It’s summer time, time to get away and get in touch with nature. The great outdoors are full of fun and adventure, but they are also full of bloodthirsty mosquitoes.

To protect your family members from being bitten, try to stay indoors at dawn and dusk when the air is full of swarming clouds of these miniature vampires.Other tips to keep mosquitoes at bay: don’t dress in brightly colored clothes, and don’t wear perfume or use scented lotions. If you do, you will be mistaken for a delicious flower and attract insects.

For extra protection on camping trips or hiking trails, try Bugables: Citronella Bracelets or Mosquito Repellent Stickers, both infused with natural oils of citronella. The brightly colored rubber bracelets can be worn on the wrists or ankles and help to respell mosquitoes for up to 72 hours. They are a fun choice for older children and adolescents. The Bugable stickers have similar properties, but might be more fun for younger children, because the stickers can be adhered to hats, or shirts, and they come in fun shapes and bright colors. They contain latex, so be careful using them around people with a latex allergy or sensitivity.

If you would like to enjoy a beer by the campfire with a group of friends, you can use Citronella Mosquito Repellent Diffuser, a small attractive green tube-like canister. When ready to use, the diffuser needs to be filled with the included citronella, lemon grass, and geranium-filled granules.

I tried it last weekend when I had friends over. Instead of swatting mosquitoes, everybody could enjoy the evening. The diffuser lasted the whole night. The package claims that the diffuser is effective for 75 hours, so maybe I’ll use it again soon!

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