Botanicals can be used to repel insects.
Using natural mosquito repellents helps people avoid using chemicals to keep the mosquitoes off themselves or in their yards. Mosquitoes can carry diseases and cause discomfort to humans and animals. Keeping them away using botanical products and plants can be an effective way to keep the biting bugs away using harmless materials.
Mosquito Plant
The mosquito plant is a genetically engineered type of geranium that mosquitoes intensely dislike. It's an African geranium that was successfully cross-bred with citronella grass. People can grow it in their yards, in pots and even dry the leaves to crush and rub on themselves. In cold climates, the plants will stay alive indoors in a sunny window.
Citronella Grass, Candles and Oils
Citronella grass is grown in the southern United States where frost is uncommon. It can be planted outdoors in colder climates during the summer, where it will grow as an annual. Citronella grass has long been used to deter mosquitoes. The oils in the grass are removed and put into candles or oils to burn in torches.
Rosemary
The pungent odor and oils of rosemary keep mosquitoes away from areas where it's planted. Rosemary is an easy herb to grow in areas that don't have cold winters. It can be grown as an annual in colder climates, brought inside, placed in a sunny window and watered lightly until spring. Rosemary has many uses around the home as a fragrant addition to bouquets of foliage or flowers. Rosemary is also used in cooking.
Rosemary leaves or sprigs can be infused in body oils like grape seed oil or jojoba and applied to exposed skin to repel mosquitoes. It can also be infused in vodka or grain alcohol and used just like oils.
Catnip
Catnip plants were proven to be 10 times more powerful than DEET at repelling mosquitoes. Iowa State University applied for a patent for catnip oil as a deterrent. Catnip is easy to grow in pots or in the garden. Catnip essential oil is also available and can be diluted in body oils to apply to the skin. It can also be infused in other carriers like alcohol, although the alcohols may dry sensitive skin.
Marigolds
Besides deterring mosquitoes, marigolds will also keep other pests at bay in the yard. Gardeners have used marigolds as companion plants because many insects find the flowers offensive. Mixing the essential oil with carrier liquids will keep more than just mosquitoes away. Pyrethrum, a natural insecticide found in marigolds, is sold as a safe insecticide for plants.
Neem Oil
Neem oil, pressed from an evergreen plant in India, has many benefits in the home and garden. It repels mosquitoes and actually drives the population of opportunistic populations down by interfering with the biochemistry of the insects. Rather than killing the bugs outright, it interrupts the life cycles by slowing or stopping reproduction entirely. The only insects that it disrupts are chewing and sucking insects, all classified as pests for plants, people, and animals.
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