A repellent spray, one of the most popular ways to fight off the bugs.

A coil that, when lit, creates a smoke that repels bugs.

If you believe some recent reports, we're about to undergo a veritable apocalypse of mosquitoes across the capital.

On July 18 the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention warned of a sudden surge in Beijing's flying bloodsuckers, up 16 percent on 2011. Mosquito repellent started flying off store shelves as the rainy season was predicted to boost numbers.

Then Beijing was hit by the worst flood on record, turning what could have been a small increase into a breeding frenzy.

Now residents of the capital are facing the next sweltering month not only in sticky discomfort, but also scratching at every available opportunity.

So how can you protect yourself against getting bitten?

Nonfatal attraction 

Mosquitoes breed in small pools of stagnant water, probably like those found in your apartment compound, under bridges or in one of Beijing's newly formed sinkholes.

Given that the average little bug's lifespan is only between one and two weeks, in a nice post-flood period such as this, they should be in for a treat.

While not life threatening, the irresistibly irritating bites can get worse if scratched, and it's the young that are most at risk.

"We have seen a lot more cases of problematic mosquito bites coming in from around Beijing lately, and many of the cases are young children," said Lian Shinan, a doctor at the dermatology department of Beijing Xuanwu Hospital.

There is little truth to the joke about someone having sweet blood, but there are ongoing studies and theories as to why some people get bitten more than others.

"The body's PH level and smell affect whether a mosquito will be attracted to someone. Some people carry special smells which might affect them more," noted Lian.

It is not just smell that the insects are attracted to when choosing a target. Body heat is a major indicator of a tasty meal, and may account for mosquitoes' fondness for darker colored clothing, which retains human body heat more than lighter colors.

In December last year, a team of researchers published data in scientific publication PLoS ONE that suggested even the bacteria on an individual's skin can have a significant effect on mosquitoes.

Become repellent 

There have been a few myths in the past about how you can change your body odor by eating certain food. 

For example, British black yeast spread Marmite was thought to encourage the body to give off a smell unpleasant to insects, horrifying the millions of Marmite haters around the globe, but no evidence has been collected to prove the theory.

More realistic measures exist in the form of the many repellents and smoke products stocked at your local xiaomaibu (convenience stores).

While many manufacturers cautiously advise the use of DEET-based sprays, mosquito coils remain the tool of choice in Chinese households, even at great costs.

On July 18, Yang Shuxia, a doctor at Peking University First Hospital, told the Global Times that, "Burning mosquito coils releases various aromatic compounds that do have harmful effects on airways. And it has been estimated that burning one for over six hours produces particulate matter smoke equivalent to about 80 cigarettes."

Not everyone is planning to smoke out their relatives though.

"We have had a lot more people coming in and looking at mosquito treatment at the moment, although this always happens in the high season around July and August," said Sun Guanghua, who works for the Jinlong Pharmacy Group.

"But most people tend to use the repellent bracelets, essential oils or patchouli water as a form of protection," Sun noted.

Essential oils are thought to counteract the smells from the body that attract the insects, and in many cases have proven effective.

In the likely event that you do get a bite, there are other things to watch out for.

"Young children are always the ones that need the most protection from bites," said Sun.

"While everyone knows that scratching a bite is a bad thing, with children they do it anyway, and once the bite swells up it can burst, become infected and require extra treatment."

Whether Beijing really does suffer the mosquito apocalypse remains to be seen, but we're coming up to the time when the eggs will be starting to hatch, so best get some repellent. 

Xiang Xiangping contributed to this story