Back when I was working full time in the woods I came across swarms of mosquitoes that were unbelievable. After a few such trips I proclaimed that I'd rather leave my canteen and knife on the kitchen counter than to leave my mosquito repellent and netting.

I have yet to see concentrations of mosquitoes that have rivaled that crop, 35 years ago.

To supplement the repellent I would build a small fire at the end of the day and stand in the smoke.

For relieving the itch of mosquito bites, what I found to work best was to first wash the bites with soap and water. Then make a paste by rubbing wet bar soap on the dried skin of the mosquito bite. Works and I use it to this day.

I had also heard that some of the earlier folks (Lewis and Clark, etc.) just 'got used to the bites.' I used to think that was absurd. But I guess one does build up immunity. Nowadays, the only mosquito bites that bother me are the first few of the season. To which I apply soap. The rest prove little discomfort.

I don't recommend building up your immunity the way I did!

Sparks

Sparks, blame it on the wimmen! Yup tis those dern pregnant mosquitoes that do most of the bitin! They suck our blood then give it to the young'ens while they're still little ole eggs on top o'the swamp water...sounds jest like a woman doesn't it? Well, anyways, I've had ma share of run ins with em too. Couple things I've found out thet may help some, one is if ye kin go 60 days er so without takin a bath it seems ta help, even with the black flies! Eatin garlic cloves seems ta help like ye said, fer some reason they seem ta like sweet smellin things, so leave off yer fancy smellin hair stuff an deoderant...even yer wife's fancy bokay soaps. If'n ye take vitimin B-1, mebbe 25-50mlg a day thet kin help too. If'n ye got bakin soda an water ye kin make up a batch an rub it on, kinda takes away the stingin to. If'n ye try all o' the above an yer smoke dance too an the critters are still after yer hide...move yer camp away up high away from the water!

Howdy yall. first post here i think.

I know it's not "PC", but some rubbing alchohol rubbed over the bites soothes the itch and burn.