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What are the Different Types of Mosquito Yard Repellent?
A good mosquito yard repellent is one that is not toxic to humans and pets, but that mosquitoes find unattractive and seek to avoid. Several natural and commercial repellents exist and are believed to effectively keep pests at bay. Natural mosquito yard repellent choices include citronella or garlic-based repellents. Pests can be discouraged from entering an area simply by strategically placing mosquito repellent plants, such as a citronella plant, in areas frequented by humans and pets. Commercial mosquito yard repellent choices typically contain DEET, which is made up of chemicals that are safe to apply to human skin, as well as spray around a yard.
Although a mosquito yard repellent is used to keep mosquitoes out of a specific area, individuals visiting areas where contact with mosquitoes is likely may also benefit from applying mosquito repellent to skin and clothing first. As an added barrier of protection, such repellents are available in lotion, cream, spray or towelette form. Similar to a mosquito yard repellent, these products may also be made of citronella, garlic or DEET.
Garlic is believed to be an effective mosquito yard repellent because of its smell. The scent of normal human skin is attractive to mosquitoes and serves as an invitation to feast on human blood. When human scent is altered, particularly with an unpleasant odor like garlic, mosquitoes are repelled by the scent and are less interested in feeding on the blood of that particular host.
Citronella has a similar effect as garlic does in repelling mosquitoes. Citronella plants and oils are frequently used in yards, in homes and on skin surfaces by individuals attempting to avoid contact with these aggressive pests. A combination of citronella oil and garlic may also be an effective repellent.
When spraying a yard with bug spray, health experts recommend that instructions be thoroughly read first. Some sprays may be toxic to pets or may bear misleading labels. For example, some mosquito yard repellent brands may bear a label describing the product as natural, which a consumer may assume to be safe to use on yard plants, pets and humans. Some products labeled as natural, however, can actually be toxic and should not be used in areas where pets and humans will frequent.
A pet insect repellent may also be necessary if pets are allowed to wander around a yard. Animals groom themselves by licking, which makes them poor candidates for the same mosquito repellents used by humans. Experts recommend that pet owners desiring to protect their animals from mosquito bites consult with a veterinarian before choosing a pet insect repellent.
AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
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![Mosquito about to bite.]()
Mosquito about to bite. -
![A person using mosquito repellent.]()
By: TMAXA person using mosquito repellent. -
![A citronella candle.]()
By: nick barounisA citronella candle. -
![Garlic may be used a a mosquito repellent.]()
By: SchliernerGarlic may be used a a mosquito repellent.
Discussion Comments
There are some natural mosquito repellents that you can make from items you most likely already have in your house. For whatever reason, we have lots and lots of mosquito around our house. My girlfriend went online and found a recipe for a natural mosquito repellent/trap. She took an empty plastic drink bottle, cut off the top and then filled it with some type of bait that attracted the mosquitoes.
I don't remember exactly how she built it. Initially, we tried the trap outside, but there were so many mosquitoes that we were still bitten quite a bit, but we have been using it inside and it works well to capture the few stray mosquitoes that get into the house.
I have tried several products that are supposed to at least keep the mosquitoes away from you when you are outside. Some of the products are advertised as a way of actually killing the bugs instead of just keeping them away.
I don't normally believe half of the advertising I read and hear, but I was so desperate to be able to stand in my yard without getting eaten up by mosquitoes that I bought one of those electronic mosquito repellent devices.
I thought it was worth trying since nothing else was working. It didn't work. The bugs would feed on me and then land on the device and take a rest between feedings. The purchase was a total waste of my money.
Mosquitoes have to be the most dreaded flying insect known to man. Of course, we all know they can spread diseases that can be deadly in some cases. This alone is enough to make them the number one most detested insect on earth, but then there is that buzzing sound they make. Honestly, I would rather have one bite me and then go on about its business than have to hear that buzzing in my ear. I can spare the blood, but that noise drives me insane.
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