it is kind of a trap. Mosquitoes come out after sunset in big numbers and as soon as they smell your blood, you will regret your decision.
2. Avoid Wearing Dark Clothes:
Have you ever wondered why people wear light flowery designed clothes when on holidays?
Yes, it is a fashion trend but also because dark clothes absorb heat and mosquitoes detect the heat to find you.
So, make sure that you pack all the light-colored clothes in your luggage.
3.Use Fans:
If you can carry a fan to your camp, and given that there is the possibility of operating it, the fan can be a great solution to mosquitoes. It is a known fact that mosquitoes are bad fliers and so using a fan makes it difficult for it to even fly around, forget sitting on you and biting you.
4. Kill The Roots:
It isn’t what it sounds. You are not going to kill any tree roots but the roots of mosquitoes. You can sprinkle Coffee ground on stagnant water surfaces nearby. This will make sure that the mosquito eggs come on the surface. As that happens, the supply of oxygen cuts off and they die.
This means that no eggs for the mosquitoes to hatch from, and you just need to worry about existing mosquitoes.
This is a difficult task though, considering the huge population of mosquitoes and there is so much of coffee you can sprinkle.
5. Vinegar:
It is one of the best natural substances for keeping insects, bugs, or mosquitoes away. You can rub it on your skin, on your campsite, or as natural bug sprays. The latter one has to be prepared by mixing vinegar with other substances like mint, dried lavender, and thyme.
The only thing with vinegar is that it stinks, so if you have a strong sense of smell or you can’t stand the smell of vinegar, using it may cause you more problems than the mosquitoes themselves.
6. Use Natural Mosquito Repellent Oils:
There are thousands of substances found in the world, and fortunately for you, there is some oil that can repel mosquitoes. The most easily available among them are:
- Citronella
- Peppermint Oil
- Catnip Oil
- Lemon Grass Oil
- Soyabean Oil
Mosquito Repellent Oils For Camping
1. Citronella:
Citronella is a very commonly used mosquito repellent. You can use products with citronella on your skin or clothing and mosquito will stay away from you. In case, some insect has stung you, citronella can be used to treat the area.
A problem associated with citronella is that it evaporates quickly, so you need to apply in large quantity but applying more results in skin irritation.
2. Peppermint Oil:
If you want an oil that is 100% effective against mosquitoes, it is Peppermint Oil. Mosquitoes like yellow fever mosquitoes are completely nullified with peppermint oil.
However, you have to use it in large concentrations or else it won’t be effective.
3. Catnip Oil:
It is a part of the mint family and is highly effective against mosquitoes. It is easily available in your local stores.
Buy and apply this oil and the common house mosquitoes are as good as gone for you.
4. Lemon Grass Oil:
Lemongrass is a herb and as per the name goes it has citrus. Researchers have found that lemongrass can provide great protection against southern house mosquitoes for long hours.
So, it is a good oil to carry while camping.
5. Soyabean Oil:
It is an ingredient of several insect-repellent products. It is generally used in a 2% concentration with other chemicals like Catnip or Citronella. As a camper, it may not be very feasible but you can make your mosquito repellent using these oils.
There are several other oils, but they are less popular and not used that often by campers.
Beware: As much as natural oil is an effective way to prevent mosquitoes, you need to be careful before applying anything on your skin. Your skin might react differently to different chemicals, so it is advised that you test the oil by applying to a small portion of your skin.
Also, some may damage your skin when exposed to sunlight, you keep all these things in mind before you use any oil over your body.
How To Repel Mosquitoes While Camping? – Camper’s Guide Against Mosquito Bite
As a camper, you know, there are going to be mosquitoes, so there are some techniques you can apply to avoid them.
1. Camping Gear
Your camping gear must be good enough to save you from mosquitoes. Be it hammock camping or tent camping, your gear should be bug proof.
Certain hammocks come with a mosquito net with it. If you want, you can check them out here.
As for tents, make sure that your tent has meshed nettings on your windows and doors. For the best camping tent, you can check here.
Apart from the shelter, there are some bug nets you can buy to cover yourself at night.
2. Campfire
It is a common notion that smoke is a natural mosquito repellent. Although there is no definite proof for this, still a campfire is a good way to keep out mosquitoes. To go with it, a campfire will keep you warm, and sitting beside a campfire is also a delightful activity.
Other bugs and animals are also repelled by fire, so as a camper, try to light a campfire if it is possible.
3. Closed Doors
This is a general thing you must keep in mind during camping. As soon as the sun goes down, try to keep your interactions with the outside of your tent to a minimum. This ensures that your doors and windows are shut at all times and mosquitoes or any other bugs cannot enter your tent.
Look out for holes in the tent as well because the most effective way to keep mosquitoes out is to keep mosquitoes OUT.
4. Mosquito Repellents
Several mosquito repellents are available on the market these days. It is a good option to have with you in camp. But before you buy one, you need to check if the repellent is
- Waterproof
- Portable
- Rechargeable
- Compact
You can look for the best Mosquito Repellants here.
5. Bug-Zappers
Yes, try to keep a bug-zapper with you, it is one of the most effective methods and as a camper, it will come in very handy for you. You can electrocute the mosquitoes or bugs surrounding you and enjoy a night without any disturbance.
For more information about other electronic devices for repelling insects, you can click here
6. Bug Repelling Bracelets
Well, won’t it be convenient to just wear a pair of bracelets in your hands and keep mosquitoes out? Yes, these kinds of bracelets are available in the market and you can try them out the next time you go camping.
The effectiveness of these bracelets varies on their brand and so more effective one’s will cost you more.
7. Bug Spray
You can use a bug spray to prevent mosquitoes, but try to avoid it as much as you can because it may affect your health if used in more quantity.
Final Word
As many methods you try and execute, some mosquitoes will always find a way to irritate you and bite you.
In that case, don’t ignore those mosquitoes as they may be dangerous, especially considering you may not know what kind of mosquitoes you are encountering at your campsite.
So, try out these methods and let us know how it worked out for you, and don’t forget to share your stories of camping through the comments below.
Happy Camping.
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