Mosquitoes?

[ntmainstrm]

I've been researching Bonaire here and on other forums for a few months. In the fall many posts mentioned had bad the mosquitoes were. I haven't read much about them lately. Are they seasonal? Is everyone just heavily Deeted? Have they just become a way of life?

9 days till takeoff,
Lee

 

[drrich2]

Can't speak to seasonality, since there are some anytime. A few may get into your room. I mainly notice them when eating out at night, since a number of the restaurants' dining areas are outdoors or open to the outdoors, and buildings and such block the wind. In other words, they may dine on your legs, especially since a lot of us wear shorts on Bonaire. Spray repellant on your legs in the evening before you head out.

I do remember a night dive at Windsock dive site once where they about ate us alive. I don't usually get that night diving on Bonaire.

Richard.

 

[PARADISE HUNTER]

The first night I was there in March I forgot to put on the bug repellent and got carved up. After that I did as Richard suggests and don't think I got a another bite. But they weren't mosiquitos, they were tiny flies.

PH

 

[altarose]

We were there in mid Feb for 2 weeks and they were not too bad, use deet spray in evenings. Had nets in bedrooms, but did not use them

 

[Jersey]

Just got back and the mosquitoes are still there. They are worse when the weather has been really really rainy, not so bad this trip. While the winds are up they tend to blow around, as the day time winds die off they come out. We leave the apartment doors wide open during the day and bugs blow through. ('Course the cats, pigeons and lizards walk in.) Shut them late afternoon. Keep the bug spray handy ~ we keep a bottle in my purse and small one in rental. Every restaurant we ate in offered us spray so if you do find yourself without, just ask (would you like a little DEET with your dinner?) All part of the Bonaire charm.

 

[vladimir]

They can get pretty thick during rainy periods. Luckily, Bonaire has an arid climate. Most of the rain falls in October, November, and December. As has been suggested, use DEET when you go out in the evening, use air-conditioning, mosquito netting, or both when you sleep, and they'll be a very minor nuisance.

 

[gbf]

the 2 places that skeeters will dine on you:

1. At dinner, as mentioned
2. In the gear storage cage, especially for early AM or dusk dives.

 

[Sue Sue]

I found when at outdoor dining areas that by applying the deet/bug spray to the bottom of the table as well as the chair and chair legs, the skeeters pretty well leave us alone. since I have a sensitivity to applying deet directly to my skin or even on my clothes this works rather well. 17 days until Bonaire !!!

 

[deeper thoughts]

Funny when we went to Bonaire there was not one mosquito the whole week. This was about 10 yrs ago.
Skeeters do love wet scuba gear though

 

[mattpatton]

I went to Bonaire in November of 2007. Skeeters were there, but nothing compared to how bad they get here in the Carolinas. We never got hit with swarms of them or anything...just a stray looking for a meal here and there.