Insect repellent

<p>An insect repellent (also commonly called "bug spray" or "bug deterrent") is a substance applied to the skin, clothing, or other surfaces to discourage <a href="/facts/Insect/IgDNvnUL">insects</a> (and <a href="/facts/Arthropod/JKJLTFzp">arthropods</a> in general) from landing or climbing on that surface. Insect repellents help prevent and control the outbreak of <a href="/facts/Vector_(epidemiology)/bepASE2M">insect-borne</a> (and other <a href="/facts/Arthropod/JKJLTFzp">arthropod</a>-bourne) diseases such as <a href="/facts/Malaria/rN3g58CX">malaria</a>, <a href="/facts/Lyme_disease/820IycaC">Lyme disease</a>, <a href="/facts/Dengue_fever/Stn1FvlF">dengue fever</a>, <a href="/facts/Bubonic_plague/N9dCQ3EP">bubonic plague</a>, <a href="/facts/Onchocerciasis/ItVjR7BI">river blindness</a>, and <a href="/facts/West_Nile_fever/0TNb43fU">West Nile fever</a>. Pest animals commonly serving as <a href="/facts/Vector_(epidemiology)/bepASE2M">vectors</a> for disease include insects such as <a href="/facts/Flea/hFLUFK24">flea</a>, <a href="/facts/Fly/ugzGBFKG">fly</a>, and <a href="/facts/Mosquito/u8hTMTfc">mosquito</a>; and <a href="/facts/Tick/LNe33WJf">ticks</a> (arachnids).
</p><p>Some insect repellents are <a href="/facts/Insecticide/1xYL3MSD">insecticides</a> (bug killers), but most simply discourage insects and send them flying or crawling away.
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Insect repellent open-in-new

Insect repellent