The next time your barbecue guests seem to be having a knee-slapping good time, look closely — it may be insects that are causing the commotion.

Eliminate the conditions in which bugs breed by draining any containers with standing water, such as flowerpot saucers, roof gutters, and birdbaths.

Encircle your patio or deck with citronella candles or incense sticks so the smoke and fragrance that the bugs hate will always waft toward you.

Stay calm. Swatting at mosquitoes attracts them, since they're drawn to motion.

Apply a bug repellent containing 10 to 35 percent DEET. (The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children not use one with more than 10 percent DEET.)