"This gives you more choices and we're encouraging the public to protect themselves from the bite of mosquitoes," said Greg Olmsted, manager of the state Department of Health's Vector Control Branch.

Hanalei taro farmer Karol Haraguchi said mosquitoes are an almost constant presence on the wet north shore of Kaua'i. Her family rarely uses repellents around the farm, although they'll wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts for protection.

"Mostly, we've gotten used to it. But if we're going up into the mountains where we know they're going to be thick, we'll use some Off! or Skin-So-Soft," she said.

She said she welcomes more options for insect control, particularly less-toxic ones. DEET, picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus are registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Picaridin, which Olmsted described as odorless and not oily, is being introduced to the U.S. market for the first time this year, although it is commonly available in Europe and other parts of the world. Although right now they're hard to find, both Off! and Cutter make lemon eucalyptus oil products, among their other formulations, that are approved for sale in Hawai'i.

You need to carefully check the labels to find out what's in the repellent, Olmsted said.

Lots of things work against mosquitoes, but few work well for as long as DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). That's why it is the most common active component of mosquito sprays found in stores.

But if DEET is the gold standard of bug sprays, the two new ones are pretty close. Picaridin products with similar concentrations may actually keep mosquitoes away longer than DEET, and lemon eucalyptus oil nearly as long.

There are lots of reasons to avoid any of the six biting mosquito species present in the Islands, and the annoying noise and itchy bites are the least of them.

"I've seen people with bites all over their legs and arms," said Doug Chang, general manager of the Hotel Hana-Maui, which gives guests 2-ounce bottles of a product called Pest-Off, described as a natural insect repellent. Mosquitoes are a year-round problem in Hawai'i, but Chang said that in verdant Hana, the insects are a bigger problem in the warm humid months of July to September. Olmsted said wet winter months also encourage mosquito breeding.

Scratching the bites can lead to open wounds and possible infection, but mosquito-borne diseases are of more concern to health officials.

In the winter of 2001-02, there was an outbreak of dengue fever in Hawai'i, with East Maui reporting the majority of cases. Statewide, more than 100 people contracted the painful dengue virus.

Although Hawai'i has not faced the West Nile virus, another mosquito-borne disease, the Health Department is constantly monitoring for it. Mosquitoes also can carry yellow fever, malaria and a host of other diseases.

Olmsted recommended that residents try to make their properties less friendly to mosquitoes by removing sources of fresh water where the insects can breed.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.