Organic mosquito control??? Does it exist?

[dogmatique]

Every year I lose my will to garden due to the amount of mosquitos in my yard. I swear they quadruple over night. I am covered with bites. They love me! Today I looked into getting a skeetervac but decided I don't want to harm the helpful insects in my yard. We have a 1/2 acre that is made up of fruit, berries, vegetables and perennials beds. There is a fair amount of lawn too. Short of smelling like bug spray all the time, are there any organic things I can try or implement/build to lesson the amount of mosquitos and no-see-ums in my yard? What do you do to make it comfortable when working outside?
Thanks
Colleen

[dogmatique]

Oh we also have a couple bat houses along the south side of our house but so far we haven't been lucky to have any take up residence.

[Eeyore]

You could try citonella candles, Off lanterns, An organic skeeter spray such as Avon's Skin so soft (the original one) and my DIL makes one for the grandson that has cinnamon in it. I don;t know what else is in it but I see several sites on line that might help. Also, I've heard that rubbing a cut lemon peel over your exposed skin will help.

[kelly_m]

There are actually many non chemical products out there.

There are some larger, propane fed repellers...basically...it traps the mosquitoes using some sort of scent or ultraviolet light to attract them and trap them. suppose to work up to one acre.

Or, OFF I think has a new personal product called a thermacell....looks about like a pager, and you clip it on and it provides a 15X15 foot mosquito free area. I have a friend who picked one up and it works well....

And lastly...Lavender is also a mosquito repellant.....

[Scrapinthehat]

Ironically, the thermacell thingy has been advertised lately on the right hand side of the screen here. I haven't tried it, but you may be able to google more info about it.

The mosquitos don't seem to "bug" me (sorry, couldn't help it) during the day. In the evening, a natural method of keeping then away is to have a fire. There are torches, fire pots, lanterns, firepits or fireplaces.

[Countryboy]

It seems to me that mosquitoes, like us, prefer the shade on a hot day. So I bite the bullet and, as the sun moves, work on the parts of my garden that are still getting full sun. The bugs don't usually follow me.

Also, mosquitoes usually hang around thru the day 'sipping' on long grass or overhanging trees . . cedars especially. I like to stay away from them.

[mebbie]

I will look in my documents as there is a piece about natural mosquito repellants. 1 I remember is that eating bananas leaves a residual scent they love. So no ban bananas in Mos season.

[mebbie]

Hi I'm back with the goods. This was posted here in 2003.
Vitamin B1 -Thiamine Hydrochloride - 100 mg
Vick's Vaporub

There are more but I don't know how to get the doc over to the site here.

[Smitty]

this may also be something you are interested in...I know I was...

MOSQUITO-LESS
///////http://www.natural-insect-control.com/p ... =000000426

you'll have to c/p minus the ////

[Laurel_T]

Lavendar keeps them away as does catnip.
You can plant the catnip along the edges of the garden as it also works well as a repellent if you cut it up and rub over exposed skin (dried works too)...no bites, no kidding!