Idaho Insects Are Smarter Than Our Repellents
Soon the weather will warm up and we'll move this party outside, and we'll be camping and fishing and playing golf. With the bugs.
Mosquitoes aren't a huge problem in Idaho, but if you run across them there are many repellents that won't work. Here's the heads up for your camping trip.
Mosquitoes like water and humidity and warmer weather, and our ankles. We've been largely protected from things like Zika and West Nile in Idaho because of our climate, and there's no reason to think that will change and we'll suddenly get an influx of mosquitoes. But if you travel to warmer climates this spring and summer, there are things you need to know.
If your mama has been telling you to get the mosquito repellent with DEET because that's the only thing that works, she's right. The experts agree with her, and they add that lemon eucalyptus spray also works. Citronella candles don't work well at all, according to the study, and the mosquitoes take a whiff and keep on coming, not bothered at all.
There are 253 other types of insects and bugs in Idaho that can drive us batty this spring and summer, including the bumble bee, the dog tick, and the snow mosquito.
One of the hazards of living in a really beautiful, outdoorsy place like Boise is that we have to put up with some bugs. We might have bees, fleas, and ticks, but at least we're not overwhelmed too much with the big virus carriers like mosquitoes. We should totally make another best-of, top ten list for our lack of mosquitoes and citronella worries. It's only a matter of time!