Not all mosquito repellents are equal – here’s how to avoid bites this summer

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Immo A. Hansen, New Mexico State University and Hailey A. Luker, New Mexico State University

(THE CONVERSATION) Now that summer is in full swing, mosquitoes have come out across the United States. The use of mosquito repellents can protect both your health and sanity this summer.

While mosquitoes leave bothersome, itchy bites on your skin, they can also pose a serious and sometimes deadly risk to your health. When a mosquito bites you, it may transmit harmful pathogens that cause dangerous diseases like malaria, dengue fever, Zika and West Nile.

Avoiding mosquito bites

Mosquito females bite people to get vital nutrients from our blood. They then use these nutrients to make their eggs. One single blood meal can give rise to about 100 mosquito eggs that hatch into wiggling larvae.

There are several ways to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes, from wearing long, loose clothing and limiting time outside to placing screens over your windows and getting rid of standing water that mosquitoes might use to breed.

However, one...