There was frost a few weeks back and the mosquitos disappeared, so I am back to using a tarp without a bug tent underneath. I bought a Fusion Extreme tarp, 7' 4" X 9' 6", MARPAT Woodland camo for just under $10 at ACE Hardware. It has grommets every two feet (5 along the short sides and 6 along the long sides). I use poles taken from a Texsport 01905 two-person tent. Each pole comes in three sections, for a total height of 38". I use all three sections (38") at the head of the tarp, but only two (25"?) at the foot. The pole at the head is vertical and has a guy line. At the foot, the shorter pole leans, such that hanging a small weight from it keeps the tarp under tension. The difference in height of the two poles divides the tarp into four triangular regions, delineated by bends running from the top of the 38" pole to the top of the shorter pole and the two corners of the tarp at the foot end. So the pitched tarp has angular features like a stealth fighter. The MARPAT camo reminds me of a pile of leaves when seen from a distance by my near-sighted eyes. I use a total of 13 stakes, and one guy line. Staking the grommets directly to the ground seals out wind along two sides.
I am human and I need to be loved - just like everybody else does