The Top 5 Mosquito Prevention Tips

Published on Thu Jun 29, 2017 - 2 min read

Published by: Bryan Bradford

Ever feel like during a cookout you’re what’s really on the menu? Nothing ruins a good time outdoors more than giant mosquitoes flying off with your guests! Only in Texas right? In all seriousness mosquito control not only prevents the itch but can also lessen your chances catching several mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika, West Nile, Yellow Fever, malaria, encephalitis, and the list goes on.¹

There are over 200 species of mosquitoes in the US and Texas has the most at 85.² Each species has its preference on what attracts or repels it and that is why here at the Shoppe we recommend using as many of our top 5, research backed, mosquito prevention techniques together as you can for the most effective prevention.

1. Citronella is one of the most well-known and effective of the plant-based mosquito repellents. First extracted in the mid-18th century as a perfume ingredient in France, users quickly realized that they weren’t being bit. By the turn of the century the Indian Military was using citronella to repel mosquitoes.³ Research shows us that citronella is effective for two hours after application. We recommend burning citronella candles as well as applying the essential oil topically. For a spray, mix 5 drops of citronella with 2 ounces of water.

2. Neem is an Ayurvedic herb popular in India for its pesticide and germicide properties. Some studies have shown than neem is an effective repellent for up to 12 hours!⁴ We recommend mixing 10 drops of neem oil with ¼ cup of coconut oil and applying to exposed skin. Avoid eyes.

3. Get a bat house.⁵  Why? Bats love bugs. Bats thrive on an insect based diet and will eat moths, beetles, flies, gnats, and mosquitoes. A single bat can eat 1200 mosquitoes per hour and up to 8,000 mosquitoes a night!⁶  Somewhat ironically, and contrary to what Hollywood would have us believe, bats are actually our best defense against bloodsuckers.

4. Vitamin B1 was first investigated in the 1960s as a possible deterrent against female mosquitoes. When we take large amounts of B1 the excess is excreted via our skin and sweat glands, apparently the odor B1 makes in our skin repels mosquitoes. We recommend adding 100mg or more of B1 along with your current regimen.

5. Fan/Wind can be a great deterrent to mosquitoes as even a slight breeze can disrupt their flight patterns and scent detecting abilities.⁷ mosquitoes fly up to 1.5 mph’s² and will avoid any area with wind approaching or exceeding that speed.

With these proven mosquito prevention techniques, you should be able to enjoy your summer outdoors with friends and family without getting eaten alive.

References:

[1] http://www.inrs.illinois.edu/expo/pdf-files/mosquito-facts.pdf

[2] http://www.mosquito.org/faq

[3] https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2875-10-S1-S11

[4] https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12936-015-0705-4

[5] https://batconservation.org/product-category/bat-houses/

[6] http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-and-environment/control-insects-bat-habitat

[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12495196