Proven home remedies are the best way to effectively keep mosquitoes away. Various scents effectively scare away the stinging insects. But scientists are continually able to discover new findings in mosquito research that offer new methods of deterring them.
How can you effectively get rid of mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes can be effectively repelled with intensely smelling fragrances such as essential oils, herbs or homemade mosquito repellent candles. Fragrance lamps, scented plants and home remedies such as apple cider vinegar, bay leaf or neem oil are also effective options.
Repel mosquitoes: Room
Mosquitoes get into the apartment, kitchen and bedroom through open windows and doors. They can be found wherever people live. The annoying insects do not spare children's rooms or bathrooms because they follow human body odor and are attracted to exhaled carbon dioxide. The insects perceive these substances over several kilometers. The safest way to keep mosquitoes away is with fly screens.
Planting flowers and herbs
Fragrant herbs keep mosquitoes away
Many plants not only scare away annoying insects, but can also be used in the kitchen. These include basil, rosemary and lemon balm. Garlic is an ideal pest controller. Both the spice tuber and the herb offer ideal protection against mosquitoes in the home. If you don't like the smell of the intense herb, you can plant lemongrass, marigold and lemon pelargonium.
Make your own mosquito repellent candles
Citronella candles smell good to people and ensure that mosquitoes run away. You need old leftover candles (€27.00 on Amazon) or beeswax, a cube of coconut oil, used screw-top jars and cotton yarn. Vegetable oils with the scent of citronella, lavender or sage ensure the repulsive effect.
Production:
- Melt three parts coconut oil and one part wax in a pot
- Add up to ten drops of essential oil per 100 grams of candle mixture
- carefully pour into the glasses
- Insert candle wicks to the bottom of the glass
- Fix the wicks with a toothpick placed across the glass
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Lighting fragrance lamps
Essential oils spread optimally into the air when they are evaporated. This is done by placing a pot on the stove that you fill with water and a few drops of essential oils. For a twenty square meter room, about four drops of tea tree, mint or eucalyptus oil are enough. Fragrance lamps are a more convenient solution and can be placed in the bedroom and children's room.
Repel mosquitoes with home remedies
Place bowls with different scents around the apartment. It is important that the substances are renewed regularly. They act as a repellent until the scents have disappeared. A jar of apple cider vinegar, bay leaf or neem oil and lemon essence can prevent mosquitoes from entering the bedroom.
Repel mosquitoes: in the garden
The summer months not only bring warm nights but often mosquito plagues. In order to avoid annoying mosquito bites in the garden, on the balcony and on the terrace, a few rules of conduct have proven to be helpful:
- shower after physical activity
- do not use strongly scented shower gels
- wear long clothes in light colors
Excursus
Mosquito expulsion in other cultures
Indians do not only use their dream catchers made of twigs, plant fibers and grasses to keep negative energies away. They also serve a practical purpose: during the night they serve as protection against mosquito bites. To do this, the Indians place dream catchers over their children's faces. The Native Americans' sage fires are both mystical and functional, as the smoke keeps mosquitoes at bay. It is well known that insects don't like smoke and so many South Americans constantly have a cigar in their mouth.
Keep away with plants
Mosquitoes can’t stand the smell of tomatoes
Like many insects, mosquitoes find the aromas of various plants repulsive. Intensely fragrant herbs from the Mediterranean region, spice plants and vegetables with strong-smelling plant parts act as natural deterrents. To create an effective shield against mosquitoes, you can smoke sage, cedarwood or eucalyptus leaves in a fireproof bowl.
Plants against mosquitoes:
- Vegetables: Tomatoes
- Herbs: Lavender, Mint
- Spice plants: Anise
Exude intense smells
The scent effect of plants that contain essential oils is often not strong enough outside. To increase the scaring effect, you can use home remedies. Sprinkle ground coffee on a fireproof surface and light the dry powder.
Tip
Mosquito repellent candles for outside can be easily made in the oven. Put coconut oil, leftover candles and essential oils in a used preserving jar and place it in the oven at 60 to 70 degrees until the ingredients have melted. Then attach a wick and let it harden.
Electric insect repellent
Mosquito plugs for the socket are intended to protect against mosquito plagues both indoors and outdoors. But according to issue 7/2019 of the consumer magazine Öko-Test, none of the nine tested devices from different areas are recommendable. Most models have no effect or are questionable from a he alth and species protection perspective.
Electric mosquito killers have no effect. Home remedies are the better alternative.
| How it works | Efficacy | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UV light | Fluorescent tubes are said to attract insects that die from electric shock | ineffective on mosquitoes | harmful to all insects outdoors |
| Ultrasound | high-frequency sounds are intended to remind females of males willing to mate | ineffective on mosquitoes | Devices are not subject to testing or approval |
| Electric vaporizer | continuous release of biocides | unrestrictedly effective against all insects | dangerous to he alth if used continuously |
Prevent mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are tied to bodies of water because the females prefer to lay their eggs in standing puddles, rain barrels filled with water or ponds. Even the smallest amounts of water in tree hollows are sufficient for egg laying. To prevent the spread of mosquitoes, you should remove all water accumulation from the garden or ensure that the water is continuously circulated.
Ideal egg-laying places:
- water bird baths
- filled watering cans
- Flower pot saucers with residual water
- Paddling pool with puddles
Tip
A natural insect repellent for the skin can be made from coconut oil and powdered cinnamon, lemongrass or cloves. Before using on a large area, test on a small area of skin to see if you are allergic to essential oils.
Treat rainwater
Standing water is ideal for mosquitoes to lay eggs
There are special tablets that you can add to the water in the rain barrel. They contain the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, which produces Bt toxins and acts as a natural pest controller. The toxins are poisonous to species of the genus Culex, which includes native mosquitoes. Since they are completely harmless to people, plants and vertebrates, the water from the rain barrel can be used in the garden.
Disadvantages:
- Bacterium also affects non-biting chironomids
- Dragonfly larvae have to switch to other food
- Amphibian larvae are increasingly preyed upon by dragonfly larvae
Use dishwashing liquid
A biodegradable dishwashing liquid is suitable as a home remedy to combat mosquitoes in the garden. A few splashes in the rain barrel are enough to reduce the surface tension of the water. Mosquitoes on the approach to land sink when they hit the surface of the water and drown.
Electronic Music
Researchers at Mahidol University in Thailand have found that female mosquitoes show a reduced interest in blood and a reduced willingness to mate when listening to electronic music. They suspect that Johnston's organ is being disturbed by the strong vibrations. This organ is important for mating and allows fine control of flight.
Frequently asked questions
How to get rid of mosquitoes?
You can also make your own mosquito spray
The stinging insects orient themselves primarily using their sense of smell. You can take advantage of this perception to keep mosquitoes out of the garden and home. Various fragrances that release intense aromas help against mosquitoes. These include essential oils that are vaporized in aroma lamps, as well as coffee powder and herbs on the windowsill.
What are mosquitoes attracted to?
Mosquitoes are not attracted to light sources. They are active at different times of the day. Mosquitoes orientate themselves using their sense of smell. They are primarily attracted by human body odors and exhaled carbon dioxide. The insects can detect these substances over several kilometers and can enter through open windows and doors even when the lights are switched off. They prefer to buzz around the head because the concentration of carbon dioxide is particularly high here.
What mosquitoes like:
- Scent of butyric, lactic acid and ammonia on the skin
- increased sweating during physical exertion
- increased body temperature
Are mosquitoes useful?
The stinging insects play an important role in the food chain. They are rich in proteins and therefore an essential part of the food web of birds and amphibians. Native bats eat up to 30 percent of their body weight every night. A pipistrelle bat can eat between 600 and 700 mosquitoes per night. That corresponds to 140,000 mosquitoes in seven months. Many creatures would starve without mosquitoes.
Which mosquitoes live in Germany?
There are around 50 species of mosquitoes in Central Europe. The majority of these species are harmless and do not target human blood. The common mosquito and the large house mosquito are important nuisances that become a nuisance to humans. Five species introduced from other countries are considered invasive. These include the Asian tiger mosquito and the Japanese bush mosquito.
Are spices in food effective against mosquitoes?
It is said to make the blood unattractive to mosquitoes if you have eaten garlic or hot spices or taken vitamin tablets. However, researchers found that eating habits have no influence on mosquito biting behavior. Experimental participants who ate garlic were stung just as often as other people.
