DEET specialists

Depends. With 100% DEET, all you need is 4-6 drops to create that "cloud" of DEET. For lower concentrations (e.g. 15% DEET in lotion) — you'll need to apply much more.

DEET acts to jam the sensors of most biting flies. These flies (mosquitoes are flies, too) use CO2 and various other chemical scents you give off to find you and home in on their meal. DEET vapors make you invisible by chemically blocking their sensors.

So, as Ben notes, you will need less of the high percentage DEET to block them and more needs to be applied if you are using more dilute DEET.

Why do they bite? Female mosquitoes need a high protein meal before they can lay their eggs. Males don't bite they feed on plant juices.

How can you tell a female from a male? If it is hovering around you or biting it is a female. Also, females have scrawny antennae that look like a cheap christmas tree with only a few limbs. The males have full bushy antennae like the expensive christmas trees. But then you are unlikely to see any males, unless you are a plant ;-)

More than you ever wanted to know about mosquitoes.

-Mark (former entomologist)

Thanks for the info. Actually the bug info was kind of cool. I fly fish too so I probably spend too much time staring at bug pictures to understand the anatomy to create my own flies.