How to beat the bugs

1) Wear the right clothing. As most people know by now, dark colours attract insects more than light colours. (Studies seem to show that hot pink works well as a deterrent.) But bug hats, or better yet bug jackets, are essential in late spring and early summer.

2) Use the right repellent. There are lots of bug-repelling formulas out there, but the best contain plenty of DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). Just remember: The chemical is not only effective in keeping blackflies, mosquitoes, no-see-ums and ticks at bay, but it also works well for stripping paint and melting plastic. So spray it on your clothes more than your body. Repellents containing citronella are almost as effective as DEET and are more gentle on the skin, but they usually don’t last as long.