Tips to keep bugs away while camping
Even as the world seems to be consistently unlocking one technological advancement after the other, there is still no better feeling than having fun outdoor on a camping trip. It connects you to nature, gives everyone the means to unwind and escape from their regular stressful lives, and make memories with family and friends. Knowing that the idealness of the weather can entirely influence your experiences, camping in the dry season is astounding, except for those pesky little critters that will not stop invading your campsite.
Unfortunately, fishing, foraging, or scouting environments in dry weather is the prime time and location for breeding diseases, pests, and insects like mosquitoes, black flies, and ticks. Gladly, this article helps to identify the insects to expect while camping and the different ways to keep bugs away. Knowing this ensures a peaceful and enjoyable camping experience.
Plan and avoid getting bugged
The imagination of bugs buzzing, creeping, crawling, or swarming is disturbing. It brings a lot of unpleasantness and even keeps most people off their outdoor adventures. Moreover, since these bugs will always be outdoor, there’s almost no sure way to avoid them when you spend time outside. However, what you can do is identify the ones you will most likely come across, plan a control method ahead of time, and reduce the impacts of these creepy-crawly creatures.
During your camping trip in warmer months, some insects you should expect to see include mosquitoes, bees, spiders, flies, ants, ticks when camping with dogs, and much more. None of these are tolerable, but most campers will recognize mosquitoes as the worst of them all. As tiny as it seems, it can disrupt the entire camping vacation and leave itchy bumps on its victims. In some cases, bites from mosquitoes carrying diseases can endanger your safety and your family’s.
Thankfully, there are ways to keep the bugs, especially the mosquitoes, at bay. With these methods, you can fight back and prevent these pesky critters from swarming around your food or leaving itchy bites on you or your camping companions.
How do you keep bugs and mosquitoes away while camping
Check out these tips on how to keep mosquitoes away while camping:
Insect repellent
One of the common tips is the use of insect repellent. The most used ingredient is DEET in making these chemicals, and it’s proven that the more the DEET in an insect repellent, the more effective it is. Although using bug spray is not a favorite control choice while camping with kids, many people successfully protect themselves from these insects by using these camping bug repellents. Bug sprays work so effectively as the last line of protection combined with other methods.
Essential oils
Various essential oils have bug repellent properties. But you can choose to make your essential oils where you know what was used in the preparation and be less concerned while spraying it. In the making of essential oils, stuff like thyme, sage, rosemary, lavender, mint, basil, tea tree, lemongrass, and cedarwood can help to add valuable scent to your environment. Mix in a spray bottle, add half a cup of natural witch hazel, a tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, and half a cup of water. Now you’re good to go.
Use fragrant-zero body care products
We should note that bugs are drawn by smelly things like scented lotions and perfumes, deodorant, hair care products, shampoo, soap, body spray, and food. That should not prevent you from having your bath or applying care products for the entire camping trip. Consider using natural toiletries that are unscented and don’t have artificial fragrances.
Campfire, candles, or lanterns
Not only for cooking hotdogs, but campfire is also another excellent way to keep bugs away. Insects don’t survive well around smoke or fire. They will have no choice but to give enough distance from such environments. You can consider using citronella candles. Citronella is a lemon-scented grass of southern Asia that yields an oil used in perfumery and oil repellent. It is also advisable to add a little sage to the campfire. The repellent works as an effective and natural way to keep bugs away when camping.
Keep your camping area clean
Liters around your camping site are never a good sign. It will attract several insects. Cleaning the debris and food leftovers in your campsite and removing your food from exposure makes it safe. Open food containers and unwashed dishes left overnight are free invitations to insects and pests.
Cover up
Mosquitoes are active during dawn and dusk hours, so it is best to cover up fully (long sleeves and long trousers). Avoid wearing dark clothes because hot weather will make the heat unbearable.
Keep tent doors closed
This caution goes for your tent, car, or anything with a door. Closing or zipping up your tent is the first step if you want bugs out of your campsite. Keep your cooler closed when you are sure of not getting anything outside. Keep your tent zipped!
Stay away from still water
Bugs thrive in damp and moist areas. When pitching your camping tent, it’s best to move far enough from such environments as wet-grassy lawns, meadow areas, and stagnant water.
Using light and electricity
You may go for the best mosquito repellent and still hear them buzzing in your ears while resting. Using lights and electricity is even a more preferred means to deter pests. If you’ve gone camping and had a bad experience of insects invading your relaxation time, go camping next time with the Acevolt campower 2000 portable power station to light up your repellent LED camping lantern. This fundamental piece of camping gear helps to keep mosquitoes from the surroundings.
Stay in screen rooms
When everything from proper clothing, candles, fire camp, repellent, coils and lanterns, and all fail to keep the bugs away, consider a screen room. A screen room is a typical tent with screen walls. They are designed to protect you from insects.
Rely on plants that are natural repellents
Most wild places have plants that can offer solutions when DEET isn’t available, is finished, or runs dry. Some examples of bug-repelling plants are pawpaw, wild onion, and catnip. You can use wild onions the exact way you do the insect repellent. Just ensure you are not allergic to the scent of onions.
Conclusion
When camping in warm temperatures, always consider the best way to keep the bugs away. While we have provided several tips to serve this purpose, you need to look through your camping essentials and ensure you have insect repellent or repellent LED lanterns for your trip. With this, you can enjoy time outdoors and worry less about being an insect feast. Going prepared and protected goes a long way to ensuring you have a pleasant experience.
