CITRONELLA This is likely the first thing that comes to mind when you think about mosquito repelling scents. Citronella oil, which comes from the lemongrass plant, is commonly used in commercial bug sprays and candles.
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?
Mosquitoes are turned off by several natural scents: cinnamon, peppermint, cedar, citronella, lemongrass, patchouli, catnip, lavender, and more.
Mosquitoes hate peppermint much like wasps and other common pests. Lavender – Lavender is not only an effective mosquito repellent, it's also touted as a powerful ointment to relieve itchy mosquito bites. This oil has a pleasant floral scent and is the safest choice for children.
Study authors concluded that, “DEET and PMD [are] the most effective and longest lasting mosquito repellents currently available.” PMD is found in products containing C. Citriodora (oil of lemon eucalyptus) and the tradenames Citrosynthol, Citrepel and Citriodiol.
Dragonflies as well as being a natural predator of the mosquito are a fascinating and unique group of insects. Dragonflies are often referred to as "mosquito hawks" for their supposed ability to kill thousands of mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes dislike the smell and taste of the vinegar, and will leave you alone so you can enjoy your BBQ. So if you're interested in seeking a natural insect repellent, try out this recipe which uses apple cider vinegar as a base! Fill your spray bottle with half water, and half apple cider vinegar.
DEET. DEET is an abbreviation for N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, a synthetic compound that functions to repel insects. The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) call DEET the 'gold standard' in mosquito repellents.
As an Insect Repellent
The camphor oil found in products like Vicks VapoRub can repel blood-sucking mosquitoes.
Known for its distinct smell, citronella grass (or lemon grass) is the most commonly used natural ingredient in mosquito repellants. In fact, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden recommends lemon-scented plants such as citronella grass to keep mosquitoes at bay.
Fragrances, such as perfume, cologne, and scented lotions are a known attractant of mosquitoes. Floral scents are the biggest attraction for mosquitoes. It turns out those lady mosquitoes love a flowery fragrance. So when you're addressing the issue of body odor, be sure to avoid washing with fragranced body wash.
Repel Ticks, Bugs and Mosquitos
Many attribute the oils in Vicks in helping to prevent bug bites and ticks from latching themselves onto the skin. Vicks VapoRub contains cedarleaf oil, a mild pesticide which may actually repel insects.
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.
Do lemons repel flies and mosquitoes? YES! Citrus is a natural pest repellent and citrus essential oils are used in most homemade pest sprays.
Lemongrass, citronella (not citronella candles), and catnip can act as natural mosquito repellents. Essential oils, like lemon eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, and tea tree oil, can also have positive effects on mosquito prevention.
Spraying window cleaner directly onto small insects like ants or mosquitoes will kill them within a few moments.
Add equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Use it on areas where mosquitoes tend to hang out. You can even spray it on yourself to keep them away.
Malaria. Malaria is harmful and widespread. Female Anopheles mosquitoes transmit the disease, which causes symptoms like fever, headache and chills that start 10 to 15 days after being bitten; some types of malaria be fatal. More than 247 million cases of malaria are diagnosed every year.
To reduce the possibility of a mosquito biting you, you could consider wearing white, green or blue. Lighter colors are less interesting to mosquitos than darker shades like navy and black, red or orange. However, clothing color alone is unlikely to keep mosquitos away for good.
Because the insect wings beat rapidly, an unpleasant noise is produced. Although females are the main contributor to the sound that most people associate with mosquitoes, they are not the only ones who make a higher pitch.
NoBites™ is Australia's strongest and longest lasting natural insect repellent, providing protection from mosquitoes for over 10 hours. Australian Owned and Manufactured, NoBites™is the DEET free insect repellent for the outdoor lover in everyone.
It has long been said that if you eat enough garlic, midges and mosquitoes will steer clear of you. This technique can work since the odour of your breath masks the smell of carbon dioxide you exhale. The sulfur compounds emitted through your skin provide added protection.
Your Feet Stink
The short answer as to why mosquitoes go after feet and ankles is that our feet often carry a strong odor. Yes, stinky feet attract mosquitoes.