Natural Ways to Keep Mosquitoes Away
Summer is a fun time for backyard barbecues, pool parties, camping, hiking, and get-togethers with family and friends. So the last thing you want to have to worry about while enjoying the great outdoors is mosquitoes. Not only are mosquitoes a nuisance, but they also can carry many diseases such as Zika, malaria, West Nile Virus, encephalitis, and yellow fever. Fortunately, you can do a few natural things to avoid these annoying, bloodthirsty insects this season.
Eat Garlic
Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide, so naturally, they are drawn to people as they inhale and exhale. Those who are overweight or engaging in exercise breathe heavier, making them even more susceptible to being bitten. Eating Garlic before going outside can help mask the smell of carbon dioxide while emitting sulfur compounds through the skin, making you less desirable to the irritating mosquito bugs.
Dress Defensively
Wearing a long-sleeved shirt and pants can help to keep the bothersome creatures from finding a place to bite. Don’t forget to grab a pair of socks; for some reason, mosquitoes love to nibble on ankles. They are also attracted to deeper colors such as red and dark blue, so you will want to choose light-colored clothing when heading outdoors. Skip wearing hairspray, lotions, and deodorant, as these can also draw mosquitos to you.
Use Plant Deterrent
Rosemary is a fragrant herb that mosquitoes will avoid because they dislike the scent. Planting rosemary around your deck or patio can keep the insects at bay. The perennial plant needs sunshine and sandy soil that drains well. It can be grown in flowerbeds or pots and can reach 4 to 5 feet.
Thyme is a fabulous deterrent. Throw the leaves around the firepit. Burning thyme leaves offer eighty-five percent protection for up to one hour.
Burn Incense
When having an outdoor gathering, consider burning Incense. The mosquitoes don’t like smoke, especially if it is aromatic. Look for fragrances that have ingredients such as citronella and eucalyptus. If you own an outdoor fire pit, you can also burn pinon wood, another highly aromatic option for deterring pesky critters.
Eliminate Standing Water
Because mosquitoes lay their eggs in water, it is essential to ensure there is no stagnant water on your property. If it is impossible to remove all standing water, place used coffee grounds in the wet areas. The mosquito eggs will immediately rise to the water’s surface, and the grounds will deprive the eggs of oxygen and prevent them from hatching.
Attract Bats and Birds
Another way to eradicate annoying insects is to build bat houses and place them on your property. The bats will gobble up the pests helping to reduce the mosquito population. Also, certain birds such as purple martins and some songbirds will eat both the adult mosquito and the larvae. You can encourage the birds to visit your home by hanging bird feeders and suet feeders around areas where you spend your time outdoors. However, if you have squirrels, make sure you install suitable bird feeders that squirrels cannot get at.
Apply Natural Repellents
If you must choose a commercial product, choose a lotion or spray that is soybean-based or contains tea tree oil, geraniol or DEET and apply as directed. The EPA has determined that DEET does not pose a health risk when used correctly. (Though, in rare instances, allergic reactions can cause irritation, swelling, pain, vomiting, nausea, and in scarce cases, seizures).
If you prefer a more natural mosquito repellent, there are many ways to do this. Below we list a few.
- Add two teaspoons of vanilla to one cup of water. Place the mixture in a spray bottle and apply liberally. The vanilla smell will mask the scent of your body, helping to keep the insects from attacking.
- Create a mixture with one part lemon eucalyptus oil and ten parts sunflower oil or witch hazel.
- If you grow lavender in your outdoor or indoor garden, crush the flowers, apply the oil to the sensitive parts of the body such as the arms and ankles or put the oil on a clean cloth and rub it onto the skin.
- Cinnamon oil is excellent for killing off mosquito eggs. First, dilute 1/4 teaspoon or twenty-four drops for every four ounces of water. Then, carefully spray the fluid onto your skin and other areas. Be careful because too much can irritate the skin.
- As mentioned above thyme is a fabulous deterrent when placed by a firepit. For a homemade mixture, combine four drops of thyme oil with a teaspoon of olive oil or jojoba oil. If you want to put it in a spray bottle, mix five drops of thyme oil with two ounces of water.
Fill Your Diet with Vitamin B
Adding lots of foods rich in vitamin B such as eggs, oranges, oats, nuts, beef, liver, and peas to your diet can also help. Female mosquitoes hate the smell of the vitamin and will avoid you if you carry the scent. Taking a B1 supplement can also help. Don’t worry about getting too much in your system because the excess is excreted from your skin through sweat, making you even less desirable to the aggravating critters.
Get NJ Pest Control Help
You don’t have to let mosquitoes keep you inside. Go ahead and make your outdoor plans. Remember to take the preventive measures needed to avoid being eaten up with bites afterward. Then, go out and enjoy your summer; you’ve been waiting all year for it!
Contact NJ Pest Control to come to your property and provide safe and efficient pest control services to keep those nasty little pesky mosquitoes away.
