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Biting mosquitoes

by Anthony
(Canada)

Mosquito sucking blood.

Mosquito sucking blood.

Biting mosquitoes attack humans to obtain a blood meal. Biting mosquitoes can be very annoying. For you as a wilderness traveler it can be more then annoying . . .


Good advice to protect you against mosquitoes:





1.
Standing water attracts mosquitoes because it provides the perfect breeding ground for them to lay their eggs. Mosquitoes are poor fliers and a good breeze drives them away.

To find your camping spot, seek hillsides or other open areas that receive a nice breeze. Avoid shaded, bushy areas where mosquitoes like to rest.

2.
Mosquitoes are most active and tend to bite more at dawn and dusk.

3.
Wear loose long-sleeved shirts, long loose pants, socks and a hat to minimize the areas of exposed skin. Choose light color clothing. Mosquitoes like dark clothing.

4.
Campfire smoke drives off mosquitoes. Put a few green leaves or branches onto your fire from time to time.


Comments for
Biting mosquitoes

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Oct 12, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		mosquitoes and smoke
by: Anonymous

My theory is that the smoke confuses the mosquitoes. They home in on body heat and the CO2 in your breath, but the campfire puts out so much heat and CO2 it completely masks the human presence. I've observed swarms of mosquitoes downwind of the fire milling about in the plume of hot air, ignoring the people completely.
Aug 31, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstar 		Ants
by: Anonymous

A ring of medicated foot powder is also a great way to keep ants away from you. A small bottle ways 2oz, and is barely larger than a pack of smokes. Comes in handy against poison ivy and sumac too.
Apr 12, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		How mosquitoes locate us
by: Nomad

It was told to me that mosquitoes home in on the CO2 that we exhale when we breath.I found this to be true when I observed them swarming our cooler that had dry ice in it.
We use the dry ice setup on weeklong canoe trips in MOAB to create a freezer for our food.
It works great with the addition of a wet towel for added evaporative cooling.Just be sure to keep the dry-ice dry or it will melt quickly.
Feb 23, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		bad mode
by: Tony

Thanks Anthony for your "easy to follow" advice.
Mosquitoes can really put you in a bad mode.

I think to find a good camping spot is the most important, when you are backpacking in the wilderness.

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