Mosquitos in France?

I am sure mosquitoes around but when we were in that area I remember seeing any. Perhaps it is seasonal. Mosquitoes like still water, not flowing rivers.

There are mosquitoes in every country, every climate, in the world, even in Antarctica. And they only need enough standing water to fill a paper cup for them to breed. For travel, I like taking repellent in wipe-on towelletes, so that avoids the liquid issue and they're easier to use anyway.

But you're likely to find what you need there too.

Priscilla,

I spent 3 weeks in France in June/July 2015 and here's the bite count:

Loire: 0 in 2 days
Dordogne: 0 in 7 days
Provence near the Rhone in Tarascon: 30-50 in 7 days
Annecy: 0 in 5 days
Chamonix: 0 in 2 days

Being outside at our gite in Tarascon (north of Arles, near the Rhone) after 6pm was unbearable (on the order of a bite per minute). This was the only place in Provence that we were in after 6pm, so I can't comment on how it was to the east. Our experience is consistent with Rick's notes on some gites in the Arles area having mosquito issues. Couple this with the fact that most gites don't have AC and you won't find a screen in France. Is this specific to our gite? Who knows but it was an issue.

Thanks,

Matt

Just as an aside, we were eaten alive by mosquitoes IN OUR ROOM in Florence. I guess we were too close to the river.

Florence is the worst. I take the individual towelettes with strong mosquito repellant and have one in my hip pocket when we are going to be out where it is a potential risk. The two of us can use one if needed and it can be a real life saver. In my experience, the repellents available locally are pretty worthless. If it hasn't got deet in it, it isn't going to get the job done for me. Maybe they have effective repellents in Italy and France but we were not able to find them. I always bring a bottle in my checked luggage when traveling in Italy and have a few of the towelettes regardless of time of year. With carry on only you can't take a can or bottle, but the towelettes will tuck along the side of the suitcase and are easy to carry when out and about.

I got bit several times in Provence. The nice thing is that in France it's legal to sell anti-bite crime which includes local anaesthetic as well as antihistamine, which reduces the itching a lot.

The only place I've been bothered by mosquitos in France was down in the Camargue last fall. They seemed worse the closer to the sea we got.

Thank you all for your helpful replies!

I'd forgotten about the insect repellent towelettes, but will definitely take some with me, just in case!

Not really a problem in Paris, unless you are staying on the ground floor and where there are lots of plants. It's usually too cool in May and early June for mosquitoes. You can buy what you need in Paris, though - or turn on a fan, which discourages any that might come your way. We're trying to discourage heavy-duty insecticides in Paris, due to the effect it has on the bees.

if you can't find the towelettes in a local Walgreens or CVS, try a sporting goods store

We didn't have any problems with mosquitoes while staying near Versailles - and no screens on our wide open windows! We didn't notice any mosquitoes in Paris, either, even while near the water in the heat of the summer.

I don't have any recent southern France experiences - but hearing that bug bite count was interesting! I had forgotten about the towelettes - thanks for that advice

Laurie