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How to Avoid Mosquito Bites

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Known for bringing out extremes of all sorts, the tropics play host to several ferocious predators… (in Northern Queensland for example you can find taipans, which are highly venomous snakes, to crocodiles and drop bears!) But none of these deadly animals are much of a threat to you, the fun loving backpacker. But there is one predator that loves to prey on you as you sun yourself and try to recover from the night before… this is of course the dreaded mosquito. Knowing what a pest these bloodthirsty bugs can be, I’d like to share a couple of tips on how to repel mosquitoes and avoid those itchy, annoying mosquito bites.

Best way to repel mosquitoes

1. Use a Bug Repellant

The clue is in the name of the area. It’s the tropics so make sure to use a bug repellant at all times when venturing outside. Just like sunscreen, bug repellant should be automatically applied in the morning and re-applied several times during the day. You can get heaps of different brands for all skin types and situations, although Australians swear by Bushmans. This is definitely a necessity so pick up a can of bug / mosquito repellant at the pharmacy. Make sure you get one with DEET as an ingredient but don’t apply it on broken skin and be sure to wash it off when you don’t need it.

2. Wear light coloured clothing

If you really don’t like the idea of using chemical filled bug repellants then wear light coloured clothing. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours like blue and black. To avoid extra mosquito bites make sure to wear light colours like white and khaki. Not only will they help deter the mosquitoes but they will also help you feel cooler by reflecting sunlight.

3. Avoid heavy doses of perfumes and other floral scents

While everyone likes to smell nice, floral perfumes will attract more bugs than boys here in the tropics. Save the perfume for the clubs ladies. The scent of sunblock and mosquito repellant will just have to do during the day.

4. Drink lemon juice

There’s a reason why most insect repellants have a lemon scent and that’s because for some reason mosquitoes don’t like it! Adding a bit of lemon juice to your water can help you to avoid attracting mosquitoes. This is actually my go to way to repel mosquitoes. For some reason mozzies love me, but if I drink lemon juice every day I really don’t get bitten very often at all!

5. Rub Garlic on Yourself

A slightly smellier alternative to drinking lemon juice or using citronella scented candles or repellant is to rub garlic cloves on any exposed skin. This is obviously not a popular option for backpackers on the pull, although you will be one of the few backpackers not to have legs full of ugly, itchy mosquito bites!

6. Light a Citronella Candle

In areas where mosquitoes are prevalent you’ll find citronella scented candles all over the place.

7. Take Vitamin B1

The non-smelly alternative to garlic gloves. Take a Vitamin B1 tablet regularly. Vitamin B1 gives off an odour that we can’t detect, but it does repel mosquitoes, gnats and other biting insects.

repel mosquitoes with lemon juice


Mosquito Repellant Plants

If you plan on having a barbecue then head towards the following plants in the garden! These are all known to help repel mosquitoes and best of all it’s a nice natural way to avoid getting bitten.

  1. Citronella –You’ve bought the citronella candles but a better way to use the citronella scent is the plant itself!
  2. Lemon Balm – Another lemony repellant. Rub a few lemon balm leaves onto your skin to deter those pesky bugs.
  3. Peppermint – Lemon balm has a slight minty tinge so it’s no surprise that the mint plant is also useful in helping to repel mosquitoes. Rub a few leaves between your hands to help release the minty aroma.
  4. Catnip – Not great if you don’t like cats, but catnip is a fantastic plant for repelling all kinds of insects while at the same time keeping the local cats happy!
  5. Garlic – Eating huge amounts of garlic or rubbing the scent onto yourself can deter mosquitoes from approaching you, but the plant itself will also release garlicky fumes.
  6. Lavendar – A much nicer smelling alternative to garlic, lavendar is great as an insect repellant.
  7. Basil – The smell from this tasty herb will piss off the mosquitoes but to improve your chances of avoiding bites rub a few leaves onto exposed skin as well.
  8. Rosemary – Another tasty herb with the useful side effect of being a mosquito repellant. If you’re having a barbecue or session around a campfire at night then throw some rosemary on the fire. Not only will it smell lovely the mozzies should stay away.
  9. Marigolds – Marigolds, the flower not the rubber gloves, contain one of the active ingredients used in many popular insect repellants.

mosquito repellant plants - lavendar


How to Stop Itching!

Perhaps the most important thing to remember DON’T SCRATCH!!! If you do get mosquito bites, please try to resist the urge to scratch. Scratching will only make the mosquito bites itch more and make any bites look so much worse.

If you have been bitten by mosquitoes there are a couple of anti-itch sprays you can use, or even better, some bug repellants are medicated to also include an anti-itch ingredient. Don’t scratch and the bite goes away quickly, scratch and it will stick around longer.

There are also some very odd remedies to soothe itching from rubbing banana peel on the bite to using a meat tenderiser! For more tips (some useful, some really bizarre) on how to stop that itching have a read of “How to Get Rid of Mosquito Bites“.

If anyone has any other tips on how to avoid mosquito bites or how to repel mosquitoes please do add them below as myself and my friends in tropical Cairns will try anything as we’re still not decided on the best solution.

21 thoughts on “How to Avoid Mosquito Bites

  1. I discovered that putting your own spit on a mosquito bite three, four or five times within getting bitten will cause the bite to not swell and not itch. My theory is that the enzymes in your spit counteract the mosquito’s injected enzymes.

    1. Glad to see that someone else does that! Although I put my spit on bites to cool the skin where the bite is. My theory behind that is, if the bitten skin is cooled, it won’t itch as much. But your reason may be a better one!

  2. You can also use Camphor to get rid of mosquitoes inside your house. Apart from the mosquitoe repelling benefits Camphor has a lot of other benefits to offer. Scientifically known as Cinnamomum Camphora, Camphor is harvested from camphor trees and later processed through steam distillation. Camphor belongs to the Laurel family, which is scientifically known as Ocotea Usambarensis. The chemical formula of this naturally occurring organic substance is C₁₀H₁₆O. It is used as an effective remedy for joint pain as it stimulates the circulatory system. This helps tackle rheumatic diseases, gout, and osteoarthritis. Muscle stiffness, cramps, spasms, and joint and shoulder pain can also relieve in less than 2 weeks with the use of camphor. This antispasmodic can also help promote a sense of calm during pregnancies. Moreover, ingesting camphor in limited and moderated quantities can help reduce the formation of gas as it improves digestion and helps increase metabolism.
    Camphor can also act as a remedy for those with stubborn nail fungus that has a tendency to recur. Regular use of this antifungal ingredient can help treat similar infections in a period of 3 weeks.
    One of the leading brands that have managed to efficiently capture the miraculous qualities of camphor in their products is Mangalam Campure. Available at http://campure.in/

    1. I have a toe nail fungus on my right big toe. You mentioned using camphor for the nail fungus. Vick’s vapo rub has camphor in it. Is it possible to use this? How would you apply it and when? How long does it take before it starts to work?

    2. As menthol is different from camphor and mentholatum is creamy substance made of menthol. Is Menthol effective against mosquitos as I do believe it works better for pain relief for same reasons. Promoting circulation.

  3. One of the best ways to repel mosquito is to check your Doors, Windows, and Screens, replace or repair any that are broken or with holes in them that can let mosquitoes in. Make sure you use weather stripping to seal all the Door gaps, especially above and under the door. Taking all these measures will really keep Mosquitoes away from your house.

  4. I didn’t know that adding a bit of lemon juice to water can help you to avoid attracting mosquitoes! Where I live there is a pond and a swamp which makes for a nice breeding ground for all sorts of mosquitoes, so I will definitely have to try these tips! I will also have to look into a mosquito extermination service to come to my house to reduce the numbers so that visitors or friends who come in are not also attacked by tons of mosquitoes.

    1. You can buy these non poisonous pucks(?) I guess you can call them and you throw them in bodys of water like the ones around your place and the mosquito larve don’t mature into adulthood. Maybe even kill them idk but I do know it doesn’t harm anything else that might be in the water. You can get them at feed stores possibly.

  5. A quick and easy way to stop itching from mosquito bites is to put a piece of tape on it. I use scotch tape. Leave it on for an hour or so and when you take it off, it doesn’t itch anymore. The trick is to get air off of it. Anything that causes you to itch, drown it in a swimming pool or wrap it in a wet towel.

  6. Thanks for your sharing this information with Mosquitoes, I really found this very helpful. And your blog also helps me so much to get more knowledge about pest and disease.

  7. Recently I was attacked by mosquitoes around my ankles. It was so bad I went to see a physician to get a Rx for the itching. It helped, but the best remedy was using a hair dryer. Heating the bites eliminated 90% of the itching. It was amazing. Can anyone explain why heating the bite would relieve the itching?

  8. Use table salt rub it in affected area no moment you feel free….. this is the best remidies for itching.

  9. I’m very interested in the reply of lemon juice in water to repel mosquitoes. How long does it take before it works for repelling mosquitoes?

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