Avoiding the bloodsucking bugs: What works to repel them and stop the itch

With the warm air comes a familiar whine in your ear and that inevitable itch on your ankle.

Before you curse the bloodsuckers away, Julia Kasper, lead curator of invertebrates at Te Papa, reminds us seeing these critters is a good thing for the ecosystem. Mosquito and sandfly larvae help filter waterways.

Nevertheless, it can seem like they have a personal vendetta against frequent targets – just ask Chloe Wright, co-founder of NZ Fun Camping Adventures.