How Insect Repellent Works

If you are an outdoorsman then you know for sure how aggravating bugs can be. The answer to this aggravating problem is of course insect repellent.

Insect repellent is used as a general term, but it really covers a subset of repellents based on their active ingredients used to keep the bugs off. There are chemical products based on ingredients such as DEET but there are also natural products using active ingredients such as Citronella and natural oils such as lemon eucalyptus. The chemicals tend to be toxic to some extent, so insect repellents with natural active ingredients will generally be better for you.

Considering the name, most people would assume that insect repellent works by repelling mosquito, flies and so on, and some do while some don't. Some insect repellent products will work by making you smell or taste bad to a bug. Other insect repellent products work by masking your skin odor. This process can be analogized to stealth plane technology because the bug uses its "radar" to identify possible targets, but you are hidden from their radar by the insect repellent.

If you use insect repellent, it is important to understand there is a secondary reason you may get bit. Although bugs are attracted to the odor of your skin, some are also attracted to another odor you give off, and that is the carbon dioxide in your breath.

However, an insect repellent will tend to be effective only over short distances. As a result, you may see bugs flying fairly closely to you but this doesn't mean they are biting you, but it can lead to a sensation indicating they are. The best way to determine if you are indeed being bit is to look at the spot where the sensation is occurring. If you are, then put more insect repellent on.

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