Mosquito-Free Without The DEET

We are heading into summer while news of the spread of mosquito-borne infectious diseases like dengue and Zika is everywhere. What makes people so attractive to mosquitoes? Blood, yes. But first, it’s CO2. Every breath we exhale alerts mosquitoes to the proximity of tasty blood. While you can’t stop breathing to avoid these bloodthirsty pests, here are a few nontoxic ways to keep them off you.

1. LANDS
   Only female mosquitoes drink blood, which they need to produce eggs.
2. PROBES
   When they poke their bendable proboscis through your skin, they will probe around for a blood vessel to tap.
3. SALIVATES
   They inject you with their saliva to prevent your blood from coagulating. Your body’s reaction is to release histamine, which makes an itchy welt.
4. FEASTS (4 minutes)
   If left undisturbed, on average they will drink for around four minutes.
5. PLANT-BASED REPELLENTS
   1. OIL OF LEMON EUCALYPTUS
      Effective, but needs to be reapplied every two hours. Not recommended for children under 3.
   2. SOY, COCONUT, AND PALM NUT OIL
      Works for a limited time. Bonus points: Who doesn’t want to smell like a piña colada?
   3. CITRONELLA
      Band soaked in citronella oil is semi-effective. Don’t bother with outdoor citronella candles, their heat and CO2 actually attract insects.
   4. GERANIOL BUG BRACELETS
      Alcohol derived from citronella, geranium, and rose oil is less effective than citronella in its whole form.
6. NATURAL PREDATORS
   1. DRAGONFLIES
      Dragonflies and their damselfly cousins eat mosquitoes as adults; as nymphs, they prey on mosquitoes before they even leave the water. But high-pitched sound emitters that claim to scare away mosquitoes by imitating the wing beat of a dragonfly don’t work.
   2. FISH
      Too fond of your pond? Install pond aerators to prevent stagnant water or add fish that eat mosquito larvae, like goldfish or mosquito fish.
7. PLAYING HARD TO GET
   1. CREATE WIND
      You wouldn’t want to stroll through a windstorm, and neither would a mosquito. Using a hand fan or setting up a strong fan outdoors—and staying within range—can ward off the relentless pests. The swirling air also disrupts the steady flow of carbon dioxide humans release every few seconds and makes it trickier for mosquitoes to find us
   2. COVER UP
      Mosquito nets can protect children in strollers. Long, loose clothing in lighter colors is effective.
8. WATER
   Even a tablespoon of water is enough for a cozy mosquito nursery. Ways to avoid creating them:
   1. Change water in pet water bowls and bird baths frequently.
   2. Unclog gutters.
   3. Shake water from tarps.
   4. Remove yard garbage, like tires.
   5. Fill hollow stumps with mortar.
   6. Minimize the growth of tall grasses, weeds, and shrubs; flowering bushes hold water in their flowers.