They’re awful, and they’re everywhere. I bet you’ll find one that’s lost on Mount Everest as well.
It’s the only creature you don’t want to see on a summer camping trip. It can only be the mosquito.
This fearless creature is designed to ruin your camping trip. But most people don’t think about them until they find themselves surrounded by thousands of them. And then it’s too late to do anything.
Therefore, if you want to keep them away from your camp, you need to prepare ahead.
In this article, I’m trying to find out what’s the best way to keep mosquitoes away while camping. Knowing what they’re afraid of can save you from misery.
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Where to set up camp to stay away from mosquitoes?
Avoiding mosquitoes often means staying away from their favorite hangouts.
Sure, they can still buzz around in search of a meal, but facing off against 100 mosquitoes beats dealing with a swarm of 10,000 any day.
There are certain areas where mosquitoes tend to congregate, and setting up camp too close to these spots is a surefire way to invite trouble.
Indeed, mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle, typically gravitating towards stagnant water for breeding purposes.
If your camping spot is near a swamp, lake, or pond, it’s wise to relocate. Other mosquito hotspots include:
- Tall grassy areas close to populated places
- Junk-strewn places that trap rainwater, like discarded bottles and cans
- Near storm drains
- Along agricultural irrigation canals
Mosquitoes really start to swarm after the sun goes down.
So, even if you don’t spot them near water during the day, don’t be fooled into thinking you’re in the clear. Trust me, they’ll start showing up the moment they sense a meal is nearby.
More facts about where mosquitoes thrive can be found here.
Do campfires keep mosquitoes away?
It’s tough to find solid scientific support for this claim.
Often, you’ll hear folks claim that smoke naturally wards off mosquitoes, but I’m skeptical.
Personally, it’s been hit or miss for me—sometimes effective, other times not at all.
Campfires, as it turns out, are prime producers of CO and CO2 at campsites.
Thanks to their specialized sensors for the gas, mosquitoes are drawn to CO2, making your cozy fire potentially an all-you-can-eat buffet sign for these pests. So, why does it seem to repel them on occasion?
Perhaps it’s because when you’re huddled near the fire, the mosquitoes can’t distinguish between the CO2 you’re exhaling and that emanating from the fire, making it harder for them to target their next meal. This is just a guess on my part, lacking scientific backing.
However, there’s a trick involving campfires that might actually help keep those mosquitoes away.
That is to burn some essential oils that are known to repel insects. There’s more about this in the next subtopic.
Control mosquitoes on your campsite with natural repellents
Essential oils, with their potent aromas, are not just for aromatherapy; many of them double as effective insect repellents. So, when you add these oils to your campfire, you’re not just creating a cozy ambiance but also setting up a natural barrier against these pesky bloodsuckers.
Essential oils that repel mosquitoes
Among the most effective essential oils for this purpose are citronella, peppermint, lemongrass, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil. These oils are renowned for their ability to repel mosquitoes, thanks to their strong scents that mosquitoes find highly unappealing. By introducing these oils to your campfire, you can enhance the fire’s repellent effect, turning it into a more formidable foe against mosquitoes.
To put this into practice, you can soak a few pieces of wood or some small cloth strips in your chosen essential oil and add them to the fire. As the fire burns, it’ll release the oils’ scents into the air, surrounding your campsite with a protective scent barrier that mosquitoes are likely to avoid.
This method offers a dual benefit: enjoying the warmth and light of a campfire while keeping mosquitoes at bay. Remember, though, this is just one part of a broader strategy to manage mosquitoes and should be used in conjunction with other preventative measures for the best results. So, as you sit back and enjoy the crackling fire and the peacefulness of your surroundings, you can take comfort in knowing you’ve taken a smart step towards a more enjoyable, mosquito-free camping experience.
Use mosquito-repellent citronella candles
They are usually made from the same essential oils that I listed earlier.
One candle can last for more than one night.
A campfire can release those natural substances faster, but you always need to pour some more oil over the fire because they burn off quite quickly.
Candles release a smaller amount of smoke, but once you get one burning, you don’t need to maintain it.
You can find them very cheap, or you can try to make one yourself. I included this homemade mosquito repellent candle DIY guide to get some inspiration.
Use Aloe Vera creams
Exotic plants are known to be the best when it comes to preventing insect bites, and the leading one is Aloe Vera.
People use this to treat bites, but they often don’t know that aloe vera cream can create a barrier that offers protection against mosquitoes.
Will bug-zappers work against mosquitoes?
Bug-zappers (Blacklight insect electrocution devices) proved themselves as one of the best accessories that can kill unwanted bugs.
But when it comes to killing mosquitoes, a study by the University of Notre Dame showed that they only count as much as 4% of the total number of dead insects in a period of 24h.
Furthermore, the study showed that this device didn’t help at all in reducing their number from the tested backyard.
So if you are thinking of getting one for your camping trip, consider this information.
Should I use an ultrasonic device?
There are so many studies that busted this myth but I’ve looked on Amazon recently, and people buy them like crazy.
The idea that one small device or even an iPhone app will keep mosquitoes away is appealing to the public.
My advice? Don’t buy one. You’re just throwing away a couple of dollars.
If you don’t believe it, get your phone and head to the app market. I bet you’ll find 100+ free apps that claim to repel insects.
Install one, perhaps the one with 5-star ratings (fake ones), leave your windows open one night, and test it. You’ll understand me better after that.
Are there any mosquito traps that I can buy?
Yes, there are. And they do generate quite some interest.
Many traps use a technique that converts propane gas into CO2 to attract these insects. But that begs the question: will they work?
I don’t think any manufacturer can claim that their trap can eliminate them entirely.
The idea behind these traps is to reduce the number of questing mosquitoes.
But traps are not the only CO2 generators on a campsite, and these bloodsuckers can always pick you up as a victim. You too release carbon dioxide when breathing, right?
So the answer is yes, they can work but are not that effective while camping.
I firmly believe that when you are on their natural territory, your approach should be to repel mosquitoes not to kill them, because they too many of them to kill.
Choose a tent with a screen room
Screen rooms are a must for summer camping. You will always need to ventilate your tent, and if you don’t have a screen room, you are going to face the full might of a mosquito swarm.
There’s also the DIY version for this if you don’t want to spend money on a brand new tent. You can buy some inexpensive insect mesh from Amazon for a few dollars per 4 x 3 feet sheet.
When beach camping, always choose a beach tent with meshed windows.
What to wear to prevent them from biting me?
I would say you should wear long-sleeve shirts and pants but how comfortable this can be on a hot summer day?
If you are having trouble controlling them, you might want to get yourself a wearable mosquito net. They do offer head-to-toe protection against bites, and they are not that expensive.
I recommend this if you are camping in an area where you know that mosquito bites can transmit malaria or other diseases. You don’t want to rely solely on natural repellents because just one bite can get you into serious trouble.
Wearing bug repellent bracelets that contain some citronella oil can help. I never tested them, but I know people started using them more and more.
Are bug sprays safe to use?
When it comes to substances that contain hazardous chemicals, my only advice is to avoid them.
Researchers are still debating if these bug sprays are dangerous to use but in my opinion, any chemical, no matter how little you use, will at some point have an impact on your health.
There are many options for DEET-free sprays out there, so try any natural ones and see if they work.
What things attract mosquitoes to your campsite?
Now that you know how you can repel mosquitoes, you need to find out what can attract them to your campsite.
- Perfumes – I don’t understand why you would use them while camping but it’s better to know that this will always attract bugs.
- Carbon Dioxide – This is recognized as the main thing that mosquitoes use when they are looking for food.
- Body Heat – These bugs are equipped with sensors that can detect blood circulation.
- Sweat and urine – they need water to reproduce, and these can provide both warm and stagnant sources of water.
- People drinking beer – I hate to include this one but studies show that when we are drinking beer, we have more chances to become a victim of mosquitoes.
- Movement – they say that if you stay, still you have better chances to avoid getting bitten.
Takeaway
It’s true that commercial sprays and creams can have the most effect on repelling mosquitoes, but you need to be careful when using them.
Some may contain chemicals that can harm you so do your due diligence before buying. In this post, I only wanted to include natural repellents that are known to be safe.
My quest to help you find out what is the best way to keep mosquitoes away on a camping trip has reached an end.
I am sure that I missed many other unique ideas that you guys might have tested and found out to be working. If any, please leave a comment down below, and I will include them in this post.
