this post was submitted on 21 Feb 2026
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[–] walden@wetshav.ing 3 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

Citronella candles and torches don't repel mosquitos, but they mask the scent of humans. This helps, but not 100%.

DEET doesn't mask your scent, so mosquitos are still attracted to you. Once they land on your skin, though, they fly away immediately. Very effective.

Propane based traps work very well for collecting large numbers of mosquitos. There isn't a definitive answer on whether they reduce the local mosquito population over time. The idea is that if large numbers are killed, it will reduce the local breeding.

Thermacell brand mosquito repellers are, IMO, magic. At first I thought they were a gimmick, but my impression of them is very positive. They output a light chemical mist which keeps mosquitoes away. They only work with little to no wind, and they take 15 minutes to warm up and start working.