In this final post about Mosquitoes, I want to take a look at things that work and don’t work to keep mosquitoes away. It is summer and we have a lot of outdoor activities going on. Unfortunately, mosquitos also enjoy the summer heat so we keep them at bay by stocking our decks and campsites with citronella.
Oil of citronella is an all-natural insect and animal repellent made from the distilled oils of different varieties of grass, according to the National Pesticide Information Center. Unlike other varieties of pesticides, citronella not does kill mosquitos rather it repels them and other pests, reducing the number of mosquitos that land nearby. Researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario studied the effectiveness of citronella by using candles with a three percent concentration of the oil.
The citronella candles effectively reduced mosquito landings by 42 percent, according to their study published in the National Institute of Health library. Citronella works by masking scents that are attractive to insects. In recent years, those who frequently spend time in the great outdoors have drifted away from purchasing citronella candles in favor of higher-concentration citronella bands, spots and collars. This kind of citronella product is not affected by the elements. It is worn on the body and is more effective than candles in windy weather or for those who are competing in outdoor sports.
Insect repellent wristbands are marketed as being safer, because you don’t have to rub anything into your skin. But when testers stuck their arms into a cageful of mosquitoes while wearing one of two wristbands—the Coleman Naturals Insect Repellent Snap Band (containing citronella oil) or the Super Band Wristband (containing geraniol oil)—the bugs started biting immediately. Given those results, they are rated as poor performers and it is recommend that you skip them.
And in May, the Federal Trade Commission fined another maker of repellent wristbands, Viatek, $300,000 for deceptive marketing of its Mosquito Shield Bands, which the FTC says contain mint oil. The FTC says the company’s claim that the bands protect against mosquitoes wasn’t backed up with scientific evidence. In fact, Consumer Reports did identify one mosquito repellent that uses a natural plant oil as its active ingredient that worked well…Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, at 30 percent strength. This insect repellent warded off Aedes mosquitoes, Culex mosquitoes (which can spread West Nile), and ticks (which can spread Lyme) for at least 7 hours. All repellents can cause side effects, especially if you apply too much of it or too often. For example, they can all cause rashes and skin irritation. In addition, ingredients like deet might cause disorientation, particularly in high concentrations, which is why it isn’t recommended to use repellents that are more than 30 percent deet.
Using a “natural” mosquito repellent, with active ingredients such as citronella or clove, lemongrass, or rosemary oils, seems like a good idea, especially if you’re pregnant or planning to be. There is variation in the effectiveness of natural insect repellents, just as there are for other kinds of repellents. Some of the best herbs for Mosquito Control are Citronella (lemon balm, lemon grass, lemon verbena), Geranium, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Anise, Mint, Marigolds, Catnip, Wormwood, Lavender, Cedar, and Cloves. Plant herbs in your garden anywhere and everywhere you can squeeze them in, the more the better. Make mosquito planter pots. Choose a couple of the plants mentioned above and create container pots to place by the entry doors, by your grill, by the pool and on the deck. In the dryer. Put a couple of drops of essential oils (any of the ones mentioned above) on an old cotton cloth and throw in the dryer with your clothes, it will give your clothes a natural insect repellent without putting anything on your skin. I hope these mosquito beating tips help you enjoy your time outside with minimal damage from bloodsucking insects. Feel free to leave comments and hit the “Like” button at the bottom.