Do lemons repel flies and mosquitoes? YES! Citrus is a natural pest repellent and citrus essential oils are used in most homemade pest sprays.
Mosquitoes are turned off by several natural scents: cinnamon, peppermint, cedar, citronella, lemongrass, patchouli, catnip, lavender, and more. Find a favorite, and use it when you want to spend time outside.
Common essential oils such as lavender, citronella, lemon, or eucalyptus all naturally repel bugs. They don't like the smell!
At a distance of 1 meter, DEET and oil of lemon eucalyptus sprays reduced mosquito attraction by 60%. The only wearable device that worked was an OFF! clip-on fan containing the insecticide metofluthrin.
Keep Bugs Away Lemon and Cloves
Stick cloves into lemon halves and place them in a bowl. Bees and wasps do not like this smell combo and will stay away.
Lemon has anti-inflammatory and anesthetic properties which work well on the skin after a mosquito bite. Just cut a lemon and rub the slice on the affected area. It reduces itchiness and swelling instantly.
Lemon balm repels mosquitoes and gnats.
Mosquitoes hate the smell of lavender, citronella, clove, peppermint, basil, cedarwood, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemongrass and rosemary. They also hate smells such as smoke, for further insight, see our exploration on, does smoke keep mosquitoes away?
Some naturally derived oils, such as peppermint, camphor and citronella, can be mixed with water and used as a spray to help repel mosquitoes. Oils such as eucalyptus and lavender can be lightly applied directly to the skin to prevent mosquitoes from landing to bite.
Lemon eucalyptus oil is used as a natural repellent because it consists of PMD (para-menthane-3,8-diol), who makes it difficult for mosquitoes and other insects to pick up on a person's skin odor. This oil is extracted from a native tree in Australia, known as Eucalyptus citriodora.
For a "foolproof recipe" that banishes mosquitoes, combine 1/3 cup witch hazel and 1/3 cup water with 40 drops of eucalyptus essential oil. "Mosquitoes detest the strong aroma of eucalyptus, so this easy homemade mosquito repellent is sure to be a winner," says Harlow-Ellis.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends lemon eucalyptus oil as an active ingredient in insect repellents. Lemon eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora or Corymbia citriodora) is a type of eucalyptus tree. It has naturally high amounts of the compound citronellal, which repels bugs.
Essential oils like lavender, tea tree, neem, citronella, eucalyptus and mint oil work as powerful mosquito repellents. Mix a few drops of any of these essential oils in some water, add it to a spray bottle and spray it around the home.
D-limonene is a compound found in oranges and lemons that can be found in its peel and zest. It is an effective insect repellent. D-limonene is found in many commercial eco-friendly insect repellants as well as a component in many citrus essential oils.
Do lemons repel flies and mosquitoes? YES! Citrus is a natural pest repellent and citrus essential oils are used in most homemade pest sprays.
Lemon juice is a common resolution for itchy skin. Its citric and acetic acids contain anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties that contribute to itch relief. Squeeze one to two lemons into a cup and apply it to the affected area using a cotton ball. When it dries (on its own) rinse with lukewarm water.
Acetic acid makes vinegar an excellent tool for pest control, repelling some of the most common backyard nuisances and even killing weaker insects. It's most effective against ants, spiders, and mosquitos.
Similar to peppermint, the strong smell of citrus frightens off spiders and larger insects. This is one of the best natural solutions to deter pests because it can also help keep your air bacteria-free and smelling fresh! Mix the juice from half of a lemon or lime in with two cups of water.
Common fruit flies (Drosophila spp.), also called vinegar flies, are primarily attracted to overripe lemons on the ground or still on the tree. The adult flies have red eyes and brown to yellow-brown bodies. Adults are 0.12 inches long and their larvae are about 0.2 inches long.
Spiders hate citrus fruits! You can easily prepare green repellent by squeezing half a lemon and mixing it with water. Pour this liquid in spray bottle and spray around the house.
Lavender. Include beautiful lavender in your garden plans to help keep biting mosquitoes at bay. Varieties with higher camphor properties are the most effective insect repellents. This includes 'Provence' and 'Grosso' lavender.
Citronella Essential Oil
Citronella oil is one of the top essential oils to use against mosquitoes. Popularly used as an insect repellent, citronella oil is derived from the citronella plant, and can be found in candles, or can be incorporated into a bug repellent lotion.