How To Protect Against Mosquito Bites
Mosquitoes bite during the day and night. They live indoors and outdoors. Protect your family from mosquito bites. Use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, and take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors.
Use insect repellent
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone.
• Always follow product label instructions.
• Reapply insect repellent as directed.
» Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing.
» If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
• The effectiveness of non-EPA registered insect repellents, including some natural repellents, is not known.
Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, treat clothes and gear
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.
• Treat items such as boots, pants, socks, and tents with permethrin or buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
» Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes.
» Permethrin-treated clothing will protect you after multiple washings. See product information to find out how long the protection will last.
» If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions.
• Do not use permethrin products directly on skin.
EPA-registered active ingredients
Higher percentages of active ingredient provide longer protection
• DEET
• Picaridin (known as KBR and icaridin outside the US)
• IR3535
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
• Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone