Mosquitoes are pesky insects that can bite and leave your skin with red, itchy bumps. They are the reason why you might not enjoy a summer day at the pool or an evening walk in the park. What makes mosquitoes very important to humans is not just their annoyance but also their ability to spread disease.
What smells do mosquitoes hate? Mosquitoes hate the smell of lavender, citronella, clove, peppermint, basil, cedarwood, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemongrass and rosemary.
Ingredients like DEET, Picaridin, IR3535 and oil of lemon eucalyptus work well," says Laura C. Harrington, a professor in Cornell University's entomology department. Mosquito repellents come in a variety of formulas and some naturally provide a bit more protection than others.
Many DIY recipes have been used through the ages to repel mosquitos but this one stands out: some people recommend making a repellent mixture using base of grain alcohol and adding some oils of basil with juniper, palmarosa, citronella, rose geranium, rosemary, myrrh, cedarwood, pine and lemon.
There is no limit to the number of mosquito bites one of the insects can inflict. A female mosquito will continue to bite and feed on blood until she is full. After they have consumed enough blood, the mosquito will rest for a couple of days (usually between two to three days) before laying her eggs.
Citronella oil is a natural mosquito repellent that will kill mosquitoes and drive them out of your house. Look for citronella candles or use citronella essential oil in your vaporizer or oil diffuser.
As has been found in previous studies, more mosquitoes seemed to prefer people whose scent contained a blend of carboxylic acids, the oily secretions that hydrate and protect our skin. Two of those carboxylic acids are also found in Limburger cheese, McMeniman notes, a known lure for mosquitoes.
Sanitizer contains form of alcohol, ethyl alcohol to name one as active ingredient. And other main ingredients are also water, glycerin and fragrance. But disinfectant cannot be used as mosquito repellent. Almost 99% of disinfectant available in market has no effect on terminating or repelling mosquito problem.
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.
Mosquitoes may bite you more for various reasons, including your blood type, your clothes, your breathing, or even the bacteria living on your skin.
Unfortunately, mosquitoes can bite through clothes! Mosquitoes are more likely to attack exposed skin but can still pierce through covered areas to reach your hidden blood vessels. While tight-fitting clothing may protect you from ticks, mosquitoes can easily bypass the fabric to bite you.
It's all about certain chemicals found in the dryer sheets, specifically linalool, geraniol and beta-citronellol, all of which have mosquito-repelling properties. Unfortunately, the concentration of these ingredients is low, enough to make your clothes smell better, but not enough to make mosquitoes evacuate the area.
Deter Insects
We may be fans of Vicks, but insects decidedly are not. Dab a bit on your arms, legs, neck, or other areas of exposed skin to keep bugs (including mosquitoes) at bay, however, it is not as effective at preventing bites as a commercial insect repellant.
The most common and the most dangerous species of mosquitos fall under Genus Culex, Genus Anopheles, and Genus Aedes.
Environmental Impact of Mosquito Extinction
Without the mosquitoes, many animals could decline due to a lack of food. Fish populations could be impacted, as many fish species rely on mosquito larvae as a food source. Bats that rely largely on mosquitoes for food may also decline or even go extinct if mosquitoes did.
The chance of being bit by a mosquito drastically increases after drinking alcohol, according to a study in journal of the American Mosquito Control Association.
Wristbands
These wearable repellent devices are marketed as being safer because you don't have to rub anything on your skin. But scientists who have tested these products have found them to be ineffective.
MYTH: Fair skinned people are more likely to be bitten
Although they don't get more bites than darker skinned people, it seems like they do because their bites are more prominent.