I know that newcomers to the island get eaten alive by the mossies. I saw on a thread somewhere that repellant with 60% DEET upsets them, but our experience is that 60% DEET seems like candy to them and they like to lick it off as a starter before feasting on your blood.
SO - does anyone have any better ideas - what works either chemical or natural solutions would be good! Do blue light zappers attract them, does Citronella affect them ( we thought they ignored it)? All ideas welcomed!

I have used this with good results.
http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=7949401&parent_category_rn=4500560&vcat=REI_SEARCH
Be aware that this stuff is about 98% DEET and it will melt plastic.

Dude, it comes in a plastic bottle.

>Dude, it comes in a plastic bottle.

True, but it will melt nylon, damage synthetic clothes, etc.

If I'm sitting outside at night & I start to get bitten, I just use OFF! that I buy here at the grocery store. For me, it works great & I never get a bite after I apply it.

We swear by Cactus Juice. All natural, as I get sick when wearing Deet. It doesn't bother me if someone else wears it. I can't. www.cactusjuice.com I purchased a kit with bug juice and tanning lotion too.

My husband and I use Skintastic, unscented. We don't get even get a nip. When I don't use it, I'm mosquito fodder. At night time, I spray it on a small towel, and put it at the bottom of the door to avoid any bugs coming in via the crack. Works great.

REI jungle juice (see post above) has been effective no matter where I have tried it. That said, it has melted a pair of sunglasses (nylon frame), melted the printing on the plastic bottle, etc.

In the jungle (not Bonaire), I have also applied a line of it to the floor of cabin right at the door threshold (large gap under the door). The idea was to keep insects from coming in during the night. The cabin was rustic with a painted cement deck and threshold. It peeled the paint right off the floor.

Personally, I will apply it to clothes but not directly to my skin. Also, I would probably not use it on small children.

We used Bite Blocker, it's all natural and safe for children. It's also Deet free. It worked great, we didn't get a single bite while wearing it. Check out the website www.biteblocker.com.
It had an o.k.smell on everyone but me, I guess it depends on your body chemistry but it really did work. It won't melt anything that I know of and it comes in several forms (wipes, spray. gel) it's a little bit on the expensive side too.

i agree with marge...we've had good luck with cactus juice

Marge, et al,
The Safe Solutions website for the Cactus Juice product is www.cactusjuicetm.com

add the "tm"

We are testing it for bugs, burns, sting first aid, and bites.

Bud