Do you like to enjoy long summer evenings and sleep with the window open, but mosquitoes spoil the fun? There are natural and effective solutions to keep them away and avoid getting bitten!
Summer is synonymous with heat, long evenings that we like to extend outside, sun and holidays … But the beautiful season also often signals the return of mosquitoes, and with them the hunt for those bloodthirsty insects that watch for the slightest opportunity to sting you. Fortunately, there is no shortage of solutions to protect yourself from these nuisances and avoid being devoured.
In the repellents department, there are many products to be applied directly to the skin, in the form of a spray, a cream or even a gel. There is also a wide choice of insecticides, aerosols to spray, diffusers to connect or even coils to burn. Yes their chemical formulations are incredibly effective against insects, their impact on the environment and air quality that we breathe is not without consequences. Better to turn to others more natural solutions.
The mosquito net Is of course an effective barrier against mosquitoes, but if it prevents them from entering the house, they are of little use outside. Fortunately, nature does things well and many plants are natural repellents.
Also remember that mosquitoes are also attracted to stagnant water points, which they particularly like to lay eggs. So remember to regularly empty all the containers liable to accumulate water (the cups of your planters for example), remember to cover a container or a tank, and if you have a pond or a pond in your garden, invite them there are some fish. They will take care of eliminating some of the larvae.
Plants that repel mosquitoes
The smell of certain plants naturally repels mosquitoes. Cultivating them is therefore an effective solution to protect against them. You can grow them in your garden, but also in pots or planters that you can place on the windowsill or on your terrace.
It is undoubtedly the most famous. A certain number of anti-mosquito sprays or creams are formulated with citronella, and the number of scented candles available on the market has run out. To keep mosquitoes at bay, you can also grow them, in your garden or in front of your windows.
It is usually appreciated for its brightly colored flowers that brighten up the balcony or garden, but geranium is also very effective at repelling mosquitoes. Planters placed on the edge of your windows will be the allies of choice to hunt these unwanted people.
This aromatic plant which pleasantly scents our summer salads is also a very good mosquito repellent. Its strong smell indeed repels these insects. Do not hesitate to grow it in pots to place in front of the windows, or on the garden table to dine in peace.
If you’ve ever rubbed tomato leaves between your fingers, their smell has probably made your nose crinkle. Know that it is the same for mosquitoes, inconvenienced by these scents. Growing tomato plants in your garden is therefore an effective way to keep them at bay. A few potted cherry tomato plants on the edge of a window also do the trick.
Garlic, but also onion, or chives, are excellent mosquito repellants. Their strong smell annoys a large number of insects, including mosquitoes. Think about it to be quiet this summer.
Herbal tea lovers love it for its soothing properties that help you sleep well. Note that lemon balm, thanks to its lemony scent, is also a great way to keep mosquitoes away. Better to grow it in a pot, however, because this invasive plant would quickly take over your garden.
Like lemon balm (they are part of the same family), mint greatly upsets insects, including mosquitoes. Another advantage: its leaves will quickly soothe bites. To relieve your itching, rub a few mint leaves where itchy.
If lavender attracts certain insects that come to forage on its flowers, it repels mosquitoes, on the other hand, indisposed by its scent. Small bonus: it also has soothing properties, which will relieve bites.
How to get rid of mosquitoes? © iStock
Essential oils that repel mosquitoes
If you are a fan of essential oils, or don’t have a green thumb, you can use these herbal concentrates. They are excellent insecticides and are very effective in repelling mosquitoes.
Warning : essential oils must however be used with caution. Some may indeed be irritating or cause allergies in some people. They may also be contraindicated in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Do not hesitate to ask your pharmacist for advice.
Among the essential oils known for their ability to repel mosquitoes, we can note:
- Essential oil lemongrass of course, formidably effective;
- Essential oil Geranium Rosat ;
- Essential oillemon eucalyptus ;
- Essential oil basil ;
- Essential oil pepper mint ;
- Essential oil lavender.
Make a mosquito trap
To avoid being too bothered by mosquitoes, another solution is to make a trap to attract them. In a saucepan, heat 200 ml of water. Add 50 g of brown sugar and 1 g of brewer’s yeast, and let the mixture cool.
Cut a plastic bottle roughly in the middle, pour the preparation into the bottom, and close the trap with the neck, which you will place upside down, like a funnel. Wrap the bottle in black paper and place it on your patio or on your bedroom window sill, for example. A trap that also works very well with flies.
Tiger mosquito: increased vigilance
Appeared in 2012 in the south of France, the tiger mosquito (aedes albopictus) is now present in France in 64 departments. A vector of diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika, it is the subject of special surveillance by the public authorities, its presence being observed and confirmed today in 3,419 municipalities. In order to closely follow its development in the territory, ANSES (National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety) has set up a website where anyone can report each time the presence of the tiger mosquito is observed: https://signalement-moustique.anses.fr.
