There is nothing more annoying than the buzzing of a mosquito around the ear and the knowledge that, soon, you will be stung where the skin is exposed. Mosquitoes plague very humid areas around the world and are responsible for the spread of some diseases. If you are determined not to get stung on your next camping trip or want to control the population of these insects in your garden, this article shows you some remedies that can help you. Read on to learn how to get rid of mosquitoes and prevent them from returning.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Keep Mosquitoes Off the Skin
Step 1. Use a fly swatter
Those specific for mosquitoes are made of a thicker plastic or metal than normal ones and come with an elastic thread at the end. This greatly increases the chances of hitting a stationary mosquito because it increases the momentum of the instrument.
- Anything that works as an extension for your arm while allowing you to move more quickly can be a good substitute for a fly swatter if you don't have one available. Try a rolled up newspaper or magazine.
- Have you got nothing to hit the mosquito with? Kill the flying ones with two hands. Squeezing them between the two hands is more effective than one hand because the movement of air that each hand generates pushes the insect towards the palm of the other.
Step 2. Use chemical repellents
Keeping mosquitoes away from your skin is the best way to avoid getting bitten. Spray the product on uncovered skin as well as clothing when you spend time outdoors, especially during the day. If you have to put on sunscreen, apply it before the repellent.
- Repellents that contain 30-50% DEET (N. N-diethyl-m-toluamide) are recommended for adults and children over two months and guarantee protection for many hours. Repellents with lower DEET values offer shorter protection and need to be reapplied more often.
- Repellents containing up to 15% picaridin must be applied often. Picaridin is odorless, leaves a good feel on the skin and doesn't make it "plastic" like DEET does. Studies have shown that it is as effective as DEET and can also be used on babies younger than 2 months of age.
- Protect babies under two months old by using a mosquito net stroller instead of repellent.
Step 3. Try oil-based repellents
The safety level of synthetic chemicals such as repellents is a matter of discussion and there are still several natural solutions available that can be safely used. Lemongrass, cinnamon and castor oil are known to keep mosquitoes away. Most natural products require more frequent application than chemical ones.
- Eucalyptus citrate oil is sold as a repellent. On the market you can find products that contain it up to 40% and that have a pleasant scent without being sticky. It is also effective against ticks.
- Tea tree oil is another very useful natural repellent. Look for products that contain it.
- Nowadays there are natural soaps that at the same time protect against mosquitoes. The powerful oils used to make these soaps keep you safe when you have to work outdoors or when camping.
Step 4. Wear comfortable clothes that cover you completely
Long-sleeved shirts and long pants protect you from bites when you are outdoors. Covering the skin is the key to keeping mosquitoes away.
- You can also spray the clothes with permethrin-based repellents or other certified insecticides to maximize protection. Do not use permethrin directly on the skin.
- Avoid heavy, dark clothing in hot weather. Mosquitoes are attracted to body heat, so staying cool is a great way to avoid getting bitten. They seem to be particularly attracted to blue, red and black.
- Don't wear perfume when you spend time outdoors during mosquito season. These insects are attracted to sweat, but sweating could mask other elements that are even more attractive to mosquitoes, such as perfumes.
Step 5. Use a mosquito net to protect yourself at night
If you sleep in a haunted area, put a mosquito net around the bed that touches the ground on all sides. This is the most effective way to prevent stings, especially if you leave windows and doors open.
- Check the mosquito net regularly for stretch marks, even particularly long nails can damage it.
- Make sure the mosquito net does not come into contact with your body while you sleep.
- You should also cover your dog's or other pet's bed in case of a mosquito infestation.
Step 6. Bug-proof the house
Check all the mosquito nets at the entrances. Repair holes or rips that allow mosquitoes to enter. Silicone putty or patches are useful in these cases. Use gaskets to seal gaps in doors, especially those at the base. There is no 100% safe method to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home, but these measures can be helpful.
Step 7. Stay indoors when mosquitoes prefer to be outdoors
They are insects that appear at dusk, dawn and in the dark, so it's safer to stay indoors at these times. When you decide to go outside during mosquitoes' hours, protect yourself with long clothing.
Method 2 of 3: Remove them from the Garden
Step 1. Use lemongrass products
Mosquitoes do not like to approach the products that give off the smell of this oil. In addition to applying it to the body, you can try these techniques:
- Burn a lemongrass candle or torch. The smoke released into the air can be useful for keeping some insects at bay.
- Plant lemongrass in a vase and place it on the porch. You can peel off a twig and rub it on your skin and around the perimeter of your patio - its smell will keep mosquitoes away.
- Use the lemongrass zampironi. Check the other ingredients in these products and do not stand in the direction of the smoke they produce, as it could be harmful if inhaled.
Step 2. Burn other essential oils
Buy a specific burner, use a candle to heat some water in which you have diluted the oil (such as that of citric eucalyptus, lavender or catnip) or a mixture of oils. The heat will evaporate the oil and both the heat and the scent will create a "safe" zone of 2-3 meters in radius.
Step 3. Put a plate of soapy water
If you have decided to eat outside, you can keep mosquitoes away with a dish of soapy water placed nearby. The insects will be attracted to the water and at the same time they will be trapped by the soap until they drown.
Step 4. Use lighting that doesn't attract mosquitoes
Try LED lamps for outdoor paths, porch and outdoor areas. Mosquitoes will not fly around these areas if there are LED, sodium or yellow repellent lamps.
Step 5. Place a clear mesh or plastic cover around the porch or outdoor areas
A waterproof cover will also protect you from rain and snow!
Step 6. Plant the garlic
Eating garlic regularly every day is a mosquito protection technique, not scientifically proven, but some people believe it can be used as an insect barrier. Since garlic is also good, it's worth a try, even if you don't want to rely on this remedy alone.
- Plant garlic around the house to keep mosquitoes away. You can also put it on the balcony and in the garden.
- Buy some garlic powder at the supermarket and dust it in the yard as if it were a repellent. Put them closer to the porch and porch. This also protects pets from bites if they sleep outside.
Step 7. Use a mosquito trap
These annoying insects can be effectively exterminated with specific machines that use heat and carbon dioxide to attract them and subsequently nets, containers and chemicals to kill them. While these are quite expensive, they are effective and worth buying if you are looking to rid your garden of mosquitoes.
- Traps don't eliminate all mosquitoes found on your property. Each neighbor has more than one species of mosquito breeding in their garden, and each capture mechanism is specific to a species. Ask your neighborhood which model seems to be the most effective.
- Avoid using "electric traps". They have proven effective in killing many insects, unfortunately even those that are not harmful. Furthermore, the noise they generate tends to be annoying.
Method 3 of 3: Hit Breeding Sites
Step 1. Eliminate pools of standing water in your garden or yard
Mosquitoes are attracted to water, especially still water. They can breed in old tires, driveway puddles, fish tanks, empty pots, and any other objects that may hold water for a few days.
- Use a broom to spread the water from small puddles over hard surfaces. Use a siphon to vacuum out larger stagnations.
- If you are attacked by mosquitoes from standing water on sidewalks, drains, or other pools you can't control, let the public authority know that the area has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
- If it is not possible to remove a particular source of water, put bacillus thuringiensis tablets / granules on it. It is a special bacterium that has larvicidal and mosquito killing abilities, is effective for about one month and is non-toxic to humans and pets.
Step 2. Maintain the pool and bodies of water on your property
If you have a pond with tropical fish or a pool that is rarely used, then it could become a mosquito nursery. Do yourself and your neighbors a favor and perform regular maintenance to prevent the water from becoming stagnant.
- Cut the vegetation that grows around the pond and other sources of water.
- If you have a small bird pool or other small container, change the water daily or move it to hinder spawning.
- Treat the pool with all the chemicals needed to make it inhospitable to mosquitoes.
Step 3. Keep the grass clippings low and prune the bushes
Grass that is too tall and bushes that are too thick can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Mow your lawn regularly and use the grass trimmer to keep vegetation and bushes in check.
Advice
- Tumble dryer softening sheets (hung in rooms or rubbed on surfaces) have proven useless in mosquito control in many scientific studies and have had no influence on the number of bites a person receives.
- If you live or will need to travel to an area with a lot of mosquitoes, consider buying a mosquito net.
- Lavender is an excellent mosquito repellent, its essential oil is also effective.
- Put some lemongrass.
- Hanging closed transparent plastic bags filled with water, with a small entrance hole, only catches flies and is useless against mosquitoes, bees, wasps and other insects.
- Mosquito nets treated with repellents, as well as untreated ones, keep mosquitoes away and prevent contact with humans.
Warnings
- Lemongrass candles and bamboo torches are not much more effective than an ordinary candle that emits heat, moisture and carbon dioxide.
- The theories on the use of vitamin B are interesting (and vitamin B cannot harm people), but they have never been scientifically proven.
- In some cases, mosquitoes develop immunity to repellents.
