A few months I ago, while vacationing in the Dominican Republic, I thought it would be fun to eat dinner on the beach. Well, it turns out that just about every mosquito on the island had a similar idea, leaving me with 53 bites on my right foot and ankle and 44 on my left foot and ankle (I was able to count them once the swelling went down). Needless to say, I've made sure to wear bug spray every time I've been outdoors at night since then.

Another way to avoid those pesky blood-hunters is to outsmart them, and by that I mean knowing what makes them tick. Their M.O. (mosquito operandi), if you will. Here's a look at what I've learned since being victimized (source: Maximum Fitness magazine):

• Mosquitoes are most active from sunset to sunrise;
• They are no more attracted to bright-colored clothing than dark-colored clothing;
• They also have no preference for perfumes or colognes;
• It's usually the female mosquito that does the most blood sucking;
• DEET, a compound developed during WWII, is the most effective chemical repellent (it is found in various potencies in many common bug repellent sprays)
• Non-chemical remedies include garlic, vitamin B, thiamine, and some "ultrasonic" devices
• If bitten, treat the affected area with soap and water and calamine lotion and avoid scratching