There’s no real way to wipe them off the face of the earth. I know because I searched the internet longer than I probably should have and found nothing. However, we can protect ourselves as much as possible from them. There are sprays and lotions to protect ourselves but there are also ways to prevent mosquito activity. There are a few different plants you can have around the house, inside and out, that work as deterrents.
One thing I’ve always heard is to make sure there is not standing water in or around your house. Those are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. When I see that I instantly get itchy and want to dump it over which in most instances I do. Whether at my house or anyone else’s house. Birdbaths are among one of the standing water places I didn’t think about but the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mentions birdbaths, flowerpot saucers, tires, buckets, planters, and trash bins are also breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Here’s a NOT so fun fact for you. The CDC put together this illustration for us to see the life cycle of a mosquito. For more information, visit there site at https://www.cdc.gov.
So what can we do to prevent getting bit? One of the repellents the CDC suggests using is DEET. The higher the percentage the longer amount of time you’ll be protected. They also recommend to read the label on how to put it on correctly to insure that you are protected properly. Now it doesn’t say that if you use DEET that you are completely immune to mosquito bites unfortunately. And as for babies and small children it suggests not to use them on babies 2 months and younger. If you have a baby that young, make sure to dress them in clothing that covers as much of their body as possible. Also, never apply repellent onto your kiddos hands, eyes, mouth or places on the skin that are irritated or open wounds. If you are interested in using a repellent that is natural, click EPA to visit website for more information.
While searching through the internet to find better ways to prevent these pesky mosquitos from hanging around the house, I came across an article from Rodale’s Organic Life, “8 Plants That Repel Mosquitoes Naturally”. Did you know that there’s a plant that is actually called, well… Mosquito Plant. The article said that, even though it’s called a Mosquito Plant (Citrosum) it’s the least effective plant when it comes to mosquito control. However, if it is the only thing around, it says you could crush the leaves on your skin to provide a bit of protection.
These are the other 7 plants:
Lemon Balm – keeps mosquito bites low but the plant can take over your garden.
Basil – it is toxic to mosquito larvae so it suggests planting it around any natural water sources.
Lavender – I’ve always known lavender to be a smoothly plant. Apparently not for mosquitoes (as well as moths and flies). They’re not big fans. It also says to rub the leaves on your skin to release the oils.
Peppermint – so this plant keeps adult mosquitos away and not only kills their larvae but also larvae of other species. It has to be concentrated to work the best.
Sage and Rosemary- for those of you who enjoy gathering around a campfire, Organic Life says to toss sage or rosemary into the fire. The smell it of either of them burning is not a pleasant one for mosquitos and other insect. The only thing is that you will have to stay near the fire.
Catnip- you have to be careful with this one. It works in 2 ways – a repellent for insects but also it attracts cats. So if you do not want to have cats hanging around, maybe try one of the other 7 plants.
I hope these options help with battling those pesky mosquitoes. If you or anyone you know happens to know how to wipe them out permanently we would love for you to share with us.
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| Illustration by CDC |
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