How it works: A fave of Canadian outdoorsy types since 1951, Muskol uses a 30 per cent DEET formula to keep mosquitoes and other biting flies away.
Pros:
• High DEET concentration formula deters biting insects for up to eight hours with just one application!
• Small bottle fits in backpacks and pockets
Cons:
• Not safe for use on kids under age 12
• You MUST wash this stuff off your skin afterwards, using soap and water (not always fun after campfire at 10 p.m.!)
4. Anti-bugging product: Flowtron Insect Killer (Prices range from approx. $55 to $100 depending on coverage from ½ acre to 1 ½ acres, available at HomeDepot.ca and camping goods stores)
How it works: This outdoor, electronic device zaps mosquitoes and other bugs after attracting them with a synthetic lure called Octenol.
Pros:
• No pesticides, nets or glue panels
• You won't need to spray yourself with insect repellant
• Relatively compact unit
Cons:
• One happy reviewer on HomeDepot.ca describes an experience with the product as "like [hearing] a bag of popcorn in the microwave, one after the other…" If the beautiful sound of zapping bugs bugs you, this may not be for you.
• Unattractive glow of UV light (though this can be mitigated by placing it out of sightlines)
5. Anti-bugging product: Butterfly Weed Herbals In the Bush citronella oil ($14.99 per 2-ounce/bottle, available at natural health stores and online at thebabygarden.ca.)
How it works: Citronella oil deters pests, while lemongrass and lavender oils please your nose.
Pros:
• Non-toxic and safe for kids and pets
• Eco-friendly
Cons:
• Mild formula, better suited to light duty
• Frequent re-application as with many light-duty products
6. Anti-bugging product: ThermaCELL Woodlands Mosquito Repellant ($36.99 at CanadianTire.ca and select stores)
How it works: The butane-cartridge fueled device heats up a mat that disperses allethrin, a chemical copy of the natural insecticide pyrethrin, deterring mosquitoes, black flies and other pests at bay within a 5-metre-by-5-metre outdoor area.
Pros:
• Compact and cordless; set it up in your campground, backyard or by your seats when watching the kids play soccer
• Odour-free, undetectable to your pets
• You won't need to douse yourself with insect repellant
Cons:
• Mats last for four hours, and cartridges for 12 hours, so avid outdoorspeople will be loading up on refills.
7. Anti-bugging product: Citronella candles (sizes vary, widely available at all price points)
How it works: Candles infused with the scent of citronella (or decorative fuel torches that burn a citronella-infused lamp oil) fill the air with a scent mosquitoes and other flying insects don't like.
Pros:
• Products come in various styles and provide mood lighting and decorative touch in addition to insect-deterring benefits
Cons:
• Less effective on a windy evening
• Multiples are more effective
• Possible fire hazard
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