Best Mosquito Repellents

There are so many options on the market today of various sprays, lotions, and products that claim to be the best in preventing mosquito and other insect bites. How can one really know which is truly the best? Are we really expected to try them all to make our choice? It can be a little overwhelming, but sometimes just having a little more knowledge of the subject can help you make an informed decision. That’s why we have provided you with some basic information about repellents and mosquitos to help you along.

The purpose of an insect repellent is right there in its name: to repel. Today, we are discussing a specific insect, the mosquito. Let’s take a closer look at what you should be looking for in a good mosquito repellent.

The first thing you should look at is the active ingredients. Some tried, and true ingredients used often are DEET, Picaridin, Pyrethrin, and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Some of these are naturally occurring, and others are synthetic, but they are all well-proven and popular. Whether you prefer organic or not is completely up to you.

The next thing you can decide is what form you prefer. The most popular form of insect repellent is a spray. Sprays are easy to apply and are pretty reliable. However, some people don’t like the smell or feeling of a spray. Alternatively, you can look into sticks, lotions, and wipes. Lotions tend to last the longest because their thicker formula takes longer to evaporate.

A product like repellent wipes is convenient to carry and easy to use in hard to reach areas. If you don’t like the feeling that a spray leaves behind, try a stick or a lotion. If you are concerned about coverage, a spray or wipe is probably better for you.

I think we all realize that the obvious reason to use mosquito repellent is that the insects are extremely annoying. There is nothing to like about the bugs. Some people don’t like spiders, but at least spiders kill other insects. Mosquitos don’t do anything positive. All they do is bite and cause itchy, swollen bumps that have us miserable for days.

Aside from these side effects, mosquitos can actually pose serious health risks. Various species of mosquitos are capable of carrying different viruses that are potentially deadly to humans. They can transmit these diseases to use through their bites. Those viruses include the West Nile virus, equine, and malaria.

We can reduce our risk of contracting these viruses by using mosquito repellents and preventing infected mosquitos from biting us. Repellents do more than make us comfortable – they can quite literally save our lives.

Sometimes you’ll get spiders in your home inadvertently as hitchhikers on other items you bring into your home. You’re most likely to find them in dark areas where they prefer to hide.

Mosquitos bite because they survive on blood—that much is well-known information. However, did you know that only the female mosquitos feed on human blood? The females of the species need the protein in our blood so they can develop eggs. Meanwhile, the males mainly eat fruit and plant nectar.

Females lay their eggs in the water. This is why you will often find yourself getting bit around bodies of water more often. The water is necessary for proper development of the eggs. In fact, baby mosquitos will spend the first few days of their lives in the water.

When the weather changes and the temperature drops, mosquitos actually hibernate. They don’t like temperatures of 50 degrees or below, so they go into hiding. After the winter and spring pass and the temperatures go back up to about 80 degrees, they will come back out. The weather is the reason we won’t see mosquitos in the winter.

While a male mosquito usually only lives for a matter of days, a female can live for a few months. Females can lay as many as 300 eggs at once, so although they don’t live long, they mass produce. This ensures the continuation of the species.