Natural Mosquito Repellents

We all realize that mosquitoes are pests. None of us likes being bitten by them. Most people say ‘bitten’ although this not true. ‘Stung’ is also not factual. What the mosquito is actually doing is taking some of your protein in the form of blood though her proboscis, so that her eggs will have something to feed upon while they are developing.

In consequence, your blood is supplying the albumen (the ‘white’) of the mosquitoes’ eggs. It therefore follows that it is only the female mosquito that ‘bites’. In the course of sucking your blood, the mosquito squirts some juices into you. It is not fully understood what these liquids contain, but one is an anti-coagulant to keep your blood fluid and another might be a pain-killer so you do not feel the proboscis entering your pore. Some think that there might also be an antiseptic, but it is not accepted by every one.

Some mosquitoes also introduce other parasites into you, which can cause diseases like malaria, dengue, yellow fever and Japanese jungle encephalopathy. Mosquitoes are to blame for killing millions of people every year. Luckily the fluid that they inject comes from another source other than where they store the blood they have already taken, otherwise they could spread AIDS as well.

Having said all that, another indirect cause for alarm is in the deterrence of mosquito bites. The single most effective method of preventing mosquitoes landing on you is spreading mosquito repellent on your skin, and the most effective mosquito repellents contain DEET. However, it is now considered that the frequent use of DEET can cause neurological issues. Consequently, it worth looking for natural mosquito repellents.

Unfortunately, there is no mosquito repellent as reliable as DEET, but some combinations of treatments are nearly as effective. For instance, some people say that mosquitoes are attracted to people who have eaten bananas, so you could avoid bananas if you are nearby mosquitoes. Others say that mosquitoes are less likely to go for people who have eaten garlic or Yeastvite or Bovril.

Mosquitoes hate the smell of lemons, so a local application of lemon juice is very effective although the effect only lasts about thirty or forty minutes. However, there is a plant called the citronella and this deters mosquitoes just as well. The citronella does not smell of lemons unless it is disturbed, but then it is very aromatic.

Grow them in pots on your window cills, on your deck or on your patio. The wind blowing through them is enough to release the odour. You can also collect the dead leaves and put them in your pillow. You could also rub green leaves directly onto your skin.

There are quite a few natural mosquito repellents, but they do not all work for everybody and nobody knows why. One theory is that diet and alcohol affect your attraction to mosquitoes. It is also possible that mosquitoes in different areas like different types of people, so it is always worth asking for local advice.

Owen Jones publishes articles on several topics, but is now involved with Hand Held Insect Killer devices and stationary units at Electronic Insect Killers.