Are you a mosquito magnet? You learn quickly in the Arctic

While others worried about big bears or blown tires, I focused my tundra tension on something considerably smaller: bugs that bite.

University of Florida researcher Jerry Butler says that mosquitoes cannot manufacture cholesterol and B vitamins on their own. When female mosquitoes go searching for blood, they zero in on those who exude the most of those substances.

I must really exude.

In almost any group of two or more people, I am the morsel mosquitoes are most likely to target. My wife loves hiking in the woods with me: I am her best assurance that nasty insects will stay away. My skin is simply too tempting by comparison.

The Arctic tundra is flush with the two key ingredients for making mosquitoes merry: lots of sunshine and plenty of stagnant water. Unfortunately, the tundra lacks many warm-blooded animals. Some studies suggest that the little bloodsuckers can detect carbon dioxide and other exhaled human odors from as far away as 40 miles. Step outside, and you're a magnet.

Seeking the wisdom of a tundra native, I turned to Max Kotokak, an Inuit living in Tuktoyatuk, a place where mosquitoes swarmed my head like angry hornets.

"Max," I asked, "you've lived here all your life. Do mosquitoes bother you?"

"Of, course," he replied, with a look of barely restrained tolerance.

"So," I pleaded, "what's the secret to keeping them from driving you crazy?"

"Stay inside."

In truth, there are several less draconian measures available.

First, be aware that mosquitoes in the Arctic are at their peak in late June and early July.

By September, most are gone, but pockets remain depending on local climate and temperature.

Second, the wind is your friend. Even a slight breeze sends mosquitoes scurrying.

Third, the bugs are worse during the twilight of dawn and dusk. That's a real problem in summer, when the sun never really sets for weeks on end, and there are many hours of twilight after 8 p.m.

Fourth, most mosquitoes are attracted by perspiration; I sweat a lot. But they are apparently more attracted to certain antiperspirants, soaps, creams and cosmetics. The more neutral you smell, the better.

Fifth, a lot of Arctic residents wear special jackets, hoods and pants. Gore-Tex is an effective barrier, and not terribly hot during the surprisingly warm summer days. I brought along a head net, but I let my ego get in the way and never wore it.

Finally, there are new innovations in bug sprays. I had great luck with a product called Controlled Release DEET Formula by a company called Sawyer.

DEET is the active ingredient in nearly all chemical repellents, and I have been known to slather on 100 percent pure DEET in the worst of bug environments.

Doctors are concerned anytime we pour toxic chemicals directly on our skin, so the new product is less than 20 percent DEET, and relies on a different technology for keeping bugs at bay.

While my Controlled Release DEET worked well for mosquitoes, it did little to repel black flies, which begin their flesh-ripping season in late July and early August.

Black flies sneak into socks, pants, collars and shirtsleeves, and leave red welts that still itch a week later.

In desperate times, I resorted to the only sure-fire solution:

Stay inside.