BUZZ OFF MOSQUITOES!

COLORFUL PATCHES WITH NATURAL INGREDIENTS KEEP MOSQUITOES FROM PESTERING THE KIDS

- MICHELLE MASTRO

Mosquitos have become more of a challenge every summer, and with them a higher risk of mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus, malaria, and the Zika virus. Regardless of the more serious concern of combating life-threatening sickness, the itch from mosquito bites isn’t any fun while camping or just being outdoors with young children. Come summer, families are itching to get out and enjoy vacation, not the itch of mosquito bites.

Although most spray on insect repellents contain synthetic compounds, such as DEET or picaridin, there is now a growing demand for natural alternatives for children. This demand has led a pair of friends (and camp-loving dads), Gary Tramer and Michael Jankie, to create BuzzPatch, from their larger line, The Natural Patch, to ward off mosquitoes on the trails.

“Back in 2019, we were thinking about what to pack for a late spring and summer trip and got the shuddering thought of dealing with our youngest’s inevitable mosquito bite swelling and waking us in the night from itching,” said Jankie. “We thought there has to be another option besides spraying with chemicals and hoping for the best.”

But it turns out that each of the family’s kids loved stickers.