Will Citronella repel mosquitoes?

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Although they are not the most popular party guests, mosquitoes seem to be some of the busiest sociable butterflies during the summer. Their schedule is backyard barbecue, afternoon hike, Furnace Night — Some of the best gatherings the season offers. Unfortunately, no one invited them.

Nail-like toughness and nearly 175 pests recognized only in the United States are unfortunately also carriers of some diseases (West Nile virus, Zika virus).

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So you reach for citronella candles and torches. Because they are supposed to not only set a great mood for a movie night under the stars, but also repel mosquitoes, right?

Sadly, one of the recently published studies Insect scientific journal We take a bite from that theory by discovering that these scented candles don’t really respond to hype.

“Does citronella repel mosquitoes?” Asked an expert.

What is Citronella? How exactly does it work?

Citronella is a very popular scent for mosquito repellent candles, and there is a reason your nose knows why. strong.. Anyone who sprays citronella on their own before a hike and still smells after hours can prove its sustainability. But does Citronella repel mosquitoes?

“Citronella is a natural oil derived from leaves and is derived from the cousin of lemongrass. Cymbopogon nardus“Nichole Powell, founder of Kinfield DEET-free insect repellent, explains. “The way it works is to block the mosquito’s olfactory receptors and hide the carbon dioxide and lactic acid scents that mosquitoes are looking for.”

Strong scents obscure other scents that attract mosquitoes, but how well they work is controversial. According to Mosquito Squad entomologist Emma Grace Crumbley, the star composition does not guarantee radar blip. “The CDC does not list citronella products as recommended mosquito repellents,” she says.

“The smell of concentrated citronella (like candles) is a repellent,” Grace explains, noting that there is a problem. “Smoke and scents actually need to get in between you and the mosquitoes and keep them away from your skin. This can be tricky.”

This is never the case, as most core smoke spirals are woven with bobs.

Do Citronella Plants Prevent Mosquitoes?

Citronella has also found a way to a gardening center and is ready to plant plants that boast “natural mosquito control” in outdoor gardens. As long as we love the idea, it’s not a reality.

“The volatile compounds in citronella oil have a reputation for repelling mosquitoes,” explains Justin Hancock, a horticulturist at Costa Farm. “Unfortunately, these volatiles do nothing in practice unless they are released. Therefore, placing citronella plants on or around decks and patios constantly brushes them up. Or, it does not provide any kind of protection except by rubbing them and releasing those compounds. “

How to prevent mosquitoes

From a gardening and landscape perspective, the best way to prevent mosquitoes is Reduce cozy habitat.. “Make sure there is no water and make sure the air flow is good,” Hancock continues. “It can also make the garden friendly to mosquito predators such as bats, dragonflies and some birds.”

Grace agrees. “Standing water can be in children’s plastic toys, areas under downspouts, plant saucers, or dog bowls. Other areas include traps, gutters, and land roofs. “

Turn over large garden items that can hold water, such as portable sandboxes, plastic toys, and bird baths. She also suggests removing excess grass, leaves, firewood, and grass clippings from your garden.

If you want to use a spray to stop these nasty leaflets, Grace points out EPA-registered repellents as the best route to fight off mosquitoes, most if a product containing DEET is bitten by a mosquito. Please note that it is effective.

The National Pesticide Information Center has also released pyrethroids, a synthetic chemical that acts like a natural extract from chrysanthemum flowers that may be found in liquids, powders, dust, aerosol solutions, sprays, and treated clothing. I am proposing.

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