El Paso stores experience mosquito repellent shortage

EL PASO, Texas - You don't have to go very far to find someone who has been bitten by mosquitos this year. The active monsoon season we've had has led to extra vegetation and stagnant water, allowing mosquitos to multiply with ease.

But for the past few weeks, the mosquito repellant that is used to defend our skin from the bug bites has been hard to find.

Bug spray has been sold out at many El Paso stores, and is now only now starting to get back on the shelves. That's good news for those who have been "eaten up" by the pesky insects. Still, the mosquitos are out and about - and aren't going anywhere any time soon.

Joel Arce, a mosquito specialist and integrated pest management agent who works for the Texas A&M Agrolife Extension Service, said that the peak time for mosquitos is early spring to late fall, but that they can stick around even through the winter. Unless there is a "good freeze," which Arce's describes as a period where temperatures get below 32 degrees for at least 4 hours, mosquitos can stick around for the entire year.

He also says that the active ingredient in most bug sprays- DEET- is perfectly healthy to put on your skin. The only age group to avoid usage on are newborns. He recommends that if you are using a bug repellant with DEET on children, to avoid putting it on the hands and near the eyes; there is a chance that a rash may develop. If that's the case, he says to clean the spray off and stop usage.

For those who don't want to use chemical based sprays, there are homemade ones you can make as well. Using a recipe from the Old Farmer's Almanac, here is one you can easily make:

• 2 cups of Witch Hazel
• 1.5 tsp of Lemongrass oil
• 1 tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar

• Mix it up, and put in a spray bottle. It certainly is pungent.

For other recipes to fight off these pesky bugs, you can visit this website: https://www.almanac.com/homemade-bug-spray-recipes.