I am not sure where this post should be but how do you stay bite free from the mosquito? Do you know any sure fire way to keep them from biting? We have invested in a lantern and a holster type small bug machine called thermacell. It seems to help at times but not when you dig in bushes...they seem to think they are getting a free meal. Could you share the way that helps you please? I hate spraying on bug spray but I just might have to pick some up.
I use either citronella or tea tree oil against our Scottish midges. There is also a product made by Avon called 'Skin so Soft' which is very useful.
Two sprays that work for me .. 1 ounce Peppermint Essential Oil 3 ounces rubbing alcohol Mix together, pour into small spray bottle. Spray on all exposed areas except face before going outside. The initial affect is the cooling of the peppermint as the alcohol evaporates then you get to watch the mosquitoes doing really quick landing and takeoffs. Also,.. 2 Tablespoons Witch Hazel 20-25 drops of one of the Essential oils below.... For mosquitoes...Citronella oil, Lemon Eucalyptus, Peppermint For ticks and lice....Lavender or Rose Geranium Fleas... Orange Biting flies....Citronella Mix, pour into spray bottle and keep handy.
Oh boy, Thanks for those toni. I swell up something awful sometimes after getting bit. I had one on my calf last week Which was the size of my hand and lasted for a whole week looking bruised and swollen And I hate spraying deet all over me to keep them off. Listerine mouthwash is also supposed to work and very effectively at that. we tried it while we were watching the fireworks on Sunday and I think it helped, but we used the generic that I had in the cupboard. So I wonder if the real reeking stuff does a more effective job. Spray yourself AND the yard with it. It is supposed to repel them from the lawn also.
I called a friend this afternoon and she was reading an article about listerine but didn't know if you use it full strength or dilute it. I would think that you would use it full strength to get the strong smell.Personally, I hate it as a mouthwash because it is strong but if it works for mosquitoes that would be wonderful.
Sherry, I would think full strength also. I don't like the overpowering taste and smell of it but if it works for mosquitoes, I will tolerate it.
Like Eileen i use "Tea Tree Oil" against our Midges,..which attack a person in swarms of thousands,.. getting into hair and up trouser legs down collars,..nasty wee buggers,..and "Tea Tree Oil",..is great easing bites and stings. Thanks Toni for the info you gave,..i will try some of those next time i am up the lake.
Toni... where would one find the items in your "recipes"? Health food store? I usually just grab a can of the usual Deet spray... but the mosquitos seem to be immune to them these days. Which reminds me... we have a couple Camphor Trees... quite large and at least 40 years old. Can they be used to help repel those nasty little biters? If so, how?
Cheryl, I get some of my essential oils at the natural health pharmacy. Its one that promotes natural healing along with rx help. They would carry all sorts of healthy and homeopathic remedies. OR you might also want to try swansonsvitamins.com to see if they would carry any of the oils you are looking for. I use them and they are the most economical vitamin place I have found. You could use the camphor leaves by using rubbing alcohol as a base. Place the rubbing alcohol in a jar, pick a few leaves and try storing the leaves in the r. alcohol for a few days or a week in a cool dry place, take a whiff to see if it's seems to have the camphor smell to it and try spritzing some on and go outside. Let us know if it works, too. Now this is just my freely offered thought not scientific or a tried and true recipe. so..... if it doesn't work, still let us know. Or maybe someone else has a real recipe for the camphor. Here is a mosquito that landed on Adrian the other day. He was freaking out. He doesn't think needles are a great invention, its proboscis must be where the idea came from. A large Mosquito. Texas sized ( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )
I get mine from Whole Foods Market and Natural Grocers but I have also ordered on line from http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/aroma/ess.html http://www.brambleberry.com/Original-C23.aspx Where ever you get them make sure they are Essential Oils and not Fragrance oils used for aroma therapy. Take some of the Camphor leaves, crush them and make an extract by steeping them in water, rubbing alcohol or Vodka for 2-6 weeks, your nose will know when they are ready to use .....that's one reason I have a still, it doesn't take as long as that. If you use water you will have to keep the extract in the fridge and use it in a short period of time, Vodka will not need to be refrigerated and it has a longer shelf life. I will have to look up the exact amounts of leaves to Vodka and get back to you.
I am at the point of trying anything with all the bites on me from the mosquitoes flying out of the plants I water. Yesterday I pulled some marigold seeds apart and rubbed them on my arms but it didn't stop them from feasting on me. I figured they have such a strong smell that it might work....
Sherry, Try spraying your plants with the listerine. Just put it into a spray bottle and set the mist pattern to fine. that is one of the great parts about the concept of it. It is supposed to work at repelling them for up to a week. try it and tell us what you think. Does it really work or is it a gimmick.
When living in Alaska (where they have mosquitos in numbers like I have seen nowhere else) I took Thiamine (vit. B1) several times a day. I have actually seen the mozzies land on my arm and walk the length of my forearm and never bite. I can testify that this worked for me. Here the mozzie problem is less, but still annoying, so I use Autan topical spray or stick when I am not wearing many clothes (like when working in the garden). That isn't ideal, but it works. If I am sitting in the lottie until after dark, I burn a citronella candle along with smearing-in with Autan.
I thought mouth wash had a lot of alcohol in it? I would think with our hot weather that it would ruin my plants. I don't have one that I would want to experiment on . In fact the one that is the worse is the black eyed susan vine which my son gave to me for Mother's day. Has anyone tried the Listerine yet? Black-eyed Susan vine ( photo / image / picture from Sherry8's Garden ) sjoerd...when you said B1 I remembered I took it many years ago and it did seem to work. Thank you for the reminder.
I feel your pain with the mosquitos, i'm lucky if i don't get a bite everytime i'm in the garden. best options i have found. 1. 35% deet in a spray 'Off' brand is good. get the spray as its easy to apply so your more likely to use it. 2. if your going to be working in an area for a while and know theres going to be mosquitos then put a citronella candle near it to get the mosquitos to fly away. 3. once bitten, anti histamine will help keep the swelling and itching down. Also try and get some watkins afterbite balm works great.
