Can anyone give me the mosquito skinny, e.g. what's the best/worst season for them? How bad are they in the best/worst season? Does the windy side have less mosquitoes because of the, well, wind? Does the windy side have just as much if the wind is not blowing?

I am considering a windsurfing vacation at Kontiki/Jibecity; we don't have much interest in nightlife; don't scuba, but would probably snorkel and kayak in Lac Bay and surrounding area.
Thanks!

Chris, Have been to Bonaire all the different seasons. The skidders are worst durring the rainy season. Bring yourself some Deet protection and you shouldn't have a problem. My wife gets bitten even using spray. They don't bother me at all(lucky me). Ron

Don't let something as minor as Mosquitoes interupt your visit.

There are mosquitoes all year round, more during the rainy season, which although late seems to have started now.

there are just as many around the Lac area because there is one type of mosquito that lives in the salt water around the mangroves.

If you have to use deet, be careful and read about all the nasty things it does to you first!!!

There are deet-free alternatives which are just as effective.

Thanks. Generally, how do the seasons breakdown, rain/mosquito-wise, e.g. rainy Jan/Feb, dry the rest of the year? We will not use DEET, due to sensitivity, so mosquitoes can be a deal breaker. We have been on vacations with flocks, no exaggeration, of mosquitoes and it ruined what would have been a great vacation if we had known to go a couple weeks later.
Thanks!

[Don't let something as minor as Mosquitoes interupt your visit]

Ron: You know I'm a big fan of Bonaire, but...Never underestimate the bodily damage that the mosquitoes are capable of! Just ask "cold water LLoyd" what he went through with dengue.

Chris..The mozzies love low lying areas where there is vegetation & water. Just one of the reasons that I chose to purchase real estate which is not at ground level. When you go out at night be sure to use repellent especially on your legs as they love to gather underneath tables.

On the East side, there are less likely to be the mosquitoes that carry Dengue.
They don't live or breed in salt water or in "dirty" water like puddles, so most cases of Dengue appear in and around Kralendijk where there are more people to feed on and more sources of water to breed in - water left standing near houses.
So if you are staying at Kontiki and mostly around Lac, you'll probably get bitten by the salt water mosquito (which is annoying, but doesn't carry Dengue of any other major disease that we get here)
If you use a deet-free repellant - of which there are several good ones around - some even available on the island - you should be OK.
Jan-Feb could still be rainy season, but this year who knows. Locals are saying they expect a very dry rainy season this year, in which case the mosquito count will be lower as well.

If you are going to mangrove kayak expect mossies as a possibility..they live in shaded moist areas. There is not one area of the island with less mossies. I notice dining at night in certain restaurants, mossies are intense. Dawn to dusk are the worst times. Our mossies are small and hard to clap with your hands (or my reflexes are slower)..haaa...Wear spray..keep the bedroom door closed at all times and as I tell many clients, if you are very worried about bugs, it may be best to seek solace in another vacation area. The Caribbean has mossies..

Hi Chris-
As an alternative to DEET, and more eco-friendly, my wife and I have had great success using Cactus Juice. We buy it on-line. (And, no, I have no financial stake in Cactus Juice. Have just found it to be effective)

Otherwise, enjoy your visit!

Neptune (St.) Nick

I have to concur with Vince . It is not the nuance of the skeeter that is of concern . It is the damage the bite can infect .
Dengue Fever is a very serious illness . I have read some reports referring to it as "flu like symptoms with a headache" , that is a huge understatement due to my experience .
The only part of me that did not hurt for over a month were my ears and nose .
It took me another month to rehab and gain back my strength .
The bad news , I was diligent with deet for the entire week . I got four bites on my neck area while I slept on my last night . I had been spraying throughout the nights but on the last night I actually slept 7 straight hours due to a few Brights .
I did not feel the symptom's for about five days and thought it was jet-lag , was I wrong .
Worst month of illness in my half century on this planet .
Now I have the fear that if I get another dose I risk developing Hemorrhagic Dengue Fever . This haunts me . I have nightmares regularly that I find myself wandering the tropics with no Deet . I am actually starting to enjoy these dreams and find myself trying to get some dive gear together .
I have gone from booking my next trip a few weeks after I return to wondering if I will ever return to the land of Aeduis Egypti ( or however you spell the name of the culprit skeeter ) .

You can bet if I return I too will be like Chris , "when are the days that they are the fewest?"

I love Mosquitos. Where there are mosquitos there is no snow.

Paul, never thought of mosquitos in that sense....I hate snow......but, I still hate mosquitos.

Dengue can be very mild. Thankfully my case was. I was bitten the last day waiting for my flight. That will teach me. I thought I had picked up a "Dutch bug." My symptoms...a slight headache and lots of achy joints. It did take a while to get my energy back, but it was nothing I couldn't deal with. My doctor said there are 4 strains total and I got a mild one. And yes, he did talk to me about hemorrhagic, but he stressed it is an increased risk, but not a guarantee if I catch it again. My doc travels the tropics regularly and has a home in Costa Rica. I trust him and will be returning to Bonaire with my Deet in hand.

If skeeters are a serious concern, you can buy suits to wear when doing activities that will put you in the middle of mosquito land - ie, kayaking the mangroves. I used one of these suits in the rain forest and it worked pretty well. They come in a great variety. Mine was like a jogging suit, separate pants and jacket that fit over my clothes. The hood on my jacket was very large and was designed to fit over a baseball hat and closed at the neck. This kept you completely covered, except for your hands. Very effective!

Thanks for your input , I have heard that dengue can be mild . I wish mine was like that , it took about two weeks to hit its peak and another to recede . The next month was a recovery period.
I probably will return and be even more diligent with the chemicals .
With the current Air Travel situation I am not in much of a hurry to fly anywhere .

Only 100% deet!!! they eat me alive every year without it, and you can't buy it there, also they are low, if you're on the second story, no problem

I personally avoid 100% DEET. It melts/eats things but it works. Nice discussion at http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/insect+repellent.html