Mosquitoes are insects from the Diptera family. There are over 3500 different species of mosquito around the world. The most infamous being Anopheles gambiae – which is the species that transmits malaria around Africa. 

Only female mosquitoes bite. As females emerge from the pupal stage with just enough fat to provide nutrients for the first egg batch, they need a blood meal to provide enough nutrients for future batches of eggs. 

Mosquito activity depends on the species. Some are more active at night and others more active during the day. The malaria transmitting mosquito (Anopheles) is mainly active during the night, and around dusk and dawn. Mosquitoes that transmit Zika, dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya (belonging to the Aedes family) are mainly active during the day. 

It will depend on which country you are visiting as to whether you’ll encounter day or night time (or both!) mosquitoes. 

Mosquitoes use similar cues to other biting insects like midges when it comes to human attraction. Mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide that we breath out. Mosquitoes are believed to be able to detect CO₂ from over 200 meters.  Mosquitoes are also drawn in by the heat we give off and certain chemicals (uric acid, lactic acid and ammonia) that we emit from our bodies through sweat.  

In the environment, mosquitoes need moisture to lay their eggs e.g. ponds, puddles, basins of rainwater. It is important that you prevent standing water or avoid it to minimise the impact of mosquitoes. 

Mosquito bites can be very irritating. However, everyone reacts differently. Some hardly notice mosquitoes or their bites. Others may be bitten and come out in large itchy spots caused by mosquito saliva, used to numb the area before the bite, as well as keeping the blood folowing. It is always recommended to use a reliable repellent like Moskito Guard to avoid such problems. 

Mosquitoes do not emerge carrying any diseases. When mosquitoes bite you, they are taking what we call a “blood meal”. It is from an infected persons blood that a mosquito picks up diseases like malaria. They then fly to the next person for another blood meal and it is here that they transmit infection. 

Getting rid of mosquitoes is tough. The best way to avoid mosquitoes is to use a repellent, such as Moskito Guard. Repellents act by blocking the various signals that mosquitoes use to find human hosts. It’s also a good idea to clear standing water sources to limit their breeding sites. 

Mosquitoes are known for being abundant in regions like the Mediterranean, Africa, Southern Asia and South America. Countries like Brazil, Malaysia and Thailand have the highest number of species. However, mosquitoes are becoming more and more common in northern Europe including the UK. In fact, the only places where mosquitoes have not been found are Antarctica and Iceland.  

The short answer is yes! Picaridin is as effective as DEET at repelling mosquitoes, midges, ticks, and other biting insects. Picaridin is recommended by the World Health Organisation and Public Health England as a suitable DEET alternative. Better still, Picaridin won’t damage your clothing, watches, climbing ropes etc. 

Yes. Moskito Guard contains a moisturising agent and is very kind to your skin. If any doubts, always read the label, contact us with any queries and we would strongly recommend a small patch test, just to be sure. Apply a small amount to your skin and leave for 24 hours to see if there is a reaction. If you do have a reaction, stop use immediately.

Shake the bottle well before use. The best way to apply Moskito Guard is to spray it on to your hands and rub it on to all exposed skin. Do not spray directly on your face. Spray a small amount on your fingertips and rub on to your face, whilst avoiding your lips and eyes.

No. Moskito Guard works by repelling mosquitoes away from your skin and does not contain insecticides.

Moskito Guard, like all repellents sold in the UK, must be approved for use under the Biocidal Products Regulation and this includes their safety for use by humans. Each of the four repellent actives going through this system (DEET, Picaridin, IR3535 & Citriodiol) must go through such safety assessments. As such, we cannot categorically say that none of the components of Moskito Guard have been tested on animals.

Moskito Guard can be used with sunscreen, but we recommend you apply Moskito Guard  before your sunscreen, which you should reapply as often as you need to.  Reapply Moskito Guard according to the recommended application rates.  

Yes. Moskito Guard bottles are not pressurised and can be taken into the cabin or the hold. The large bottle holds 75ml and the small is 30ml.

Moskito Guard has not been approved or tested for use on animals. We have heard many success stories of people doing so, but we cannot recommend this.

Unfortunately, we can only ship within the UK.

Yes! The bottle is made of plastic and can be recycled.