[momma of monkeys]

Mosquitos...they are in my house...and eating us all alive!! I don't want to spray (I have kiddos, a dog, and hermit crabs...none of them need to be exposed to toxins)...what do I do??? Thanks in advance, c

<I feel like the blue dude to the left>

updated below...btw still feeling like

 

[Spastica]

You can spray your house with a combination of some of the following essential oils:

- Tea tree oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Lemongrass
- Citronella
- Trace amounts of rosemary

These oils deter mosquitos. You can mix as many of the oils as you have or want to purchase in a spray bottle with distilled water. Use a capful of each essential oil that you have or wish to use for a full bottle.

You can also use this mixture on yourself and spray your clothing to avoid being bitten.

Bed bath and Beyond also has non-toxic wrist bracelets made of citronella and other essential oils. They are cheap and should work well.

 

[phroggies]

I'm not sure how this would work indoors, but on our porch I've sometimes set up a fan. Supposedly mosquitos can't fly in strong gusts of wind.

I would also second Spastica's suggestion, especially the tea tree oil. Mosquitos loooooove me (it's hard to overstate how popular I am with them), but tea tree oil seems to deter them nonetheless. That said, I put it straight on my skin and reapply frequently, which is probably not that safe, especially for kids.

 

[beanma]

make sure you don't have any standing water (like under a houseplant, or where you're rooting a plant) and they're not breeding in your house

. i have had them breed in the water i used to root a cutting. i saw those little wormy larva in there twitching around and you better believe that water went down the disposal.

otherwise we just stalk 'em and slap 'em. squish! we have two little stinky black dogs and they follow them into the house. they love stinky black things and our pups more than qualify.

 

[momma of monkeys]

Quote:

Originally Posted by phroggies I would also second Spastica's suggestion, especially the tea tree oil. Mosquitos loooooove me (it's hard to overstate how popular I am with them), but tea tree oil seems to deter them nonetheless. That said, I put it straight on my skin and reapply frequently, which is probably not that safe, especially for kids.

(ironically of course)@ popularity...maybe we should have a contest...

: those bugs are far too fond of me and my ds ;he had 17 bites the other day in less than three hours, I finally put 'off' on him even though he was inside

Also, I did another check for standing water...thought maybe my bamboo...nada...tried the dog bowl...nada...toilet, hermit crab water (which is changed at least every other day, if not every day)...plants etc...still nada...I will be going to buy some tea tree oil today...thanks all for comments and suggestions...i <3 MDC!!! c

 

[roomformore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by phroggies I'm not sure how this would work indoors, but on our porch I've sometimes set up a fan. Supposedly mosquitos can't fly in strong gusts of wind.

My undergrad advisor was an entomologist and he got asked ALL the time the best way to get rid of flying insects. His response was always:
get a fan!

 

[Spastica]

I've read that mosquitos like type A+ blood. Guess what type I am???

:

It may not be completely true, but I can't find much info on it.

Don't wear bright colors, and eating lots of garlic repels them too (but it may repel people too

)

 

[AntoninBeGonin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spastica I've read that mosquitos like type A+ blood. Guess what type I am??? : It may not be completely true, but I can't find much info on it. Don't wear bright colors, and eating lots of garlic repels them too (but it may repel people too )

I'm type A + also. When I was a kid I could spend the entire day outside in the woods and the field and not get a single bite. Mom told me it was because bugs think I stink

Oh well, I'd rather smell bad to a bug than have it bite me.

~Nay

 

[momma of monkeys]

So my house reeks of EO's listed by pp, I am about $80 bucks poorer...and we still have TONS of these mosquitos...I called the city, vector control again yesterday and explained the situation, told them my dc's are getting bit, my neighbors are having the same probs, what about west nile etc....then, I threatend to call the news (5 investigates or something)...and suddenly our neighborhood was on the list to be fogged...they don't give a [email protected] if my children get west nile...but oh, those scary reporters...sheesh

:
Not that I am fond of fogging mind you but, seriously, when I walked into my kitchen yesterday to make dinner, I joke not, there were 3 of em just buzzing around me like they owned the place. My guy and I kill at least 10 per day (and they can be hard to catch)...I have 13 new bites today...and dd got bitten on the ear, which is swollen and making her miserable (therefore I am miserable too

)
Any other ideas on what I can do inside my home until the city releases their poisons? I just can't take it...I am going to end up scratching all my skin off....grrrrr

 

[AprilDaisy]

I had white candles lit once or twice and they gravitated toward that and then died cause they were too close or fell into the hot wax. Another thing is to only have one light on so they gravitate near them and kill them. The other thing is to find non-harmful spray (natural based, there's lots around) and put it on ya'll constantly....

I know battling mosquitos is rough.

 

[Meiri]

Whatever else you do, protect those hermit crabs.

Insecticides will be crabicides too.

I wonder how they're getting inside. They're attracted by carbon dioxide, such as comes from our exhaling. Have you checked all the screens and other openings into the house?