How can I rid mesquitos from my backyard!! They are EVERYWHERE! My poor son looks like he has chicken pox! Is there ANY possible way to make my yard unattractive to them?? Perhaps a plant that wards them off? I know about those citronella candles....but is there a holistic way??? HELP!!
2007-05-31 09:37:09 · 15 answers · asked by angiebaby 2 in Environment ➔ Other - Environment
You can plant citronella. A neighbor of mine has a bush in her yard. It MIGHT even be ok to pinch off a leaf or two and rub it directly on your skin (check with a dermatologist - it might even say on the plant label). I don't know if it will keep them out of your yard, though. Make sure that you don't have any standing water, and try to make sure your neighbors don't either. They don't usually go TOO far from their breeding grounds.
2007-05-31 10:01:32 · answer #1 · answered by ♪♪BandMom♪♪ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mosquitoes like warm, damp, still conditions. You can keep your yard scrupulously clean and free of all standing water and it will help a little but it won't keep them all away.
Mossies bite during the breeding season because the females need protein in blood in order to reproduce. Humans are an ideal source of this protein. Once a mossie finds a suitable host she emits a pheromone which attracts further mossies. You can be outside for a long time and not get bitten the suddenly get lots of bites, it's not one mosquito doing the biting but several that have been attracted to the chance of a free meal.
Mosquitoes home in on their victims by detecting carbon dioxide in their exhaled breath, someone who is exercising and breating heavily is more likely to attract mossies than someone who is at rest. The solution - stopping breathing - is hardly a practical one. They may also be attracted by the smell of sweat.
Citronella is a very mild natural repellent and not particularly effective. Garlic and onions are another mild repellent, after eating them the skin secretes an odour offensive to mosquitoes (and often to humans as well). Drinking whiskey works on the same principle.
Smoke from barbecues, cigarettes, garden fires and the smell of gasoline, paraffin, acetone and similar substances will repel mosquitoes but isn't the most practical solution.
The only effective remedy is to apply repellent directly to exposed skin and the best one is a synthetic compound called diethyltolumide (DEET). This is extremely effective but is unnatural and can cause an irritation with sensitive skin.
It's available in various strengths. The strongest is 100% solution and is called Neet Deet, it's not recommended for children. 40 to 60% solution is better for children, Sportsman's Repellent is the brand name of one such product.
Recently a synthetic alternative to DEET has been developed and is claimed not to cause any adverse reactions, I've not tested it myself so can't vouch for it's efficiency but if you ask a pharmacist or at a travel advisory clinic I'm sure they'll know more.
I'm not suggesting your son stops breathing, takes up smoking and drinks whiskey but it would certainly cut down on the number of mosquito bites.
Once bitten the application of an anti-histameine cream will help alleviate the itching, in the absence of that any cold cream of cold water will help. Taking an oral anti-histameine prior to exposure to mosquitos will reduce the reaction when bitten.
2007-05-31 11:01:13 · answer #2 · answered by Trevor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Plant lantana, considered a wildflower in Florida. It has a natural citronella scent that helps ward off mosquitos.
2007-06-01 18:11:33 · answer #3 · answered by Mrs B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should be able to get a mosquito fern at your local nursery. Also, get rid of bird baths, tire swings, anything that can and does hold water. If there is a Rural King store in your area, you might want to get their mosquito deterent powder to sprinkle on your yard. These things have worked for us.
2007-05-31 11:28:28 · answer #4 · answered by Michelle E 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is a little machine that you can get and hide in a bush to ward them off. Or you can go to a hardware store and get a can of stuff and a sprayer, then get a pack of those little surgical masks, then go out into your backyards and spray it, and killll alll musquitoes. Of course, this is bad for water suppliies, but you can probably pick it up at a hardware store.
Or of course you could just put on musquitoe repellent, thats what most people do.
2007-05-31 11:47:59 · answer #5 · answered by savage708 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I heard of sandalwood incense sticks. I'm going to order some and try it out for myself next week. Vitamin B1 is amazing. If you can remember to take a pill daily, the mosquito's can smell it in your blood stream (don't ask me how) and they leave you alone. My son has the same problem so I started him on the B1 and it actually worked...it took a few days to get in his system...
2007-05-31 09:50:52 · answer #6 · answered by strpenta 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
eliminate any breeding sources (standing water, old tires) then use the type of Skintastik that contains Off. I've worked under the worst mosquito conditions and it's the best I've seen!
Just apply a light film... he wont' need much.
2007-05-31 09:46:01 · answer #7 · answered by K In the House 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What's the source of water for these insects? Someone near your yard is allowing them to breed. Call your local vector control and put up some bat boxes, pronto.
2007-05-31 13:18:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Take a B-Complex every day, and cut down on sugar.
I work outside all summer, and I barely get bit at all.
Take the B vitamins with food, though, they could be rough on the stomach.
2007-05-31 12:45:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i take advantage of horse fly spray,all of it so keeps mosquitoes away.a organic repellent is clean basil,plant plenty on your backyard and then placed some interior the blender and combine it with a sprint water and a small volume of gin,put in a twig bottle and use on your dogs, works properly
2016-11-03 05:41:24 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋