Mosquitoes sometimes carry disease.
Mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers often make their debut along with warmer summer weather. Not only are these pests annoying, they also pose serious public health hazards. Mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus as well as diseases such as encephalitis. Ticks are carriers of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. It's not necessary, however, to douse yourself in chemicals in order to ward off these insects. Natural products can repel mosquitoes and ticks with varying levels of effectiveness. Does this Spark an idea?
Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
A study found that lemon eucalyptus oil was more effective than a popular DEET repellent marketed for children.
The Center for Disease Control recommends lemon eucalyptus oil as an effective repellent. The U.S. Department of Agriculture concurs. It conducted studies showing that lemon eucalyptus oil can be as effective as 7 percent and 15 percent DEET, offering about two hours of protection time.
Lemon eucalyptus oil can be purchased as a plain essential oil. It also is available commercially under the brand names Repel Lemon Eucalyptus and Fite Bite Plant-Based Insect Repellent.
Consumer Reports found that Lemon eucalyptus oil was the best non-chemical repellent in their most recent study, although some reviewers disliked the odor. Parents should also take note - a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found this oil to be more effective than the DEET-based Off Skintastic for Kids.
Soybean Oil
Soybeans are the source of another plant-based oil that is effective at repelling mosquitoes and ticks.
Soybean oil insect repellent is sold commercially under the brand name Bite Blocker. Bite Blocker's formula also includes geranium oil and coconut oil. The New England Journal of Medicine found the soybean oil in Bite Blocker to be an effective repellent. When tested, it reduced mosquito bites by 97 percent, compared to an 86 percent reduction with a DEET spray.
According to the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, this plant-based formulation is safe for both pregnant women and infants. Most of its ingredients are food-grade and gentle. It offers about 95 minutes of protection time.
Citronella Oil
Citronella candles aren't powerful enough to be a stand-alone bug repellent.
Citronella candles are ubiquitous during the summer, but do they really work? The University of Guelph says yes, but they are not effective enough to be a stand-alone repellent. The university found that subjects who sat close to the citronella candles had 42.3 percent fewer bites.
The Annals of Internal Medicine did a study on citronella oils and lotions. They found these products to be most effective in the first 20 to 40 minutes, after which the effectiveness declined. The lotion decreased bites by 84 percent and the oil decreased bites by 88 percent.
Although the citronella geranium is available in garden shops, it does not repel mosquitoes on its own.
Permethrin
Permethrin can be applied to tents, camping gear and clothing.
Permethrin is another plant-based solution to the mosquito and tick problem. It loses its effectiveness within minutes if applied to skin, however, so it should be applied to clothing only. It can provide extra protection when combined with a skin-safe repellent.
Permethrin actually kills ticks and insects that land on treated clothing. It can also be applied to the outside of tents and camping gear to keep the bugs out. Permethrin can remain effective for up to 2 weeks, or even longer if the treated items are stored in a plastic bag between uses.
Warnings
Insect repellent should never be applied to the hands of young children. Even natural insect repellents should not be ingested.
Perspiration, rain, level of application and concentration of the formula can all affect the performance of insect repellents.
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