Tips for Keeping Bugs Where They Belong

When you are enjoying life at home, you do not like bugs inside of your house. Well, camping is no different, really. Just because you are in the great outdoors doesn’t mean you want to share your sleeping quarters with the natives. If you are nodding your head as you read this, then you may want to follow some or all of these tips to make your camping trip more enjoyable.

Eliminating bug problems on your camping trip begins before you ever pack the car with all of your goodies. Before you hit the road, pull out your camping equipment like your trusty old tent and give it a good inspection. This means you have to unpack it all the way. You need to look at all zippers to make sure they zip completely. If you have a snagged zipper, you may be able to loosen it with some WD40 or other lubricant. Holes are another area where bugs can sneak into your tent. Working diligently through all sides of your tent, you can find any holes and repair them. You need to remember that bugs want in, and they are resourceful; so no matter how small a hole you find, fix it. You will be glad you did.

Once you reach your naturally beautiful destination, you will be ready to set up camp. Where you pitch your tent and other camping equipment will play a part in how many bugs you encounter. Bugs like trees and bushes, so if you can set your tent up AWAY from these things, you will see less bugs. Depending on the weather, it is understandable that some people find it necessary to pitch their tent under a shady tree; but doing so will increase the likelihood of bugs.

Bugs also like light; so if you keep a lantern or flashlight inside of your tent at night, be very certain to close all openings up tight. In fact, you should enter the tent with the light off and turn it on only when you are nestled safely inside. You will find that within just a few minutes of having the light on inside your tent, the sides are covered with insects.

Some bugs also love sugar and food. Clearly, this is why ants love picnics! So eating and drinking anything besides water inside of your tent is a huge no-no. There are occasions where you may have to store food in your tent. This is ok when you have airtight containers to store ALL food in. Not storing in airtight containers will leave you with uninvited guests and a huge headache.

It goes without saying that bug repellent spray is a big part of any camping trip. However, some people go as far as spraying the outside of their tent with this repellent. If you want to give this a try, you may want to start out with a small area to make sure you can handle the smell. It would put a damper on your night if you spray your entire tent only to find the scent of the repellent to be overwhelming to your senses!

If repellent on your tent is a no-go for you, there is also garlic and onions, which some people swear by. You could hang a few cloves and cut onions outside of your tent for starters. Also, leave your fire going if you can. While bugs love light, fire is a huge turn off for your winged guests and will keep them at a distance. When you are in camp, even during the day, you should leave your fire going as long as an adult can keep an eye on it.

Bugs belong in nature, yes; just not in your campsite!