I know this much. If one of them lands on you, wait till he actually starts trying to bite. Then smash him. They are not too quick once they're sharply focused on preparing to suck your blood, and are easy targets at that point. They are also very resilient (can take a licking and keep on ticking), so make sure they are good and dead before you toss 'em in the compost bucket.
I love the black milk jug idea. It seems if they are placed somewhere that gets a little breeze, to give it some motion, it helps. Also they seem to work better for me if they get a little sun on them to keep them significantly warmer than surrounding areas. I'm not sure if it's the heat or the color black they're drawn to -- anyone know?
But I have noticed they tend to land on me more if I am wearing black shorts or shoes....
