I am, apparently, the equivalent of a gourmet meal for mosquitoes. When I'm outside, the others in my group love to stand, sit or walk beside me, happy in the fact that they know they're only going to be bitten if there's overflow from the banquet table on me.

Over the years, I've used everything from nearly pure DEET and stinky flower-based organics to various sprays, ointments, and once even a sound-based sonic insect repellent machine that I couldn't hear, but made my wife, children and dog howl when it was activated. I was certain if it worked, but never certain what happened to it. One day it mysteriously disappeared.

From sweating in the heat while wearing long-sleeves and pants when others were comfortable in shorts and tees, I've had virtually no luck keeping the mosquitoes off me.

It's safe to say I'm skeptical when it comes to insect repellents. With that in mind, I dutifully prepared to give up more blood in order to test a mosquito repellent that claimed to repel mosquitoes when fishing, hunting, camping or simply enjoying time on my patio. It's not brand-new in the market, but it's one of those devices that you might have passed over had you not heard of it from a friend or acquaintance.

ThermaCELL

It's called ThermaCELL and to the nonscientific mind (like mine) appears to be a scientific combination of butane and heat-activated insect repellents. It works by heating a mat saturated with allethrin, a substance from a class of materials called pyrethroids. Without being overly-scientific, mosquitoes do not like the stuff. The volatilized allethrin forms a zone of protection around the unit The amount of active ingredient that is released is small - not enough to kill mosquitoes, but enough to repel them in what the manufacturer says is an approximately 15x15-foot area. We used it in a slightly larger area, but there was no breeze to dissipate the violatized allethrin.

The ThermaCELL device looks like a cross between a flashlight and a small fan, although there are no moving parts. The grid under which you place the repellant mat is what looks like the covering over a fan. Under the hood, the device sports a butane cartridge and heating system that heats the repellant mat, giving off the mosquito-repelling emissions.

When I saw "some assembly required" I started to worry. Fortunately, assembly consisted of two basic steps: 1) remove butane compartment cover and insert butane cartridge, 2) replace butane cover; unwrap protective mat and place under grid.

At that point, it was as simple as moving the on/off switch to on, giving it a couple of seconds to allow the butane to flow, then pushing the start button 2-3 times (think the auto-igniter on your gas grill). Check the little hole at the top of the unit to see the small red grid glowing (it's pretty quick to ignite), then place the unit on a level surface, and let it work. The manufacturer recommends 20-30 minutes before it optimizes the repellent effects, we saw results nearly immediately under the sheltered area, with the effects spreading quickly through our cooking/seating area.

With only two nights of experimentation under my belt, things are looking good.

The small blue mat delivered a full four hours of bug-free protection, changing from blue to white as its repellent content was released into the air. When it's done, simply remove the pad and replace it - carefully- it is a heating element, and the plate under the grid does get hot. You might want to turn the device off and allow it to cool as the effects of the repellent seem to last well after the device is turned off.

A note, remember to dispose of the little mats carefully. The chemicals in them are toxic to fish and like any other chemical, you want to be careful and keep them away from food.

ThermaCELL units are available in outdoor retailers and other stores around the country, or you can order online at www.mosquitorepellent.com. MSRP $23.99 and you can also order refill mats and butane cartridges there as well.

And if you're thinking other applications where camo might not be the acceptable color scheme, the same functionality is available in a mosquito lantern (it also provides some basic illumination), a mini-lantern, and a mood lantern for decks and outdoor entertaining.

If you're looking for a way to keep bugs out of your campsite, off the dock or boat while fishing, or simply away while you enjoy being out on your deck, this is one you should consider.