What's the best defense against mosquitos?

Question

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Answer 1

Lemon grass oil is one of the most effective natural substances that can be used as a defence against mosquitoes. Its commercial name is Citronella oil and it is an extract of the plant Cymbopogon. It is called "pullu-thailam" (meaning grass balm) in the Malayalam language of Kerala, India, one of the ancient centres of Ayurveda (alternative medicine).

In recent decades citronella oil is being used in most branded mosquito repellent creams, but the origins of its usage can be traced back centuries to the ancient texts of Ayurvedic medicine.

Answer 2

There are several types of protection, but the best way to ensure mosquitos stay off is to take (no kidding) a pill that has all the stuff built right in. Taking it every day will make you naturally immune to mosquitos of all sizes, but if you cannot find where to get it, then there are a few precautions you can take:

Don't eat high in sugar fruits in the morning (or at lunch); bananas, apples, strawberries and watermelons are the top "do nots" on this list. Mosquitos are especially attracted to the smell of bananas.
Try wearing a hat, and (if it isn't too warm) pants and long sleeves (go for baggy or something light, but thick enough so a sucker can't penetrate the fabric).
Obviously, try wearing repellent: something with a low concentration of DEET, like the kind of stuff you find in the SPF/repellent mixers. I've found that a good company is Bullfrog and another good one is Cactus Juice - both equally difficult to get a hold of.
I hope this has helped.

Answer 3

Last year I was in the French Caribbean.After the first 4 days that I was there I had no less than 40 mosquito bites.
We then went to a visit a friend for an evening and they served me a Ti Punch which is rum (50% proof),sugar cane syrup and a small piece of lime.
I enjoyed it so much that for the remaining 2 and a half weeks of the holiday,I would have one of these every evening.
In that time I received no more than 10 mosquito bites.
So I would suggest you start drinking,in moderation of course.

Answer 4

The best defense against mosquitoes is a spray bottle filled with water and 1% neem oil and 1% catnip oit, maybe 2%, plus a little glycerin. Shake. Spray all exposed skin and rub in. You might want to add a little of another oil that you like, as neem has an odor that some consider unpleasant. This works for many hours, and words well. Also repells flies. Buy neem oil and catnip either in a healthfood store or online. I can live without AC, without refrigeration, but not without mosquito repellent.

Answer 5

Hi:

1. Use mosquito netting around the area you are having your party ;enclosed the entire Area - the top and all four sides if possible.

2. Eliminate all free standing water stand water or any standing water or put a drop of vegetable oil in any puddles after a rain storm This will kill all mosquito larvae on the spot ( because they have to snorkel in order to breathe . Better yet Have your party when the ground as been dry for a day or two

3. Spray approve pesticide in the area ( about 48 hours before the party to allow it time to work in. ) . Follow the directions - Exactly has written on the label -

4. Stock lakes and pond with Gold fish or Minnows to cut down the mosquito Larvae


5. Use Fans to create a fast moving breeze, Mosquitoes track you by CO2 you breathe out .It won't stop them but it will make you less likely to be found by them by removing the CO2 away from you.

6 ) Put mosquito netting around your bed and Use them in screen around your house. The steel screen that they sell you at Hardware Store won't cut it here. It junk as far as I'm concerned. The little buggers will squeeze thru that - Fun -LOL

7. Put on mosquito repellant, it jam the mosquitoes ability to find you or at least they don't like what they smell on you.

8 At night and outdoors: light a fire to cut down on the mosquitos attacted to you.

Answer 6

The Harvard School of Public Health reports that approximately 46% of Americans don't want to use DEET or do not think it is safe to use. So what are our best alternatives?

These days, there are several natural ways to repel Mosquitoes ranging from Vitamin B patches (that make you smell like...well...vitamins) to wristbands that emit the scent of 100% natural essential oils that Mosquitoes don't like.

Bug Bam wristbands could be just the ticket if you want to avoid mess and stay safe.

The most important thing is to be aware of standing water sources that may be a breeding ground for Mosquitoes. Plant bases and flower pots, old tires and even neglected swimming pools are perfect places for Mosquitoes to breed. Empty the water out. If your neighbors are out of town or have moved out and have a pool, look over the fence. If it's dirty, chances are, Mosquitoes will be close by. Report it to the city immediately.

In addition to using repellents, be vigilant in every way you can so as to avoid being a victim.

'Because Mosquitoes Suck!'

Answer 7

I use to live in SW Missouri. The mosquitos were horrid! CANDLES DON'T WORK! The only things that work are DEET and CITRANELLA that you WEAR. Everything else is a rip-off. One of the news-shows a few years ago had an experiment with bug repellants and the only way to keep from being bitten was by wearing bug repellant, such as DEET or CITRANELLA lotion. It was Dateline or 20/20 or a show like one of those. Do a google, uh hmm, a Yahoo! search and I'm sure you can find it. From personal experience, I used DEET (Deep Woods OFF and CUTTERS to be exact). I would spray my clothes and skin with it. No bites after that, even in the most mosquito infested swampland I could find.
You can supposedly also eat plantain (a small herb that grows in lawns in the Eastern USA) pods, which are supposedly a natural bug repellant (it takes a couple days of eating them and they're terrible tasting). Also, I've heard Garlic works. I've tried garlic and plantain and they both seem to work, but not as well as DEET and CITRANELLA personal bug repellants, which are SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN to work.
Candles repel bugs away from the spot where the candle is. Smoke does nothing (I've been bitten next to many camp fires) and bug zappers kill more moths and june bugs than anything.
Bug zappers, spraying your lawn with pyrmethren (gets rid of everything except spiders and is much less toxic to humans and pets than other poisons), and getting rid of stagnant water does reduce their numbers, but that won't stop you from getting bitten. DEET or CITRANELLA on you, however, really works. Hope this answers your question.

Answer 8

Vitamin B-1. Yes, it's true. Over 20 years ago, a nurse told me about Vitamin B-1 for mosquitoes. I hated the feel (and yeah, that strange smell) from all the repellants, including Skin-So-Soft. I felt like I was wearing a funky smelling wetsuit. AND if you didn't get it on your COMPLETELY, you got bit! I was lamenting this one day between friends, one of whom is a nurse and nutritionist. She suggested B-1 and gave me the run down. I tried it and have had a remarkable experience with it.

Here is how it works: Vitamin B-1 is a water soluble Vitamin. This means that the body will easily get rid of any it does not need. It gets rid of it in your urine and waste, obviously, but also - and more importantly - through the skin in both your sweat and oils which come through the skin. By taking MEGA doses, you increase the amount of B-1 which is on your skin. Mosquitoes hate the smell, and stay away.

I'm an adult Male and weigh about 210. I take 500 MG (2 250 MG tablets) per day during mosquito season. In the last 20 years, I've not been bitten once. In addition, my daughter was very allergic to mosquitoes, swelling up and even coming down with a fever when bitten. By getting her to take the B-1, she had the same result - no bites!

My wife says there is one drawback, and that is that you tend to smell like a bottle of vitamins up close, but that's relatively minor when considering West Nile. I also prefer the light scent of B-1 over any of the repellents or lotions. B-1 can be washed off, such as when you're swimming, but ti comes right back as soon as you sit for a bit. (The body will immediately replenish the oils and sweat on the skin as needed.)

Yes, make sure your home is free of standing water and do what you can about such things as ponds and slow moving creeks. But for ease of use, and my remarkable experience, I tend to recommend it to strangers regularly.

Answer 9

HERE'S THE ANSWER:
Mosquitos, like most blood sucking insects, are attracted to their prey by the co2 we exhale, by our body heat, and by activity. Personally I find it difficult to avoid exhalation, having body heat and the occasional movement, so if avoidance is your choice you'll need to stay out in the sun. Mosquitos are a thin, soft bodied insect and flying around in the bright sunshine depletes their energy very quickly, that's why you always seem to get bitten the minute you go in the shade. Experts, such as they are, recommend full coverage clothing. Skeeters bite best on exposed skin, so the logic is obvious, but they will bite through clothing. Beyond that it is generally not convenient to wear a lot of clothing in the summer, so this option is not particularly practical. Things like the mosquito magnet ( the company is now bankrupt) work to a degree bu they are very expensive and their effective zone is limited. And you can't really haul your mosquito magnet around with you. So what's the answer? Truly, on-body repellents are the best defense and of these, those containing DEET are simply the best. They may not be appropriate for small children but adults can apply the products to exposed skin and outer clothing. To keep the bugs off your head, neck and ears, try applying it to a ball cap or a light cloth around your head or neck. As for AVON's Skin-So-Soft, the active ingredient in this material is d-limonene, an extract available in any citrus fruit. SSS works, sure, (though no where near as well as DEET) but you could accomplish the same thing by rubbing a cut lemon on your skin.

Answer 10

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What's the best defense against mosquitos?

Answer 11

Chances are you've already watched the video and know you should use mosquito repellent, wear clothes that cover your body, etc. etc.

But I thought I'd throw in everything I know on the topic:

1. don't eat bananas. Mosquitos are more attracted to people who eat them. They are also attracted to people with the highest body temperature, meaning in a group of people, the one who is the hottest will be more attracted to mosquitos. Avoid doing things that will raise your body temperature in other words.

2. Mosquitos come out primarily at night. They also congregate around lights and other outdoor heat sources. This doesn't necessarily include camp fires however because they, like us, hate the smoke that a camp fire puts off. Avoid turning on more lights outdoors than necessary, and if you have to, try to stay as far away from them as possible.

3. Mosquitos are only looking for blood in order to squirt all over their eggs. It may also be educational to know that only the female mosquitos bite. The pests lay their eggs in shallow water and don't stray from their eggs too often. Knowing this, try draining any shallow water you have in your immediate vicinity. If you live in a swamp, tough luck, try better flood control. It is surprising how many things in a person's yard will fill up with water: tires, pots, yard ponds, gutters, holes in the driveway or in the yard, etc. On a flat surface, you can sweep away any water that isn't going to evaporate. As for your pots and ponds, it may be a good idea to give up on a yard pond in the summer and to drain any excess water from your potted plants outdoors.

4. Finally, if your entire city has a problem with mosquitos, try pushing your local government to install a better mosquito control program. There are plenty of pesticides that can safely be used to eliminate mosquitos in massive quantities without damaging the environment.