Proven home remedies are the best way to effectively keep mosquitoes at bay. Various fragrances effectively scare away the biting insects. But scientists can always record new findings in mosquito research that offer new deterrent methods.

Mosquitoes are annoying and their bites are painful

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Mosquito expulsion in the room
  3. Mosquito expulsion in the garden
  4. prevention
  5. frequently asked Questions

    6. the essentials in brief

    • Home remedies with a strong smell are the best way to drive away mosquitoes. Homemade candles are just as effective as flowers or fragrance lamps.
    • Fragrances prove helpful in the garden. Effective methods are aromatic herbs in pots or smoking leaves and coffee. Electrical devices have proven to be ineffective.
    • To prevent mosquitoes from spreading, water deposits should be removed or treated with bacteria and detergent. Electronic music disturbs the orientation of the insects.

    Drive away mosquitoes: room

    Mosquitoes get into the apartment, kitchen and bedroom through open windows and doors. They can be found wherever people live. The annoying insects don't spare children's rooms or bathrooms, because they follow human body odor and are attracted to exhaled carbon dioxide. The insects perceive these substances over several kilometers. The safest way to keep mosquitoes out is with fly screens.

    Plant flowers and herbs

    Fragrant herbs keep mosquitoes away

    Many plants not only scare away annoying insects, but can also be used in the kitchen. These include basil, rosemary and lemon balm. Garlic is an ideal pest repellent. Both the spice tuber and the herb offer ideal protection against mosquitoes in the home. If you don't like the smell of the intense herb, you can plant lemongrass, marigold and lemon geranium.

    Make mosquito repellent candles yourself

    Citronella candles are fragrant for humans and ensure that mosquitoes flee. You need old leftover candles or beeswax, a cube of coconut oil, disused screw-top jars and cotton yarn. Vegetable oils with citronella, lavender or sage scent ensure the repellent effect.

    Manufacturing:

    1. Melt three parts coconut oil and one part wax in a saucepan
    2. Add eight to ten drops of essential oil per 100 grams of candle mass
    3. pour carefully into the glasses
    4. Insert candle wicks to the bottom of the glass
    5. Secure the wicks with a toothpick placed across the glass
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    Light fragrance lamps

    Essential oils spread optimally in the room air when they are vaporized. This is done with a pot on the stove, which you fill with water and a few drops of essential oils. About four drops of tea tree, mint or eucalyptus oil are sufficient for a twenty square meter room. Fragrance lamps are a more convenient solution and can be placed in the bedroom and children's room.

    Get rid of mosquitoes with home remedies

    Set up bowls with different fragrances in the apartment. It is important that the substances are renewed regularly. They act as a repellent until the scents have dissipated. A jar of apple cider vinegar, bay or neem oil, and lemon essence can keep mosquitoes out of the bedroom.

    Drive away mosquitoes: in the garden

    The summer months bring not only mild nights but often plagues of mosquitoes. In order to be spared annoying mosquito bites in the garden, on the balcony and terrace, a few rules of conduct have proven to be helpful:

    • shower after physical activity
    • do not use heavily perfumed shower gels
    • wear long, light-colored clothing

    digression

    Mosquito expulsion in other cultures

    Native Americans do not only use their dream catchers made of twigs, plant fibers and grass to keep away negative energies. They also serve a practical purpose: during the night they serve as protection against mosquito bites. The Indians put dream catchers over their children's faces. Equally mystical and functional are the sage fires of the Native Americans, because the smoke keeps mosquitoes at bay. It is well known that insects do not like smoke and so many South Americans constantly have a cigar in their mouth.

    Keep away with plants

    Mosquitoes hate the smell of tomatoes

    Like many insects, mosquitoes find the aromas of various plants repulsive. Intensely fragrant herbs from the Mediterranean region, aromatic plants and vegetables with strong-smelling plant parts act as natural deterrents. To create an effective shield against mosquitoes, you can smoke sage, cedar, or eucalyptus leaves in a fireproof bowl.

    Plants against mosquitoes:

    • vegetables: Tomatoes
    • herbs: lavender, mint
    • spice plants: anise

    Intense smells exude

    The scent effect of plants that contain essential oils is often not strong enough outdoors. To increase the deterrence effect, you can use home remedies. Sprinkle ground coffee on a fireproof surface and light the dry powder.

    tips

    Outdoor mosquito repellent candles are easy to make in the oven. Put coconut oil, leftover candles and essential oils in a used mason jar and put it in the oven at 60 to 70 degrees until the ingredients have melted. Then hang in a wick and let it harden.

    Electric insect repellent

    Mosquito plugs for the socket should protect against the mosquito plague both indoors and outdoors. But according to the 7/2022-2023 issue of the consumer magazine Öko-Test, none of the nine devices tested from different areas was recommended. Most models have no effect or are questionable from a health and species protection point of view.

    Electric mosquito killers have no effect. Home remedies are the better alternative.

    functionality effectiveness notice
    UV light Fluorescent tubes are said to attract insects that die from electrocution ineffective against mosquitoes Harmful to all insects outdoors
    Ultrasonic high-frequency sounds are intended to remind females of males willing to mate ineffective against mosquitoes Devices are not subject to testing or approval
    electric vaporizer continuous release of biocides fully effective against all insects hazardous to health if used continuously

    prevent mosquitoes

    Mosquitoes are tied to bodies of water because the females prefer to lay their eggs in standing puddles, rain barrels filled with water (€53.99) or ponds. Even the smallest amounts of water in tree cavities are sufficient for laying eggs. To prevent mosquitoes from spreading, you should remove all water accumulations from the garden or ensure that the water is continuously circulated.

    Ideal egg-laying places:

    • water-bearing bird baths
    • filled watering cans
    • Coasters of flower pots with residual water
    • Paddling pool with puddles

    tips

    A natural insect repellent for the skin can be made from coconut oil and powdered cinnamon, lemongrass or cloves. Before applying to a large area, test a small area of skin to see if you are allergic to essential oils.

    treat rainwater

    Standing water is ideal for mosquitoes to lay their eggs

    There are special tablets that you can add to the irrigation water in the rain barrel. They contain the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, which produces Bt toxins and acts as a natural pest controller. The toxins are toxic to species of the genus Culex, which includes the native mosquitoes. Since they are completely harmless to people, plants and vertebrates, the water from the rain barrel can be used in the garden.

    Disadvantage:

    • Bacterium also acts on non-biting midges
    • Dragonfly larvae have to switch to other food
    • Amphibian larvae are increasingly preyed on by dragonfly larvae

    use detergent

    A biodegradable dishwashing liquid is a good home remedy for fighting mosquitoes in the garden. A few splashes in the water butt are enough to reduce the surface tension of the water. Midges on the approach to land, hitting the surface of the water, sink and drown.

    Electronic music

    Researchers at Mahidol University in Thailand have found that when female mosquitoes are exposed to electronic music, they show less interest in blood and less willingness to mate. They suspect that Johnston's organ is disturbed by the strong vibrations. This organ is important for mating and allows fine control of flight.

    frequently asked Questions

    How to get rid of mosquitoes

    You can also make mosquito spray yourself

    The stinging insects primarily use their sense of smell to orient themselves. You can use this perception to keep mosquitoes out of the garden and home. Various fragrances that secrete intense aromas help against mosquitoes. These include essential oils that are vaporized in fragrance lamps, as well as coffee powder and herbs on the windowsill.

    What are mosquitoes attracted to?

    Mosquitoes are not attracted to light sources. They are active at different times of the day. Mosquitoes use their sense of smell to find their way around. They are primarily attracted to human body odors and exhaled carbon dioxide. Insects can perceive these substances over several kilometers and can get through open windows and doors even when the light is off. They prefer to buzz around the head, since the concentration of carbon dioxide is particularly high here.

    What Mosquitoes Like:

    • Scent of butyric, lactic acid and ammonia on the skin
    • Increased perspiration during physical exertion
    • increased body temperature

    Are mosquitoes useful?

    The biting insects play an important role in the food chain. Rich in protein, they are an essential part of the food web of birds and amphibians. Native bats eat up to 30 percent of their body weight every night. A pipistrelle can eat between 600 and 700 mosquitoes per night. This corresponds to 140,000 mosquitoes in seven months. Many creatures would starve without mosquitoes.

    Which mosquitoes live in Germany?

    There are about 50 species of mosquitoes in Central Europe. Most of these species are harmless and do not prey on human blood. The common mosquito and the large house mosquito are significant pests that become a nuisance to humans. Five species introduced from other countries are considered invasive. These include the Asian tiger mosquito and the Japanese bush mosquito.

    Are spices in food effective against mosquitoes?

    It is said to make the blood unattractive to mosquitoes if you have eaten garlic or hot spices or taken vitamin tablets. However, researchers found that eating habits have no effect on mosquito biting behavior. Participants who ate garlic were bitten just as often as other people.

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Animals in the garden