Protection from mosquitoes: a net over the sleeping area

The net is a simple physical barrier: the mesh openings are smaller than the insects you want to keep out. It needs no power, no scent and no poison to work. That is exactly why it is so reliable – as long as it is intact and hung correctly.

Mosquitoes find people by their breath, body heat and smells. They land on the net and search for a way in. If everything is sealed, they get no further. But if a part of the body lies directly against the net, their mouthparts reach through. That is why distance from the skin is just as important as having no gaps.

Some nets are additionally treated with an insecticide. They not only keep mosquitoes out but also act against those that land on them. In malaria areas, according to travel-medicine guides, treated nets are among the most important protective measures, always together with other protection.

Check the net for holes before every trip, ideally against the light. You can close small tears with tape or needle and thread. One hole that you overlook makes the whole net almost useless.

Hang the net from a line, the tarp ridge or a branch so that it hangs well clear of your face. Tuck the edges under the pad or groundsheet all round, or weigh them down. Before you get in, check whether insects are already inside. Then slip in quickly and close the net at once.

Plan so the net is up before dusk. Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and at night; anyone who sets up only in the dark often shuts some in already. During the night, make sure your arms and feet do not slide against the net.

In areas with malaria, dengue or other insect-borne diseases, a net alone is not enough. Get travel-medicine advice before the trip; there you will learn which further measures make sense for your destination. If you develop a fever after a stay there, seek medical help and mention the trip. Some mosquito species also bite during the day, by the way, so protection does not end with the net.

Nets are flammable. Candles, mosquito coils, stoves and other flames have no place near them. This applies especially in huts and tents, where the net hangs close to other flammable materials.

Use insect repellents and treated nets only as the manufacturer directs. Special instructions often apply to children and during pregnancy; if in doubt, ask at a pharmacy or a doctor.

Under a tarp, hang the net from the ridgeline and tuck the edges under the pad. The tarp protects from rain, the net from insects – together they make a light, airy camp for warm, humid regions.

In a hammock, a net from above is not enough, because mosquitoes can bite from below through the hammock fabric. For this there are nets that enclose the whole hammock and hang from the ridgeline.

In accommodation without screens, hang the net over the bed and tuck it under the mattress. A head net over a hat helps while working in camp or walking through swarms of mosquitoes, but it does not replace the net for sleeping.

Even where mosquitoes do not transmit diseases, a net improves sleep enormously. Anyone who is not constantly woken by buzzing at night is more rested and alert the next day and makes fewer mistakes.

A net also has drawbacks: it does not protect from rain, tears easily on branches and thorns and makes the sleeping area somewhat warmer and less airy. Handle it with care, pack it dry and check it regularly – then it will accompany you on many trips.