10 Mosquito Control Tricks that really, REALLY Work!
When aggressive mosquitoes began to ruin my love of camping and gardening, I declared war. I vowed I would do ANYTHING to keep them at bay, including serious experimentation with dangerous chemicals. Thankfully, it turned out that safe, organic methods were much more effective. Learn from my mistakes and get your mosquito control plan right THE FIRST TIME.
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1. Point a High Velocity Fan at Your Porch
Mosquitoes are weak flyers. A high velocity fan will blow them away from your personal space. This one is extra, super powerful!
2. Wear a Mosquito Net Suit
I don't win many beauty contests in this getup, but it helps me float down bug infested rivers without a care. No wonder it's a staple among campers, hunters and fishermen around the world!
3. Carry a Battery Operated Fan to Outdoor Events
Simply tilt this portable fan up at your body to create a breeze that sweeps mosquitoes away! Seriously, I don't do festivals and outdoor concerts without my trusty battery operated fan. The first fan I ordered was a dud because the flat base didn't allow it to stand up well. The fan pictured below has a unique stand that allows me to place it on the floor near my feet and tilt the head to direct breezes upward.
4. Raise a Mosquito Tent in 60 Seconds!
Today's mosquito tents aren't anything like they used to be. They pop right into place! That's great news when it's time for a nice barbecue. Keep prepared foods safe from disease carrying flies and annoying gnats!
5. This Mosquito Spray Kills Fleas and Doesn't Attract Bees!
Many organic repellents are powerful against mosquitoes, but some of the most popular choices attract bees. I learned that the hard way while using lavender and lemon eucalyptus oils on a camping trip! During daylight hours, avoid floral scents and remember that bee keepers use lemongrass to attract swarms. For a powerful mosquito repellent that doesn't attract bees, go for cedar oil. The versatile product pictured below can be sprayed directly on dogs to kill fleas! For tick control, I like to spray the grassy areas around my folding chairs at camp.
6. Citronella Torch Fuel
I finally discovered the trick to using citronella candles! Just throw them in the trash and light torches instead. A gallon of citronella fuel will serve you much better than a weak centerpiece candle. On the downside, you have to keep buying the expensive fuel over and over again. It's much cheaper to install real citronella plants around the yard!
7. Spread Cedar Granules and Get 2 Months of Residual Effects
Liquid lawn pesticides just evaporate, forcing you to spend more money to refresh treatments. Cedar granules keep releasing pest controlling odors each time they get wet. The cedar juice soaks into the grass and makes your yard an inhospitable place for mosquitoes, fleas and ticks to breed. On the downside, you may see some ugly dead bugs in your puddles. After a good rain, I went outside and found dead grasshoppers everywhere. In the end, it was a small price to pay. At least my dog stopped coming home with fleas!
8. Eat Garlic or Take Garlic Supplements
The essence of certain foods can end up in our pores. For example, mosquitoes love yeast, so heavy consumption of things like bread and beer can turn you into a walking magnet. Garlic is known for infusing our breath and our sweat with its essence.
9. Drop Mosquito Dunks in Puddles
Mosquitoes love to breed in standing water. That can be a nightmare if you tend to have a lot of puddles in your yard or near your campsite. The product pictured below contains BTI, a bacteria toxic only to mosquito larvae and non-toxic to wildlife, pets, fish, and humans.
10. Install Mosquito Repelling Plants, But Choose Wisely!
Mosquito repelling plants really do work, but beware that most of them attract bees. I once planted lavender near my front door. It didn't take long for bees to identify my home as a sanctuary. I couldn't walk outside without them following me to my car! Learn from my mistakes and choose your plants wisely.
- Lavender gives off a floral scent that bees love.
- Catnip is a nectar producing plant that's commonly planted in honeybee sanctuaries.
- Lemongrass and Lemon Eucalyptus are used by bee keepers to attract swarms!
- Geraniums will attract bees to a lesser extent.
- Citronella will not directly harm bees, but it does repel them!
- Marigolds are often listed among the top 10 flowers that attract bees.
- Rosemary bushes will attract bees during the flowering stage.
- Basil flowers will attract bees.
Now for Some Methods that Barely Work...
Learn from my mistakes and save a bundle of money!
1. Mosquito Zappers
Two independent studies found no significant difference in the number of mosquitoes found in yards with or without bug zappers. Such devices catch huge numbers of non pest insects and relatively few mosquitoes. In both trials, investigators at the University of Notre Dame found that mosquitoes accounted for merely 4.1% and 6.4% respectively of the daily catch over an entire season.
2. Chemical Grass Sprays
No matter how strong the spray, it will evaporate, and you'll have to re-treat often. Save a small fortune by spreading organic cedar granules around your yard. Scores of scientific studies have linked chemical pesticides to learning disabilities, neurological disorders, breast cancer and birth defects in children living near farms where chemicals are sprayed. Just say "no" to chemicals!
3. Ultrasonic Repellent Devices
In 2001, the Federal Trade Commission sent a warning to manufacturers of ultrasonic pest control devices, demanding that claims of effectiveness must be backed up by scientific research. It would be nice if high frequency noises could damage the central nervous system of targeted insects, but studies show that some insects simply get used to the noise and others just don’t seem bothered at all.
4. Small Citronella Candles
I used to spend a small fortune replenishing my supply of citronella candles each summer. Single centerpiece candles never produced much of a change, but multiple citronella torches produced a noticeable effect. On the downside, it can be very expensive to keep buying the torch fuel. For inexpensive methods that keep on working, I prefer cedar granules and citronella plants.
5. Mosquito Bracelets
I took these on a camping trip and watched multiple mosquitoes land on my arms while wearing them. Seriously, just save your money!
6. Homemade Mosquito Traps
As a public service, this man tested three DIY mosquito traps using three popular formulas commonly publicized on the internet. None of them worked.
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