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The problem with general insect repellent is that no one insect repellent will repel all insects. There are so many different type of insects that nothing will stop them all. Some insects in some regions for instance have been especially targeted, like bed bugs in New York, and so they have built up a tolerance to repellents that does not exist elsewhere.

This is not such a problem if you know the area where you are staying, because you will know the most prevalent insect pests in your area, but what about if you go on holiday? You may take a box of your favourite mosquito ointment to Acapulco on your dream vacation only to find that there are no mosquitoes there but that the sand flies are murderous.

Mosquitoes are not really difficult in Scotland, but midges are in the summer and mosquito repellent does not have an effect on midges (or sand flies) even though they get up to the same sort of monkey business. The key is local information. Before you go anywhere attempt to do some research on local nuisance insects.

In fact, unless you are sure that your favourite mosquito repellent works where you are going, there is not much point taking it with you, since the locals will already have the best repellents for their own particular local problem insects. The only potential exception is a lotion with a high percentage of DEET.

It may be illegal where you are going to sell a cream containing more than 25% DEET, but you feel safer with 50%. I know that I would feel safer with 50% DEET, if I were going to Gambia, where the world’s most deadly mosquitoes lives.

Another insecticide that kills pretty much all insects (except bed bugs) is permethrin, but you may not be able to get it where you are going. The difference between DEET and permethrin is that DEET deters mosquitoes by baffling their senses – basically, you slip under their RADAR – but permethrin kills insects.

This confusion works for lots of insects that detect their prey by carbon dioxide emissions like ticks and possibly bed bugs. Permethrin is not so effectual against bed bugs because they have a waxy coat which does not allow the chemical to actually get to their skin, where it would kill them.

This waxy coat can be removed, but you will not have time if on holiday to do it. The overall best solution to most, but not all insect pests is putting DEET at around 25-35% on your skin, which will give you five to eight hours protection and spaying permethrin on your clothes. Permethrin can last up to six months and can survive several washes.

If you are sitting outside it is a good idea to hang up a bug zapper – the kind that has an ultraviolet lamp inside a highly charged electric grill. A handheld racquet style bug zapper is also good for clearing a tent or bedroom of a couple of mosquitoes or flies before retiring.

Owen Jones, the author of this article writes on a number of topics, but is currently involved with finding a home remededy for mosquito bites. If you would like to know more, please go to our website at Getting Rid of Mosquito Bites.

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