Mosquitoes can be quite annoying and a serious problem when invading your space. They can interfere with your outside work, and spoil your leisure time.
Their attacks on farm animals can cause weight loss and decreased milk production. And even worse, some mosquitoes transmit diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, encephalitis, and West Nile virus (WN) to both humans and animals.
Did You Know?
Mosquitoes are insects belonging to the order Diptera, True Flies. Like all True Flies, they have two wings, but unlike other flies, mosquito wings have scales.
Female mosquito’s mouths form a long piercing, sucking snout. Males differ from females by having feathery antennae and mouths that are not able to pierce the skin.
A mosquito’s principal food is nectar or similar sugar sources.
So, what’s the deal with your blood?
There are over 2500 different species of mosquitoes throughout the world with approximately 200 species in the United States and 77 species in Florida alone. A new species, Anopheles grabhamii, was reported in the Florida Keys in 2001.
There are many ways to deter mosquitoes from biting you, the kids, and the family pets, but some are more toxic than others.
There are natural repellents, electronic repellents, traditional repellents, and mosquito traps. And there are some fun and more natural ways to repel these blood-sucking pests …
Natural Ways To Repel Mosquitoes
- Use Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets! Just wipe on and go. This is great for babies.
- Bob, a veteran fisherman, supplements with one vitamin B-1 tablet a day April through October. He hasn’t had a mosquito bite in 33 years. Vitamin B-1 is Thiamine Hydrochloride, and add taking a 100 mg. capsule of B-1 to your B-100 Complex supplement.
- Don’t eat bananas during mosquito season because mosquitoes love bananas! Not only does a banana have sugar, but your body processes banana oil in a way that attracts those female sugar-loving pests. So, stop eating bananas for the summer and maybe the mosquitoes will be less interested in biting you.
- One of the best natural insect repellents is Vick’s Vaporub®.
- Planting marigolds around your yard works great as a bug repellent because the flowers give off a fragrance that bugs do not like. This is a great way to ward off bugs without using chemical insecticides.
- Campers agree that the very best mosquito repellant is Avon Skin-So-Soft® Bath Oil mixed half and half with rubbing alcohol.
- One of the best natural insect repellants is made from the clear liquid vanilla that is sold in Mexico. It is reported to work great for mosquitoes and ticks.
- Commercial mosquito dunks will kill mosquito larvae before they become mosquitoes in standing water and in ponds. They are a fairly environmentally sound biological mosquito control containing no toxic chemicals. Each dunk effectively treats up to 100 square feet of surface water regardless of depth for about 30 days. Dunks can be broken into smaller pieces to treat smaller areas. Unused and dried out dunks retain their potency indefinitely, so you can store extras for the long summer season.
- Citronella soap is a product that started in the Bahamas and Belize. The soaps are made with olive oil for moisture and lather, Aloe Vera to soothe the skin, and citronella oil to repel mosquitoes. For high intensity protection, you can burn citronella incense. Mosquitoes avoid citronella and they hate the smoke. Citronella essential oil (Java Citronella) is considered to be the highest quality citronella on the market. The best quality is steam distilled from the grass giving it a fresh, sweet woody aroma. It blends well with geranium, cedar wood and other citrus oils. This is a 100% pure essential oil – no additives, no dilutants, no adulteration, safe mosquito repellent.
- Electronic repellents utilize one to two sound frequencies to simulate dragonflies and other male mosquitoes, creating a competitive environment for the blood-sucking female. These devices come with Velcro bands for wearing on your wrist or ankle, or on your pocket or belt. This makes for a versatile, compact unit that you can take anywhere for protection. Some units even have a built-in red flashlight for nighttime use.
- Traditional repellents are the concentrated chemical solutions such as DEET®, Cutter® or Backwoods OFF®. Each application lasts four to six hours.
When the environment is truly deep woods, these manufactured repellents really do make the difference between having a good time or a miserable time.
If chemical repellents are necessary, protect your eyes and nose from absorbing ambient spray, protect small children, and bathe as soon as possible to remove toxic residues.
When all else fails–get a frog!
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, and is educational in nature. The FDA may not have evaluated some of the statements. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please discuss with your own, qualified health care provider before adding supplements or making any changes to your dietary program.
Before taking vitamins, consult your doctor; pre-existing medical conditions or medications you are taking can affect how your body responds to multivitamins.