Mosquito Repellents and Bite Reminders

• A higher body temperature and more sweat make you more likely to be bitten. A first step is to wash off any sweat and keep your body temperature down.
• Drinking apple cider vinegar changes the odor of your perspiration and can help ward off mosquitoes. Try spraying a mixture of apple cider vinegar and white vinegar on your skin, or drinking apple cider vinegar switchel daily.
• Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil  repels mosquitoes.
• Some people swallow slivered garlic to ward off summer pests. Others take garlic tablets or rub garlic juice directly on their skin.
• See a recipe below to make your own natural bug repellent.

• To keep mosquitoes to a minimum, eliminate their breeding sites on your property. They need standing water to lay their eggs in, so empty those puddles, old cans, buckets, and plant pots. If you have a pond, don’t worry-dragonflies love ponds, and they are a big mosquito predator.
• Certain plants may repel mosquitoes. Marigolds, chrysanthemums, asters, and pyrethrum daisies, as well as herbs such as basil, anise, and coriander.
• Citronella candles are not proven to work, however the smoke repels mosquitoes.
• Add a bat house to your home. One small brown bat can eat as many as 600 mosquitoes in one hour!
• Be aware that using pesticides to get rid of mosquitoes can also harm more beneficial bugs like fireflies and dragonflies. Try home remedies before making that decision!

Mosquito Bite Relief

• It helps to ice the area of the bite to constrict the capillaries near the skin’s surface and reduce swelling.
• If you are going to use a topical cream, stay away from caladryl and calamine lotions for mosquito bites; it’s better to apply a low-potency hydrocortisone and simple patience.
• Remember not to scratch the bite; this will only make it worse. For itchy bites, rub on meat tenderizer or lemon juice. A paste of mashed garlic can also help make bug bites stop itching.
• White vinegar is another remedy for relieving the itch of insect bites. Apply it in full strength. Don’t use vinegar if the area is raw.
• A paste of baking soda and water can provide much-needed relief to bug bites.
• Oatmeal can also help to provide itch relief.