Although you may not plan to run into biting and annoying insects while camping, you will regret not being prepared.
You do not want your vacation to be ruined by unwanted visitors.
Planning ahead with insect deterrents can make a camping trip much more enjoyable.
And actually, preparation does not take a lot of work.
Being aware of your surroundings and having solutions on hand to potential problems will solve most of the issues that you may encounter.
Insect Repellant: What first comes to mind when keeping insects at bay is insect repellent.
DEET is one of the most popular insect repellents, but it also works the best and the longest.
DEET is sold at most camping and outdoors stores.
There are also other insect deterrent alternatives that are not as well-known.
The product ingredients you want to look for are permethrin, lemon eucalyptus oil or soybean oil.
I personally use lemon eucalyptus oil, and it works extremely well and I like the smell.
If you decide to go with an insect repellent that is not as strong as DEET, the easy solution is to simply apply it more often.
In addition to applying insect repellent to the skin, you can also get wrist bands that contain repellent or you can burn citronella candles.
Candles can work well, but only will work in your favor if you will be staying in a certain are and not moving around much.
Avoid Bad Timing and Location: Mosquitoes are most active during dawn and dusk.
They are found more often in wet areas because they breed in still bodies of water like puddles or lakes.
If water is nearby, choose a campsite further away from still water.
Try to be protected either in a tent o under protective clothing and extra repellent during the hours that mosquitoes are most active.
Some tents have exterior screen rooms that attach to the tent to make the enclosed space larger and safe from mosquitoes and other bugs.
If you consistently camp in an area with these pests, it may be worth it to invest in a tent with a screen room.
What are Mosquitoes and Other Campground Insects Attracted to? Another way to keep away from annoying insects is to avoid things that attract them.
For example, darker colors are known to attract these bugs.
Try to avoid wearing dark clothing.
Certain scents attract insects as well, such as foods but also fragrances like those from soaps or lotions.
This is an easy problem to fix - avoid deodorant, scented lotions and even drying your clothing with a scented fabric softener.
At night, light will attract certain bugs, so keep lights dimmed and to a minimum unless you are in an enclosed tent or vehicle.
Some insects do not like smoke from a campfire, so this can be a "natural light" alternative.