Gnats, mosquitoes and things that bite

Slather on Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil.

We lived in NH for 18 years where the little buggers are plentiful in the spring. They annoy me but my wife has a nasty reaction to them.
They do make a hat with all around veil and neck drawstring, and arm/hand covers that will foil them. That was what my wife had to use to work outside.

We tried the Avon stuff and it did nothing. Later Avon did come out with a product that actually had DEET in it and that did work.

No-See-Um netting and 100% DEET.

We did also install no-see-um mesh on the outside of the window screens in our MH so we can have the windows open without sharing the living space with the critters.

To keep bugs out of the MH, we've found that the "No Pest Strips" work pretty well. We hang it in the bathroom so it's not hear the food. But, in a 24' Class C, it's still able to effect bugs in the whole rig from there.

Outside the RV, we often set up a "perimeter" with mosquito coils. Not ONE sitting between us. Instead, we light 3-5 coils per person in camp. They seem to work well against mosquitos, no see ums, whitesox and about any other flying bug we have in Alaska.

And, the 100% DEET, as evil as it is keeps bugs away. But, I never apply it with the palms of my hands. I put it on the backs of my hands and rub it on myself that way. I've seen people leave hand/finger prints in all kinds of things by having it on their hands and then touching anything plastic or with any kind of finish: steering wheel, gun stock, plastic drinking glass.... and more.

On a side note, as a kid, finding the No Pest Strips seemed easy. Not so much anymore!

We drycamped in our RV on Antelope Island (in the middle of the Great Salt Lake) in mid-summer a few years ago and the bugs weren't too bad, but maybe early in the summer they would have been worse.

The use of a fan to blow away bugs whenever outside is a good suggestion. We carry along a high volume powerful 12 volt fan, with an extension cord for it, that blows bugs when sitting at outside tables or sitting in our lounge chairs.

What we found was WAY MORE IRRITATING when camping on Antelope Island was the odor in the air - everywhere out there. There's nothing you can do to get rid of that if it's present.

By the way when bugs get inside the RV and land on light colored surfaces there, we just use a little portable vacuum cleaner to suck them off of anything they're on. Amazingly, once inside the vacuum they never seem to "escape out of it" ... there gone forever. We use this same technique in our stick house.

When camping on Antelope Island you will probably see some really astounding sunsets ... as well as buffalo.

As stated, pests are most active in the morning and evening. Here is all you need to have - OFF Family Care:



In the evenings use a fan while hanging out by your RV.

The no-see-ums aren't as bad as the asian tiger mosquitoes. They bite fast, and the bites itch badly. They are in Utah.

ramgunner wrote:
The no-see-ums aren't as bad as the asian tiger mosquitoes. They bite fast, and the bites itch badly. They are in Utah.

I thought Utah was bone dry, is there a rainy season?

Padlin wrote:
I thought Utah was bone dry, is there a rainy season?

When I lived there we once had a slushy snow storm in August around the Ogden and Salt Lake City areas. :E