REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE from travelling to over 45 countries, and various regions!
I freaken hate mosquitos. So I wrote a guide explaining all the tactics I had in dealing with them throughout my world travels. I got lots of got tips and tactics for you.
Mosquitos SUCK, and what you can do about it!
I don’t know about you, but I absolutely F**KEN hate mosquitos. I hate them more than anyone. I swear if I ever became a scientist or inventor, I’d probably invent something to eradicate them. It would be my finest contribution to mankind. Mosquitos are literally the only thing I don’t miss when traveling to beautiful tropical places.
Lucky for me, my body takes them well enough. Sure, I get bit a lot in some places and not as much as other people in other places. But I’m not allergic to them. My body doesn’t get huge painful rashes or leave permanent scars from them. So in that sense, I’m lucky. But I still hate them with a passion. And have learned numerous tips over the years on how to deal with them. Interestingly enough, every country deals with them in different ways. And certain products can only be found in certain countries.
What do we know about mosquitos?
- They love biting areas where your veins and blood are closest to the surface. Arms, legs (especially low legs and ankles), neck, back.
- Exposed skin are especially vulnerable.
- They’re drawn to light and heat, and still water.
- They’re most active in the evenings and early mornings. But also steadily active at night.
Mosquito-prevention tactics and products
1. Long sleeve clothes
Quite possibly the best, easiest, and most non-toxic way. Wear long sleeve clothes so mosquitos can’t reach your skin. It might also help you avoid sunburn as well. You’ll see many locals in tropical climates going this route. And if mosquitos are STILL biting through your clothes, you can also spray repellant right on your clothes to discourage them.
2. Insect repellant (spray & lotion), hand sanitizer
The old-fashion way, using bug repellant. I’ll advise you that some work for all insects and some work only for specific insects. Generally, the ones for mosquitos will work for most other insects…but if you’re dealing with sandflies then you’ll need a specific repellant for them, as regular mosquito repellant won’t work much.
I’ve also learned that when you don’t have repellant available…hand sanitizer (rubbed on your skin) can help you for about 20 mins. Perhaps some other alternatives might work in similar fashion as well…I assume it’s the alcohol content that repels them.
3. Incense/Coils
You will see this used in many developing countries, usually for outdoor use. Indoor works as well as long as you have very good air ventilation, as the coil fumes can be very toxic. It’s both the chemical content as well as the smoke that wards off mosquitos. Incense sticks or citronella candles work in similar way (both their smell & smoke), but as a non-toxic alternative.
Usually, people put just one coil in the vicinity of the area. But if there’s too many mosquitos and/or you don’t like the smell or having it up close…you can put multiple around you to make an air barrier.
4. Vaporizer/Diffuser
Diffuser (some countries call it “vaporizer”) that looks like tiny nightlight plugged into outlet or a whole electronic unit with a corded outlet plug. Both work the same, you put in the mosquito repellant oil and it puts it out into the air to repel them.
These do work well in my experience. Great for both indoor and outdoor use, seems non-toxic enough. They don’t kill the mosquitos but I can see the mosquitos refusing to get near me. Also, it doesn’t emit any sound so I’m not bothered by a loud fan noise.
I haven’t tried the fancy ones, I used the cheap looking ones in Sri Lanka and they worked well. It’s like a plastic flamy nightlight with a green cap and you screw a little bottle of oil to the bottom (replacing bottle when it runs out).
5. Nets
Another easy, non-toxic, also low-noise way to deal with mosquitos. Have a net barrier covering an area so that they can’t reach you. This is most common for indoor use around the bed. Or outdoor use in a tent/gazebo setting.
The only requirements are that you’re careful not to let any inside, also that you take good care not to tear a hole in your tent, and also that you don’t plan to move around much. I’ve also noticed that while the net works well, it won’t make the mosquito noises go away. They might still buzz around just outside and make you anxious worrying that one got inside.
6. Air-flow & temperature AC
Fans and air-conditioning are some of the best and most natural ways to repel mosquitos. They hate the airflow pushing them around (making flying more difficult). They also hate cold air. It’s one of the best hassle-free and non-toxic ways to deal with mosquitos. Just stay indoors and turn on your air-conditioning.
Or if you don’t have AC and/or you’re outdoors, then a fan can work as well. Most ideal is if you find a strong but quiet fan.
7. electronic bug zapper, lanterns & racket
Electronic mosquito zapper that baits them in using light or scent, and then electrocutes them. Clever and easy to use. The only issue is that quite often, I see complaints that they DON’T work…mosquitos fly and sometimes even land on them without issue, and worse is when they kill harmless bugs but NOT mosquitos. Even the ones that do work are hardly as effective as they claim and don’t cover anywhere near the distance they claim to protect you.
The other zapper is the one that looks like a tennis racket. You can swing it around and also just lay it standing up. I’ve seen these rackets given as birthday gifts in Brazil…hahaha! I’d say the racket is awesome for chasing down the stray mosquito in your house, and perhaps useful for waiters working in outdoor restaurant seating…but not overly helpful for extended lengths of time.
8. light-baiting
This is what I call my trick of baiting mosquitos away from me. Since I know they like to follow the light…I’ll turn off the lights in my room, but then elsewhere in the house I’ll have the lights on.
Other notes:
- BiteFighter Outdoor LED String Lights with Proven Mosquito Repellency – Home Depot
- Mosquito Control Gear – New York Times