How are the bugs in Virgin Gorda in December? Do I need bug spray?

Yes, if they usually go after you. They don't bother me but either my skin toughened up or they just lost interest.

In the evening and mostly only on the beach (sand flies). That was our experience in Nov.

Typically I dont have as many bug issues on VG as other places. It is a more arid climate so I never have huge mosquito problems. We are headed there next week. I will let you know how the bugs were when we get home

Bugs are all over the tropics/Caribbean all times of the year. Do bring some bug spray with you. IMO you won't be sorry. Even just a little just in case. If you need more, there's always places to purchase it on island.

It's not just mosquitoes but no-see-ums that can be hungry critters but repellents work so not to worry if there are some around.

I always travel with repellant (with DEET) because bugs eat me alive no matter where I am. Even though VG is a more arid island and you're going in the dry season, more or less, bugs can be bad anywhere after rain, which could surprise you while you're there. As my mama always said, it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!

There are plenty of places to buy Off in VG. I am going to buy some when I get there. Of all islands, that one is where I seem to need it the least, normally I just spray my legs / feet when going out at night.

MIM, I do the same thing--we bring our Off! and I spray down my feet & ankles (full leg if not wearing capri pants) every night, whether I've noticed bugs or not. I've found that I have a much better time if I'm proactive about the insects rather than reactive.

Have good time on this trip!

I am somewhat skeptical about those who say they used DEET and it still didn't work. We typically use 25% DEET products and apply pretty liberally to spots not close to the face and have fared very well. You do have to apply BEFORE you get eaten alive, and have plenty on you. DEET does work, but some folks (like my daughter) are somewhat allergic to bug bites and have a more pronounces effect. I'd bring Benedryl as well.

Tuxedocat, After just returning from St. John, I have to agree with you. I usually come back from anywhere in the Caribbean with MANY bites and go crazy for two weeks after I'm home with the itching. I even tried B12 for a month before we went to Bonaire in October. I hate using anything with DEET. But, I talked myself into using OFF constantly. And, I mean constantly. I wore a vest snorkeling at times like when we went to Francis Bay and I knew we would be in the water three to four hours. I sprayed myself before we walked on the beach to get into the water. I took the can of Off and put it inside my vest so that as soon as I exited the water I could spray again. I showered before dinner, sprayed, and showered again before I went to bed. I came home with probably five bites. I still hate Off, but I had to consider the alternative. Like everything else in life.

Someone posted a picture of their wife on "Bonaire Talk" with all the bites she had on her body (a nude side view). It was unbelievable. That did it for me!!! One pays a price to go to pradise, but at least there is an alternative to so many bites. Good luck with bites everyone and Happy Thanksgiving. Owa

I agree with Tuxedocat that you have to use products with DEET and bring Benadryl. I liked using the all-in-one Bullfrog with 25% DEET and 15 SPF sunscreen. And use one that's been recently purchased. I took a REI 100% Jungle Juice, which was probably many years old, and although effective, it wore off after a few hours.

Despite using repellant frequently, I still managed to get bit at the USVI (but not nearly as much as if I hadn't used it); mostly because I got careless and didn't apply it immediately after extended time in the water (snorkeling, wading, etc.) So I would take owa's advice and apply it immediately after any contact with water, including showers.

Then again, you could be one of the lucky many who never suffers a mosquito bite.

I happened to be reading these posts and something that Owa mentioned in passing seems to me very important to underscore, viz. the fact that Deet products should be washed off once one is no longer in bite range. For many years, I hadn't known this, had come in from star-gazing or whatever and piled into bed (because I'd had a shower earlier). But medical friends have leaned on me to not be careless about that: i.e. always to get the stuff off the skin asap.

In answer to a similar question i rresponded that our Board Certified Immunoligist and Head of Immunoligy Medice at Cornell-Weill in NYC (I am not bragging but thoser are his cedentials)said using DEET for up to 10 days, even products with 50% DEET, will do NO hard if you avoid the eyes, mouth and your "rear". Though he did suggest using a hard soap (bring it) not one with all the cosmetics and softeners in it and wash off with it once a day and then use moisturizer (preferably with SPF15 in it) to keep your skin from drying out from the sun.

greenmtngrl - I am in Virgin Gorda right now. We have been here since Wednesday, not one bug so far! I have not even needed Off. I bought some when I got here, but I have not opened it. Knock on wood that it stays this way for a while.

MIM04 -
Thanks for posting while in VG! WOW! How is the weather? From the 10-day forecast, it shows 60% chance of rain many of the days we'll be there. Not sure what that means to a place like VG but hopefully we won't get too much rain! Enjoy your trip! We'll be there Monday!
Cindy