Depending on where you live, mosquitoes can be quite the summertime pests. While they don’t like the heat that is produced by the sun during the day, they tend to come out when the evening cools down, and find the one thing with the most heat. You.
That has inspired us to write this summertime sonnet…
A sonnet for mosquito bites in summer
In summer’s heat, with sweat upon my skin, I long to bask in nature’s sweet embrace, Yet here I find a pestilence within, A swarm of mosquitos, eager for a taste.
Their buzzing wings, a symphony of dread, Their bites a curse, a torment to endure, And so I’m left to hide beneath my bed, Or else be covered in their itchy lure.
Oh, how I wish that I could banish them, To some far corner of the earth unknown, And revel in the summer’s golden gem, Without the fear of bites when I’m alone.
Alas, these pests are here to stay it seems, A constant presence in my summer dreams.
Why do mosquitos bite us?
Well, it turns out that mosquitoes are just plain rude! They fly around all day, looking for their next meal, and when they see us humans minding our own business, they just can’t resist taking a bite out of us.
But seriously, mosquitoes bite us because they need our blood to survive and reproduce. Female mosquitoes in particular need the protein and iron found in blood to develop their eggs. So when they bite us, they’re not just trying to be annoying – they’re actually fulfilling a biological need.
Unfortunately, while mosquitoes need our blood, we definitely don’t need their bites. In fact, their bites can be itchy, painful, and even carry diseases in some parts of the world. So if you’re trying to avoid getting bitten, make sure to wear long sleeves and pants, use bug spray, and try to stay inside during peak mosquito hours (dusk and dawn).
But I like my summertime in casual clothes!
We have news for you then! Did you know that there are natural mosquito repellents that you can use to deter pesky bugs? Some may surprise you, while others may be some that you already have around.
There are actually quite a few plants that are known for repelling mosquitoes. Here are 26 of them, along with a brief description of each:
- Basil: This fragrant herb not only adds flavor to your meals, but it also has natural mosquito-repelling properties.
- Catnip: While cats love this plant, mosquitoes hate it. In fact, some studies have found that catnip is even more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes.
- Citronella: Citronella is a classic mosquito-repelling plant. You’ve probably seen citronella candles before – they’re made from the essential oil extracted from this plant.
- Eucalyptus: This plant’s strong scent is not appealing to mosquitoes, making it a great addition to your garden.
- Feverfew: In addition to its medicinal properties, feverfew is also known to repel mosquitoes.
- Garlic: Not only does garlic make your food taste great, but it also contains compounds that repel mosquitoes.
- Geraniums: These beautiful flowers have a lemony scent that mosquitoes can’t stand.
- Lavender: Lavender is known for its calming properties, but it also happens to repel mosquitoes.
- Lemongrass: This plant contains citronella oil, making it a great natural mosquito repellent.
- Marigolds: Marigolds not only add a pop of color to your garden, but their scent repels mosquitoes as well.
- Mint: Mint’s strong scent masks the smell of carbon dioxide and lactic acid that attracts mosquitoes.
- Nasturtium: These vibrant flowers are not only edible, but they also repel mosquitoes.
- Neem: Neem is a tree that produces oil that is effective at repelling mosquitoes.
- Onion: Onions contain compounds that repel mosquitoes, making them a great addition to your garden.
- Pennyroyal: Pennyroyal is a member of the mint family and is known for its strong mosquito-repelling properties.
- Peppermint: Peppermint’s strong scent is another great way to mask the attractants that draw mosquitoes to us.
- Rosemary: Rosemary’s pine-like scent repels mosquitoes, making it a great addition to your garden.
- Sage: Sage’s strong scent makes it unappealing to mosquitoes.
- Scented Geraniums: In addition to their beautiful flowers, scented geraniums also repel mosquitoes with their lemony scent.
- Tansy: Tansy contains compounds that repel mosquitoes, making it a popular choice for natural pest control.
- Thyme: Thyme’s strong scent is not appealing to mosquitoes.
- Vanilla Leaf: Vanilla leaf is a native plant in many parts of North America and is known for its mosquito-repelling properties.
- Vetiver: Vetiver is a grass that produces an oil that is effective at repelling mosquitoes.
- Wormwood: Wormwood’s strong scent repels mosquitoes and other insects.
- Yarrow: Yarrow is a hardy plant that repels mosquitoes and other insects.
- Zinnias: Zinnias not only add color to your garden, but they also have a scent that repels mosquitoes.
So there you have it – 26 plants that can help you repel mosquitoes naturally!
I hates them little buggers! Thanks for the list!
I like most of your thing’s but wood like more for pot’s thank you Iris
I am allergic to black flies and hat the buzzing biting mosquito. we have a cabin the bush but on the lake so we have 100,000’s little bastards. need help get rid of them!!!!!