I was thinking of buying one of those electronic bug zappers. Watching here to see what folks think of those. Experience at my S&B is that citronella candles don't work well except for the immediate area around the candle.

I find a screen room works well too. Avoid white light as it attracts bugs - yellow is better. Camp next to a neighbor who has a bright white light. He will lure the bugs away from you. If by yourself, put your lantern on a lantern pole far away from your camper door, not on the table you're sitting at.

Chip

When my grandson was 6 he had to go in when the bugs would come out, when he got bit he would swell up. So I got him to take 1 (B1) vitamin and 20 minutes later no bits, he was a happy camper. For us we would take 2 (B1s) it really works. The bugs don't like the way your skin smells, they will land and no bits, anyway it works for us, I have 2 bottles of B1, thank you very much B1.

Lonney 

I sit near my DH, they like him so much that they just ignore me!

I have no idea if this is a wide-spread result or just for each individual "chemistry," but Jo used to get attacked by bugs really bad.  She was hanging Bounce dryer sheets on herself and they worked to some degree.  What really has helped her in not getting bit is that she has quit eating bananas.

Terry

I rarely eat bananas so that can't be why the reason bugs love me! I can swell pretty well and B1 hasn't don't much for me. I like Off I scented Family Care repellent. For ants outside, Vaseline on hoses, tires, anything connecting to the ground works well. At one military park where all chemicals were not allowed they recommended cinnamon sprinkled outside to deter ants. We had a 1 day invasion of tiny Pharaoh ants while in California and by sprinkling cornmeal in our basement and around the rig stopped them immediately!

Not sure if you were talking personally or around your campsite.

SHerry

gilljr wrote:

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Coleman Therma Cell works very well for us. least expensive at Walmart

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 That looks like it works good.. gonna buy a couple of those.. and have a fan...

I got "Bug Off" essential oil from Amazon, put a few drops mixed in with witch hazel in a small spray bottle (should be blue or brown) and we use it on us, the dogs and I'll even spray it around our door frame - it really works great!
The "Bug Off" has a combination of Citronella, Eucalpytus, Cedarwood, Lemongrass, Lavender, Litsea, Tea Tree, Patchouli and Cat Nip. I have read that any of these alone helps to repel the bugs, so far the combination has been great.
I don't think it smells 'girly' FYI guys - hubby sprays it under his baseball cap & it does keep them out of your face ;)

biggaRView wrote:

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The trouble with bugs and repelling them is it's not a one size fits all kind of thing... unless you use toxic chemicals 

-- Edited by biggaRView on Monday 4th of August 2014 08:20:50 AM

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 Boy howdy, I'll agree with that. The nuclear waste we used on that mouse still has us restricted from where the house used to be!

folivier wrote:

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Sounds like y'all are camping in the wrong places.
But when we're back in south Louisiana the best thing for bugs is air conditioning!

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 You can't compare gulf coast bugs with the rest of the country. You can hear them stomping across the kitchen floor on the way to your fridge. You know you have an infestation problem when they ask you to switch the TV to professional wrestling and drink up all your PBR! 

For those of us that drink beer, we are doomed...it changes our scent so that bugs love us (the whole sugar thing)  I was told that if you drink a bit of apple cider vinegar every day, it changes your scent so the mosquitos stay away...haven't tried it, since once I've had a few beers I don't mind the bites so much!

Thanks for the fan idea, Mike. Tried it today and it worked great!

Thanks!