Keep Mosquitoes At Bay With These Tips
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Table of contents
- Keep Mosquitoes At Bay With These Tips
- Pop-up Screen Shelters That Keep Bugs Away
- Quick-Set By Clam Shelters
- Features
- Trap Mosquitoes With A Flying Insect Trap
- DynaTrap DT1100-CA Mosquito & Flying Insect Trap
- Features
- Thermacell Insect Repellent System
- Mosquito Coils
- Mosquito Repellents
- Other Tips
- Final Thoughts
For many RVers, mosquitoes have always been the biggest drawback about camping trips. After all, being swarmed by mosquitos and/or their bitey cousins (black flies, horse flies, stable flies etc) really sucks. These tiny pests can bring big misery to any summer camping adventure, but they get a lot worse when you camp close to water. Not just the lakes, rivers and creeks that most of us enjoy camping near. Any water. These little pests can propagate in any standing water- even the water that pools in a tarp. That means they manage to survive everywhere, usually hiding in vegetation until they sense a warm body nearby.
Mosquitoes and other biting insects are attracted to body heat. To them, it signals a feast- of blood. With a needle like proboscis, they inject a little anaesthetic so their victims won’t notice that they’re having an unauthorized blood draw. And that’s when the itching starts.
Mosquitoes and other biting insects don’t have to be part of outdoor living. In this article, we’ll look at the most effective ways to keep the little critters away from the campsite.
Pop-up Screen Shelters That Keep Bugs Away
Pop-up screen tents allow you to nearly create a no-fly zone wherever you happen to be. And they often deploy in less than 3 minutes. A well made pop up screen shelter creates an effective physical barrier that keeps bugs away with no-see-um mesh. The only drawback is that it creates a quasi- indoor environment, so instead of hiding from bugs in the RV, you’re kind of outside but not really. I bought a Quickset Clam shelter 6 years ago and I can highly recommend these shelters to anyone wanting to created a sheltered, hybrid refuge from mosquitos and other biting insects.
Quick-Set By Clam Shelters
Like any other great invention, it’s attracted competitors who have copied the basic design. However, the Clam Quick-Set shelter stands out a robust US made product. I’ve seen Quick-set By Clam shelters used as year round at RV parks, surviving west coast storms unflinchingly. While this is a testament to their build quality, Clam points out they are only meant to be used as temporary shelters.
Features
- Oversized carry bag for easy repacking
- Available in 6 colors
- 4 sizes
- Stakes and tie downs secure it in windy conditions
- Water resistant seam taped roof panel
- Extra large 11mm fiberglass poles
- Tear resistant, durable no-see-um mesh
- Bottom flaps keep flying insects from crawling under
- Built in corner grommets additional inside staking options.
- Hub pull straps for easy setup and I-bolts to secure external tie down straps
- No assembly required.
- Available wind panels to turn it into a giant tent
- Price Range at QuickSetShelters.com: 249.99 – 569.99
Trap Mosquitoes With A Flying Insect Trap
One of the most effective means of greatly reducing the number of flying insects in your campsite is by hanging an insect trap nearby. These traps work by attracting and trapping mosquitoes and other flying insects for up to half an acre. Flying insect traps use a combination of an ultraviolet light and a fan to attract insects and suck them into an inescapable reservoir where they die an untimely death. There are no odors and no potentially harmful chemicals involved.
Flying insect traps take a few days to have a noticeable effect, so they work best if you’re parked somewhere for more than a week. They’re ideal for RV park settings where you have access to shore power, but can also be used with a portable power bank or other power supply. I’ve used a DynaTrap DT1100-CA Mosquito & Flying Insect Trap for a few years now- especially when I am camping in Alberta or Manitoba, where bugs seem to be among the most voracious and fierce.
DynaTrap DT1100-CA Mosquito & Flying Insect Trap
DynaTrap Insect traps use an ultra violet light to attract insects into an escape proof “lounge area”. While they’re doing “the bump” with the light in that area, a strong fan draws them into a reservoir below. The reservoir needs to be emptied when it’s full.
Features
- Attracts and traps mosquitoes, biting flies, house flies, moths, no-see-ums, June beetles, wasps, yellow jackets, stink bugs, gnats, and biting midges
- All-weather Construction – Designed to be used in all weather conditions
- Use it indoors or outdoors
- Price at Amazon: $151.90
Thermacell Insect Repellent System
Thermacell Insect repellent systems get plenty of rave reviews in RV groups. The concept is basically a butane flame that heats up a pad containing a repellent that insects can’t stand. Reviewers say it works to keep pests away for up to 15 feet (4.6 m). I’ve tried this product, and found it very effective, even in areas that were inundated with mosquitoes. However, for me, the big drawbacks were frequently having to change out the pricey, not environmentally friendly butane cartridges as well as the mysterious chemical mix that was off-gassing in my immediate environment. It left me wondering if they offer any significant advantages over much cheaper Mosquito coils.
Mosquito Coils
Mosquito coils offer an effective, low cost alternative to other insect-control methods. These smouldering insecticides burn slowly over 4-8 hours, repelling and killing mosquitos and other bugs in a 10 meter radius. This makes them ideal for outdoor use as a way to keep mosquitos out of campsites, but they should never be used in an RV or tent.
Mosquito coils typically burn either pyrethrum powder, or citronella, both of which can harm human health and the environment. Their effectiveness comes at a cost- mosquito coils cause localized environmental pollution by releasing high levels of fine particulate matter, formaldehyde, and VOCs, equivalent to smoking 75-137 cigarettes per coil. These emissions definitely raise air quality concerns, contributing to asthma, lung cancer, and harming non-target beneficial insects. With that said, they are relatively safe when used occasionally and always outdoors.
Mosquito Repellents
If you grew up in Canada, chances are you have memories of being sprayed down with Off! or other personal insect repellents on camping trips. Mosquito repellents are most effective when applied to pulse points. Effective mosquito repellents include EPA-registered chemicals like DEET, Picaridin, and IR3535 for up to 12 hours of protection. Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus offers a natural alternative along with citronella and rosemary oils. I
- DEET – most effective for adults but shouldn’t be used on children
- Permethrin – a good alternative to DEET but less likely to irritate skin
- IR3535 -great for sensitive skin and also offers effective tick protection
- Oil Of Eucalyptus – almost as effective as low concentration DEET
- Citronella – not as effective as other repellents but offers minimal protection.
Other Tips
- Avoid camping near standing freshwater
- Avoid disturbing vegetation where mosquitos may be resting
- Wear white or light coloured clothing
- Don’t scratch mosquito bites- instead use baking soda paste or topical antihistamine to reduce itching and swelling
Final Thoughts
Insect bites don’t have to be a part of the camping experience. Modern technology offers new ways to control insects around the campsite or at the RV park. Screen houses, flying insect traps, and chemical repellents offer new ways to keep mosquitos, black flies and other biting insects out of the campsite. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages and none will work in every situation. However, the most effective approach seems to be a combination of insect control methods. Click here for more useful RV camping guides!
Lynne Fedorick is an RV expert and experienced outdoor author who has written hundreds of articles for RV Life, RV Trader, and other leading publications. She evaluates RV gear, portable power systems, and emergency preparedness equipment for real-world RV travel. Lynne is the founder of RVAdventureGuide.com, offering RV travel tips, reviews, and destinations from a uniquely Canadian perspective.
