Other threads have included posts about mosquito protection. So thought that information on the subject from one of the latest reports added to the How Stuff Works website might be of interest.
Protection and Control
You can do a few things to reduce the number of mosquito bites that you get while enjoying the outdoors. First, wear clothing that covers most of your body, if temperatures permit. Second, use a mosquito repellant that contains NN-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) at a concentration of 7.5 percent to 100 percent. Lower concentrations are sufficient for most outdoor protection, and a 15-percent concentration is recommended for children. Avon's Skin-So-Soft is a weak, short-lasting (less than 20 minutes) mosquito repellant. Permethrin, an effective pesticide, is for use on clothing only (Never apply it to your skin, it is a neurotoxin!). To learn more about mosquito repellents, see the EPA's How to Use Insect Repellents Safely.
For those interested in learning more about how mosquitos work, see
http://www.howstuffworks.com/mosquito.htm
To see what the EPA has to say on use of insect repellents, see
http://www.howstuffworks.com/framed....s/insectrp.htm