Mosguito repellent plants is a myth – Here is why
Mosquitos can be a huge annoyance in the summertime. They are constantly buzzing around your head, and they seem to find you no matter how hard you try to avoid them. Not only are they a nuisance, but they can also be dangerous. Mosquitos can carry diseases like Zika virus, West Nile virus, and malaria.
There are several ways to deal with mosquitos. One of which is said to be using repellent plants. However, many people believe that these plants actually do not work. The reason these plants are thought to not work is because there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that they repel mosquitos.
Citronela | Cymbopogon nardus
What actually is scientifically proved from studies is that citronella genus (Poaceae) plants does have some repellent effect, but it only lasts few minutes leaving the user unprotected unless mixing its essential oil Cymbopogon winterianus with large molecule like vanillin (5%) which then prolongs the protection time to 2 hours. So the problem that arise is that citronella essential oils do evaporate quickly not protecting the user from host seeking mosquitos. Citronella first was extracted for perfumery uses but on the way it was found to repel mosquitos successfully and it didnt take much time to find a commercial way ,firstly to Indian Army and after that to USA . Today 5-10% of the markets mosquito repellent market is Citronella based and new studies discovered ways of combining Citronella essential oil with nanotechnology and achieve impressive results of even 30 days host free protection!
lemon eucalyptus (Corymbia citriodora)
The lemon eycalyptus is a tall, evergreen tree that is native to Australia. It has glossy, dark green leaves and creamy white flowers. The oil from the lemon eycalyptus tree is used to make insect repellent. Even though the essential oil of Lemon Eucalyptus doesn’t have EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) registration as a mosquito repellent, lemon eucalyptus essential oil consist of 85% citronellal which gives the plant, repellent characteristics. Heavily used in Chinese traditional Medicine, Lemon Eucalyptus became famous for its crisp scent, but soon was discovered to be used as an insect repellent.
Why planting them doesn’t work.
The reason why having these plants will not work for repelling mosquitos is simply because the substance that actually repels the insects (Citronellal) is not released by just having them there.But you actually have to extract citronellal and use it to repel them, which is of course impossible. Other essential oils known for repelling characteristics are:
- Geranium Oil
- Peppermint Oil
- Citronella Oil
- Lemon Eycalyptus Oil
- Neem Oil
- SoyBean Oil
- Greek Catmint Oil
- Cinnamon Oil
- Lavendula Oil
How to Get Rid Of them
How to Get Rid Of them
- First, make sure there is no standing water in your yard. This is where mosquitoes like to breed.
- Second, Mow your Lawn.Keeping your yard tight and clean will discourage any insects to breed and live in your property.
- Third, use a mosquito repellent. There are a number of different types available, so find one that works best for you.
- Fourth, install bird feeders.Some birds eat 2000 mosquitos per day.So you take care of them they take care of you!
- Fifth and final, talk to a professional. They will offer you a sollution for your garden for a price.But you will not have to worry about that anymore.
