Will mosquitos be a problem in Tuscany in early September? We're hoping to dine on the outside patio of our villa in the evenings but heard of someone with the same idea, who found it impossible because of the little nuisances! We're staying near Cortona, if that makes any difference. Thanks for any advice!

In a word, probably. You can pick up a very effective repellant in a pharmacy there. It's called Autan and has an ingredient that is not yet available in the US. Saved our skin (literally) in Italy in October. If you're staying in a room with unscreened windows, don't open them at night until you've turned off the lights. Trust me!

Turning out the lights might or might not work very well..mosquitos are attracted by a combination of your body heat and the production of carbon dioxide which is plentiful in your exhalations. Unless you are planning to stop breathing and also lower your body temperature considerably, turning off the lights won't have too much of an effect. Keep that bug spray handy for use in the dark if necessary.

What useful advice. had completely overlooked this possibility. It's Autan for me.

Yes. Get a coil or some citronella. I still remember a dreary October trip to Florence when I was in college -- we stayed in a cheap hotel room that was infested with mosquitoes and it rained the entire time we were in Florence! We spent three days in our hotel room killing mosquitoes.

The new Italian word we learned this summer was "Zanzara." (mosquito) As long as they weren't buzzing in my ear, I was fine.

Yes Autan is great. Except we didn't buy it until the last night.

They only came out after we had gone to bed.

Thanks guys - although the answer I had been hoping for was 'Mosquitos? What mosquitos?'!!

I'll certainly look out for some Autan and I believe you can also buy plug-in repellant things for your bedroom?

Haven't had the aquaintance of mosquitos before and am NOT looking forward to it!!!

I bought one of those plug-in repellant things this year and wasn't having much luck with it until I realized I wasn't changing the little chemical tab in it frequently enough. We sleep with a mosquito netting over our bed and would still find a few of the little suckers inside it each morning. I started changing the little green tab every two days and no mosquitos since! It also helps to put the fan near it so that the chemical blows over the bed.

Have a great trip!

If I remember correctly, every room we stayed in already had a plug-in repellant device, called a "vapo." It seemed to keep the "zanzara" population down a bit, though I was a bit apprehensive about the poisonous vapors that wafted over the room. You'll probably find a supply of poison pellets in your room. Just unwrap one (important) and slip it into the device. The Autan helped too. Also sleeping with the covers over my head was pretty effective.

One of the most useful and sought after products that I have taken on my trips is AFTER BITE or something equivalent. I got mine at REI. But any sports goods store should have something of the sort.

It is marvellous for the time after the mosquito(s) have already dined sumptuously and you are itching away.

We went to a cave in Thailand and one of the other tourists came out with hundreds of mosquito bites and she loved the product. Have also used it in Europe when the weather was so hot we had to sleep with the windows open - with the attendant mosquitoes coming in -

Try it! It's an essential part of my medicine kit.

Thanks again! Found out that Autan is sold in the UK, so we'll be stocking up on that - and plug-ins - before we leave.

Are the zanzaras already out in May?

Hel - Don't forget that the electrical plugs in the U.K. are different from those in Italy.

Thanks sardog10! May wait til we get there to buy one, either that or invest in yet another european adaptor - don't know what it is about those things, but they sure are easy to lose!!

Someone else asked about Mosquitos in May, so I will also ask about Mosquitos in March??

Is it a year-round problem?

And what about late October & early November? (We'll be in Florence then.)

Another vote for After Bite, although as you will realize as soon as you use it, the main ingredient is ammonia.

My favorite bug repellant is Cutter's in stick form. It has DEET so it's very effective, but it's in a push-up stick like a deodorant.

You can apply it when you're eating al fresco without getting it on your hands (hence into your food).

You don't spray it so you're not breathing the stuff.

It's easy to use in the middle of the night, even on your face.

Thanks Marilyn! I remember reading that a household product could take away the itch, but I had forgotten what it was.

I live in a mosquito ridden area--Washington, DC's suburbs--and have just found a new treatment for bites: running water as hot as you can stand on the spot. For me, it works better than After Bite, although AB does help.

Suzy: I've been in Italy a couple times in October, and found no mosquitoes.

For the perky pest bites, use Campho Phenique...Is great , I use it all the time here in texas.