Basil brings us delicious pesto sauce and tasty salads, but it can also keep away mosquitoes. This plant naturally emits its aroma, so there’s no need to crush the leaves or prepare it in any way. Basil is toxic to mosquito larvae, so you can put it near standing water to deter mosquitoes from laying eggs.
What herb can you take to keep mosquitoes from biting you?
There are many options, but by far the smells that mosquitoes seem to hate the most are citronella, garlic, and many plant species from the mint family. These include spearmint, peppermint, lemon balm, bee balm, lemon thyme, basil, and more. Some people have found that even cinnamon or pine oils can help.
What can I take orally to prevent mosquito bites?
Beating bloodsuckers with vitamin B? Perhaps one of the most pervasive home remedies perceived to prevent mosquito bites is taking vitamin B. Anecdotal reports, and many personal testimonies, of the effectiveness of this approach abound, but there a few scientific investigations testing the claim.
Do mosquitoes hate the smell of basil?
As one of the most pungent herbs, I can easily see why basil makes the list as a natural mosquito repellent. It makes sense, because basil is known as the perfect companion plant to tomatoes to help keep bugs away.
How do you use basil as a mosquito repellent?
Steps
- Place the basil leaves in a spray bottle and pour the boiling distilled water over them.
- Allow the leaves to steep for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Remove the leaves if storing for more than 5 hours.
- Spray generously to repel mosquitos.
What can I eat to repel mosquitoes?
Mosquito-repelling foods
Garlic, onions, and apple cider vinegar, when consumed, are said to change the way you smell and make you less detectable to mosquitoes. Tomatoes, beans, and lentils as well as other foods rich in thiamine are said to release a smell that repels mosquitoes and other bugs.
What do mosquitoes hate the most?
Mosquitoes hate the smell of lavender, citronella, clove, peppermint, basil, cedarwood, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemongrass and rosemary. They also hate smells such as smoke, for further insight, see our exploration on, does smoke keep mosquitoes away?
What can I eat to keep bugs from biting me?
Keep Mosquitoes Away by Eating These Foods
- Beans, Lentils, Tomatoes. Beans, lentils and tomatoes are all rich in thiamine, also known as vitamin B1.
- Grapefruit. Grapefruit is a refreshing summertime treat packed with vitamin C and antioxidants.
- Garlic and Onions.
- Apple Cider Vinegar.
- Chili Peppers.
- Lemongrass.
- Give Us a Call.
Does eating garlic prevent mosquito bites?
People who are attacked less, studies show, appear to have genes that make them better able to disguise themselves. So far, the substance known to block mosquitoes’ powers of detection the best is DEET, which acts by blinding their senses. Eating garlic has not been shown to either attract or ward off mosquitoes.
What smell mosquitoes hate?
Here are the natural scents that help repel the mosquitoes:
- Citronella.
- Clove.
- Cedarwood.
- Lavender.
- Eucalyptus.
- Peppermint.
- Rosemary.
- Lemongrass.
What bugs does basil attract?
Aside from people, there are a variety of things that eat basil. Japanese beetles, slugs, and aphids are the most common basil pests. Other pests include whiteflies, spider mites, caterpillars, and thrips.
What does basil keep away?
Basil also acts as a good insect repellent for flies and mosquitoes. Very useful using fresh leaves rubbed on the skin. Eucalyptol. According to research conducted by Kansas State University, this compound is effective in eliminating bugs from the kitchen and repelling cockroaches and weevils.
Why do mosquitoes bite me and not my husband?
If you feel like mosquitoes bite you more often than other people, you may be onto something! Several specific factors can attract mosquitoes, including the carbon dioxide you exhale, your body odor, and your body temperature. A combination of these factors likely makes certain people more attractive to mosquitoes.
What insects do basil repel?
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Basil repels asparagus beetle, carrot fly, flies, mosquitoes, and whitefly. 2 It’s the scent that deters the insects, so gently touching the leaves to release their oils as you walk by improves its effectiveness.
Is fresh basil good for you?
Basil is an excellent source of vitamin K and manganese; a very good source of copper, vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids such as beta-carotene), and vitamin C; and a good source of calcium, iron, folate, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids making it quite nutrient rich!
Is basil toxic to dogs?
“Most herbs are toxic to dogs and cats, except for basil,” said George Pisegna, deputy director chief of horticulture at the Horticultural Society of New York. “If your cat chews on basil it’s probably because they really like it.
Does drinking apple cider vinegar keep mosquitoes from biting you?
Also, vinegars like apple cider vinegar, if consumed enough, can strengthen your body’s natural odor to repel mosquitoes and other insects(2). Consuming apple cider vinegar is also said to give your body a natural, repelling odor, but using it in spray form is much more effective.
Does drinking alcohol repel mosquitoes?
As the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association found in 2002, the likelihood of being bitten by a mosquito appears to be dramatically increased if you drink alcohol.
Does eating bananas keep mosquitoes away?
Eating bananas will not attract mosquitoes and taking vitamin B-12 will not repel them; these are old wives’ tales. Some mosquito species are leg and ankle biters; they cue into the stinky smell of bacteria on your feet.
How do I stop getting bitten by mosquitoes?
cover exposed skin – if you’re outside at a time of day when insects are particularly active, such as sunrise or sunset, cover your skin by wearing long sleeves and trousers. wear shoes when outdoors. apply insect repellent to exposed skin – repellents that contain 50% DEET (diethyltoluamide) are most effective.
What are mosquitoes afraid of?
Mosquitoes are turned off by several natural scents: cinnamon, peppermint, cedar, citronella, lemongrass, patchouli, catnip, lavender, and more. Find a favorite, and use it when you want to spend time outside.