Posted on 06/20/2012 5:34:55 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Two drops of water is all it takes to breed mosquitoes in your back yard. So what are you doing to prevent West Nile virus?
Tony Jenkins, the assistant director of environmental health for the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department, said there are options besides DEET-based insecticides, starting with garlic.
“Garlic is an insect repellent... it really is,” he said. You can eat it and you can plant it — either way, mosquitoes don't like it.
“Wherever that area is, and wherever the aromatics tend to penetrate, that would help to do some mosquito reduction around your house,” Jenkins said. Planting mint in your garden works, too. But you'd have to have a lot of it. Basil, despite public opinion, doesn't work. “Just the mint — I've heard of the mint," Jenkins said. "I've actually seen the mint work, as far as keeping the insects away.”
Another flop? Some people believe turning on a fan will rid an area of mosquitoes.
“Well, I would say that that one came from somewhere else,” Jenkins said with a laugh.
He said, however, that lemon eucalyptus oil can be a good repellent.
Standing water is the obvious culprit for mosquito breeding, but most people don't look up. Gutters are also a common breeding ground.
As for mosquito misters, the health department doesn't suggest them. Over time, the insects build up resistance to the pesticide and pass that on to their babies. Eventually, it won't work at all.
“I would go with the true and known remedies for these things,” Jenkins said.
Another good repellent is Listerine. Just put some in a spray bottle. I have used it for years on my decks and patio. (not on my body) It really does help. And if it doesn’t, they will at least have sweet smelling breath.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. An onion (or garlic) a day keeps everyone away.
DFW has been getting too much, everyone else’s rain. All those huge dents from last week oughta be full of water and wiggletails.
Houston is happy to share their hummingbirds.
Vanilla extract works. Rig crews up here have used it for a skeeter repellent.
Don’t kill any dragonflies as they love mosquitoes.
For me, nothing short of high concentration DEET will do. The added bonus of DEET is that it actually causes pain to mosquitoes. The little blood suckers have their scent receptors in their feet and as they near a DEET covered surface, it hits them like a dose of pepper spray in the face.
For area coverage, I've discovered this...
...It's a lemon grass oil based fogger, that not only seems to work very well against Louisiana mosquitoes, but it's also pet safe and has a very pleasant scent.
Skin so soft from Avon will keep them away they hate it !
Vitamin B-1. 50 mg in the AM and another 50 in the PM everyday during skeeter season.
There’s a little known codicil in Obamacare about home remedies. We’re all on double secret probation!
There’s a little known codicil in Obamacare about home remedies. We’re all on double secret probation!
When enjoying the outdoors I usually am drinking a beer.
The more I drink the less concerned I am about mosquito’s
Drink more beer!
When I was in Marine boot camp in Parris Island, SC, the mosquitoes were brutal and our drill instructors recommended that we have our family send us Avon Skin-so-soft.
I must say that my father was wondering just what sort of outfit his son had joined!
The stuff did seem to work well.
A few years ago, I put some bat-houses in the woods behind my yard - that seems to have cut down on the mosquito population quite a bit. Wish there was a way I could breed dragonflies. The average dragonfly will consume up to 50 mosquitoes a day.
I confess, I don’t know much about mosquito repellent, but I’ve been wearing shark repellent for years now every time I go swimming in a pool or Lake Michigan or in the bathtub, and I’ve never been attacked.
I’ve found that concrete works very well. If you have a large concrete pad, few mosquitoes will take the chance to cross over it. They much more love natural terrain, where they can dip down at will.
Garlic, eh? Now, when my wife complains about the reek (ambrosia to me) I have an excuse for why I bought that big jar of Kimchee at our local Asian food store. She does like Bulgogi, though, so I’m OK on the marinated beef surrounded whole fried cloves of the good stuff.
It does work. Be sure you use the original Listerine, the yellow one, not the mint or any other flavor. Also, attaching those dryer fabric softener papers to yourself. Like pining them to the front of your shirt. Keeps the mossies away here anyway.
Deet works well. In Chiangmai we have some geckos climbing our wall inside and out and they eat a lot so nobody tries to chase them off. Long sleeves and trousers are necessary. However, going crazy screaming, waving madly at the air and slapping my arms doesn’t seem to do much good as I have tried it many times.
“Vitamin B-1. 50 mg in the AM and another 50 in the PM everyday during skeeter season.”
I’ve forgotten to load up on B-1 before my coastal fishing trips but the guys in the crew who do don’t ever get bothered when the skeeters are thick as fog.
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