Organic Mosquito Control
- Prevention
The first line of defense against mosquitos is to seal their point of entry. Make sure window and door screens are "bug tight." - Mosquitos are most active in the early morning and early evening. They seek areas of still air because they are hampered by breezes. Close windows and doors on the side of your house which are opposite the breeze.
- The best mosquito control that focuses instead on killing mosquito larvae or depriving mosquitoes of breeding grounds.
- Eliminate standing water in rain gutters, old tires, buckets, plastic covers, wheelbarrows,or any other container where mosquitoes can breed.
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Walk your property regularly to make sure nothing is collecting water unnoticed. If holes and depressions in trees are collecting water that cannot be easily emptied, pour a little cooking oil on the surface. Females will not lay their eggs on it, and any larvae already in the water will not be able to emerge through the oil. Top off as needed.
Spraying with Garlic Barrier Kills adult mosquitos and suffacates larvae in standing water. Also repels ticks, gnats, and fleas. You can make your own homemade garlic barrier or buy below.
- Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, pet bowls,wading pools, rain barrels, and potted plant trays at least once a week to destroy potential mosquito habitats.
- Drain or fill temporary pools of water with dirt. Replace your outdoor lights with yellow "bug" lights which tend to attract less mosquitoes than ordinary lights.
- Keep swimming pool water treated and circulating. If you have a pond or other large water features, use mosquito fish or mosquito "dunks", powders or pellets containing Bacillus thuringiensis israeliensis, (Bt) in all ponds. SEE BELOW FOR Bt PRODUCTS
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Safe, nontoxic pheromone-based mosquito traps are now commercially available. Oak Stump Mosquito and Flying Insect Traps (below) has the effect of luring mosquitos into the trap to lay eggs. After mosquitos are in the trap they cann't get out and eventually drown.
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Neem oil is a natural vegetable oil extracted from the Neem tree in India. The leaves, seeds and seed oil of the Neem tree contain sallanin, a compound which has effective mosquito repelling properties. Neem oil is a natural product and is safe to use.
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Planting marigolds around your yard works as a natural bug repellent because the flowers give off a fragrance bugs and flying insects do not like.
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The fish, Gambusia affinis, has acquired such a reputation as an eater of mosquito larvae that it has been nicknamed, "mosquitofish." This is a great addition to backyard ponds. Contact your local municipality regarding the availability of mosquitofish in your area.
Mosquito Cognito (below) is a new concept in mosquito control. Mosquito Cognito is a dispenser containing inhibitor molecules that bind to insects' olfactory receptors, blocking their sense of smell so they cannot locate nearby people or animals.
- Mosquito Misting Systems are becoming more popular in the South. Be sure if you have a misting system installed that it is able to work with natural organic mosquito repellent such as a citrus product.
Natural Mosquito Repellent Recipes
In a New England Journal of Medicine study, oil of eucalyptus at 30% concentration prevented mosquito bites for 120.1 minutes, while Bite Blocker with 2% soybean oil kept bites away for 96.4 minutes. (the eucalyptus oil must have a minimum of 70% cineole content, the active therapeutic ingredient.)
If you're barbequeing, throw a bit of sage or rosemary on the coals to repel mosquitos. An effective natural bug repellent, mix one part garlic juice with 5 parts water in a small spray bottle. Shake well before using. Spray lightly on exposed body parts for an effective repellent lasting up to 5 - 6 hours. Strips of cotton cloth can also be dipped in this mixture and hung in areas, such as patios, as a localized deterrent.
WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS: