don’t hang out where they hang out
Mosquitoes tend to be most active in the early morning hours and at dusk. Ideally, you will want to avoid being out during those times.
Bodies of standing water, areas of dense trees and wooded areas are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Trying to refrain from hanging out in these areas where a larger amount of mosquitoes can be found will help reduce your chances of an itchy encounter.
natural suggestions
There are a number of natural oils which can help repel mosquitoes and reduce your chances of getting bitten:
- Citronella Oils and Soap. You can wash your body with soap and then apply citronella oil to your skin. Always make sure to mix the citronella oil with a carrier oil, such as almond oil or coconut oil.
- Cinnamon Oil. Mix cinnamon oil (1/4 tsp) with 4 ounces of water. Spray on skin, clothing, and furnishing. One study even found that cinnamon oil can kill off mosquito eggs.
- Greek Catnip Oil. Catnip Oil has shown to be 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET (which has negative side effects).
- Neem Oil.
A few notes about natural oils:
- Always make sure to dilute oils when you use them. They should not be applied to skin in high concentration.
- Reapplication every few hours may be needed.
- Be mindful of exercising outdoors and becoming sweaty in areas full of these pests. Remember movement, sweat, and increased carbon dioxide production attract mosquitoes.
backyard measures to prevent mosquitoes
There are a few precautions you can take to prevent mosquitoes from overtaking your backyard space:
- Make sure there is not standing or stagnant water. This includes in dog bowls, toys, bird baths, pails or tins, garbage cans, or any other place water may sit in. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so eliminating water collection in your yard will help tremendously.
- Say no to bug zappers. They can actually increase the presence of mosquitoes.
- Plant marigolds. Marigolds help to ward off these nasty little pests. They omit a scent that certain bugs, including mosquitoes, are not fond of. Planting them around your home will help keep mosquitoes away.
We hope these natural tips are useful to you. Thanks for reading!
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