DIY: Non-toxic bug killerThis is a post I never thought I’d write. For several reasons but most of all I never planned to admit to the internet that we have a cockroach and ant problem in the French household. I swear we aren’t disgusting but the cockroaches that swarm the patio would have you believe otherwise. We also have spiders and while we have only seen one so far in our 2+ years of living in this house, scorpions are known to exist in our neighborhood. Our neighbors use exterminators which I am pretty sure means all the bugs are forced to congregate at our house. We don’t use an exterminator both for our own health (we don’t want to breathe those chemicals) and mostly for the health of our beagles. Those crazy animals lick the floors, the walls, chairs… whatever they can reach. And I am pretty sure they’d eat anything. Not to mention they walk on the floor with their bare feet and then lick those. SO needless to say we have no intention of poisoning our pups so we avoid chemicals like bug spray (and weed spray) at all costs. Last year we battled ants several times and it was both super gross and super annoying. So this year our plan is to be proactive. I armed myself with internet knowledge and I set out to make the ultimate non-toxic, safe for pets, children, and people, destroyer of all bugs. I think I found it friends and you can thank me later. Much of the items you already have so that makes this process easy. There are no crazy chemicals that linger in your air for hours, weeks or years.

You’ll need:

• Flour• Corn meal• Diatomaceous Earth (available online or in garden stores. Maybe even health food stores.)• Borax• A container to put it in. I used a plastic container that had spinach in it at one point. That was so

that when I used it all I could just throw it away and not worry about it contaminating anything Iwould later eat out of. However if you wash it, it shouldn’t be an issue. High five though that I found a way to recycle AND make my own bug killer.

You could likely mix these ingredients in any combination that works for your needs but this is the ratio I used…

• 1 cup Diatomaceous Earth• 1 cup Borax• 1/2 cup flour• 1/3 cup corn meal

The upside is that this is SUPER cheap. I used a tiny amount of each ingredient in comparison to the package size and it made a ton. I suspect that just the part I applied to the necessary areas will last through the season. So just what I made could easily last for a year or more. If any of it gets wet, you’ll need to reapply.

A bit about each ingredient:

Diatomaceous Earth – I purchased food-grade quality at our local natural pet store. The plus side to food grade is you absolutely do not have to worry if your pet eats this. What is it? Basically super tiny bits of fossilized material. The way it works is that it is essentially like tiny pieces of glass that cuts up a bug’s exterior and dehydrates them. It kills just about any bug from fleas to scorpions. If you

purchase food-grade you can sprinkle it in your dog’s food if they have internal parasites. You can also sprinkle it on carpets if your dog has fleas. The only harmful thing is that you should not inhale/breatheit in nor should your pet. It can cause lung irritation. If it is settled in any area it is safe. Just don’t throw it around or snort it. If you have a flea issue and decide to sprinkle it on your carpets, avoid letting your pets lay on the carpets until you have vacuumed it up since they may breathe it in. In all honesty you could use this just by itself to help with any bug problem. It kills spiders too my friends.

Borax – Also known as boric acid. This is used for cleaning, often as a laundry booster. It is an internalpoison for bugs once they consume it. It works amazingly for ants because they bring it back to the colony and so it destroys the whole bunch. It is NOT safe for consumption for people or animals though so if you are putting the powder where your pets can reach and you think they may try to eat it, leave this out. Clearly you don’t want your pets to eat your bug killer even if it was safe or what’s the point? But just know that they shouldn’t be licking this.

Flour – This is just used to attract cockroaches. You can also use cocoa powder. Of course chocolate is also toxic to dogs so I didn’t use this but it is an option if you really want to capture those bugs!

Corn meal – This attracts ants but the double bonus is that it actually kills them too. The corn expands once they eat it and to put it simply they explode, internally. You can just use corn meal by itself to reduce any ant problem. It may take a few days but again they take it back to their colony and the whole group gets wiped out.

I used this combo to get the best results. If you wanted a truly safe for pets option just mix food-grade Diatomaceous Earth with flour and/or corn meal or you could just use the DE. You can also do this if you want to put the powder in kitchen cabinets. Sprinkle corn meal directly on ant piles and after a few days they will be gone. Remember to reapply after rain or if watering washes any of the powder away.

How to apply:

Put it in cracks, along walls, in ant holes, or anywhere you expect bugs to be. I put some behind my oven just for prevention and because I knew my dogs couldn’t get it. We placed it around the perimeter of our garage and on our front patio. For the back patio, where the dogs hang out, we simply place a shallow dish out each night (when the bugs are out) and bring it back in during the day so we don’t have to worry about our dogs messing with it. You could sprinkle a tiny bit (that is all it takes) in cracks or along walls even where your dogs are and chances are they will never notice it.

Just FYI my dogs have shown zero interest in eating this as I assume it doesn’t smell good or look tasty. But I don’t want to risk killing them so we use caution. Use the same caution around kids. Clearlyanything you use to kill something isn’t ever going to be good for other living things. BUT this is FAR better than the chemical spray options that literally can linger in your house for years and cause all sorts of crazy issues.

Good luck!Object 1

Bug repellant Liquid netting

Whether sitting outdoors or relaxing in your home, keep bugs away with this natural bug repellent that really works. From dissuading mosquitoes to interrupting an ant invasion, this bug spray is made from ingredients that are all-natural and safe. Instead of smelling harsh chemicals, you'll waft a lovely scent at your next outdoor gathering while staying bite-free. And after picking up the main ingredients, this repellent costs less than a $1 per bottle to make.

Read on for the directions.

What You'll Need:

• 1/2 cup catnip• 2 cups water• 4 tablespoons witch hazel• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract• 10 to 20 drops essential oil• Small spray bottle• Small funnel• Sauce pan• Bowl• Sieve• Paper towel

Directions:

1. Gather the ingredients for your homemade bug spray. Catnip contains nepetalactone, which attracts cats but repels bugs naturally. Using dried catnip, which you can find for a few dollars at any pet store, works just fine, but using the fresh stuff is even better. Vanilla is a scent that's disliked by several types of bugs, including ticks. Essential oils, such as lavender, rosemary, lemongrass, and citronella, also keep bugs away while adding a wonderful scent to this insect repellent.

2. Measure and add the catnip to a saucepan, and cover with water. Bring to a simmer, boil for fiveminutes, and then turn off the heat and let cool for at least an hour. If using fresh leaves, then roughly chop the catnip and let simmer for 10 minutes before removing from the heat.

3. Place a strainer within a bowl, and then line the strainer with a paper towel. Pour in the catnip tea, and strain. Now measure and add four tablespoons of the catnip tea to the small spray bottlewith the help of a funnel. Reserve any leftover strained liquid in a sealed jar or plastic container for the next batch of bug spray.

4. Next measure and add the witch hazel, which acts as a carrier for the essential oil.

5. Vanilla repels mosquitoes, ticks, black flies, and gnats, making this delightfully smelling ingredient doubly beneficial. Measure and add the pure vanilla extract to the small spray bottle.

6. Essential oil is the key ingredient in this bug spray, with lemongrass, peppermint, lavender, and citronella being great additives for keeping pesky insects at bay. Pick your favorite scent, or combination of oils, and add 10 to 20 drops. If using a combination of oils, drip five to 10 dropsof each for a seriously strong bug spray. Top the spray bottle with water, and you're ready for spraying.

7. Spray a small amount near your ankle to test for a skin reaction before spritzing all over, taking care to avoid the face area. This repellent is safe to reapply every 30 minutes as needed. Or spray directly on bugs, indoors or out, or on tables or along window sills to deter their pesky attention.

Mosquito repellants

If you are looking for a natural mosquito repellent, you've probably noticed that there are many natural topical products available, all with different active ingredients.

Lemon Eucalyptus Oil

A 2002 study in the New England Journal of Medicine compared different synthetic chemical and herbal repellents:

• Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Repellent provided 120.1 minutes of mosquito protection, more than arepellent with a low concentration of the chemical DEET (Off Skintastic for Kids with 4.75% DEET provided 88.4 minutes of protection) and less than Off Deep Woods with 23.8% DEET, which provided 301.5 minutes of protection.

• A study by the US Department of Agriculture compared four synthetic mosquito repellents and eight natural mosquito repellents and found that Repel Lemon Eucalyptus was the most effective repellent, more so than a 7% DEET repellent.

• Lemon eucalyptus oil repellents, in addition to the chemicals DEET and picaridin, have been registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (which means that the materials havebeen reviewed and approved for effectiveness and human safety) and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for mosquitoes that may carry the West Nile virus.

• A June 2006 Consumer Reports article stated that after conducting their own tests, Repel LemonEucalyptus was the best non-DEET mosquito repellent. However, volunteers criticized its odor.

Geranium Oil

The New England Journal of Medicine study found that a repellent called Bite Blocker provided 94.6 minutes of protection against mosquitos. This is slightly more effective than Off Skintastic for Kids (containing 4.75% DEET), which provided 88.4 minutes of protection.

The study by the United States Department of Agriculture ranked Bite Blocker number two in effectiveness after Repel. Bite Blocker was rated more effective than a synthetic 7% DEET mosquito repellent.

Related: Insect Oils as Natural Insect Repellents

Bite Blocker contains the oils of geranium, soybean and coconut and is available as a spray or lotion. It can be purchased online at the Bite Blocker website for about $9 per bottle.

More on using Geranium Essential Oil.

Citronella

A well-known natural mosquito repellent. The oils from the plant are used to make lotions, sprays, and candles.

A University of Guelph study assessed the effectiveness of 3% citronella candles and 5% citronella incense in protecting subjects from bites.

They found that subjects who were positioned near the citronella candles had 42.3% less bites and those near the citronella incense had 24.2% fewer bites. Based on these results, citronella candles shouldn't be used as a stand-alone repellent, all though they may help in combination with topical repellents.

See Citronella: What You Need to Know to find out more about how citronella may help.

Other Natural Mosquito Repellents

Although the above repellents are the more promising, there have been preliminary studies on the following ingredients:

• Fennel - A small study by researchers at Seoul National University in Korea found that a spray mosquito repellent containing 5% fennel oil was 84% effective after 90 minutes and a repellent cream with 8% fennel oil was 70% effective after 90 minutes.

• Thyme - In one study, carvacrol and alpha-terpinene, two compounds derived from the essentialoil of thyme, were found to have significantly greater repellency than a commercial DEET repellent. The researchers suggest that a spray made with 2% alpha terpinene is a promising natural mosquito repellent. However, don't try to make a thyme oil repellent at home- it is too irritating and strong-smelling to be used at effective concentrations above 25%.

• Clove oil - Two studies have found that undiluted topical clove oil is active against mosquitoes. However, like thyme oil, clove oil should not be applied undiluted to skin as a homemade repellent.

• Celery extract - A Thai study compared 15 mosquito repellents with a topical extract from celery. The researchers found that the extract did not irritate the skin or cause a burning sensation. It was found to be active against a wide range of mosquito species comparable to a 25% DEET formula.

• Neem oil - An extract from the tropical neem tree, neem oil has insecticidal compounds called azadirachtins.

• Vitamin B1 - Vitamin B1 is often taken to help repel mosquitos but one study suggests this remedy may be useless. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin study tested B1 with a larger sample of human subjects and found no effect of vitamin B.

• Garlic - Another popular theory is that ingesting garlic can provide protection against mosquitoes. A University of Connecticut study examined this claim with a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study. The data didn't provide evidence of significant mosquito repellence. However, subjects only consumed garlic once, and the researchers say thatmore prolonged ingestion may be needed.

Sources

Barnard Donald R et al. "Laboratory evaluation of mosquito repellents against Aedes albopictus, Culex nigripalpus, and

Ochierotatus triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae)." Journal of Medical Entomology. 41.4 (2004): 749-57.

Consumer Reports. "Insect repellents: Which keep bugs at bay?" Consumer Reports. June 2006. 19 June 2006.

Fradin Mark S et al. "Comparative efficacy of insect repellents against mosquito bites." New England Journal of Medicine. 347.1

(2002)13-8.

Ives AR et al. "Testing vitamin B as a home remedy against mosquitoes." Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association.

21.2 (2005):213-7.

Kim SI et al. "Repellency of aerosol and cream products containing fennel oil to mosquitoes under laboratory and field

conditions." Pesticide Management Science. 60.11 (2004) 1125-30.

Lindsay L. Robbin et al. "Evaluation of the efficacy of 3% citronella candles and 5% citronella incense for protection against

field populations of Aedes mosquitoes." Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 12.2 (1996):293-4.

Park BS et al. "Monoterpenes from thyme (Thymus vulgaris) as potential mosquito repellents." Journal of the American

Mosquito Control Association. 21.1 (2005):80-3.

Rajan TV et al. "A double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of garlic as a mosquito repellant: a preliminary study." Medical and

Veterinary Entomology. 19.1 (2005):84-9.

Trongtokit Y et al. "Comparative repellency of 38 essential oils against mosquito bites." Phytotherapy Research. 19.4 (2005):303-

9.

Tuetun Benjawan et al. "Repellent properties of celery, Apium graveolens L., compared with commercial repellents, against

mosquitoes under laboratory and field conditions." Tropical Medicine and International Health. 10.11 (2005):1190-8.

Xue RD et al. "Laboratory evaluation of toxicity of 16 insect repellents in aerosol sprays to adult mosquitoes." Journal of the

American Mosquito Control Association. 19.3 (2003):271-4.

Our 100% naturalinsect repellent spray is made from some of the best ingredients that keep bugs away including gnats, mosquitos, black flies and deer ticks. Our spray, Fight Back "2" is made by starting with a water base, then adding lemongrass essential oils, lemon eucalyptus, geranium essentials oils and litsea cubeba, all essential and natural oils known to keep bugs off. In fact, lemon eucalyptus is recognized by Consumer Reports

As most of you have probably heard- eucalyptus and citronella have natural bug repelling quality; peppermint is also known for its bug-off properties. Peppermint has proven to be very effective against mosquitoes and other winged critters. And bonus- it’s smells delicious!See ya later bug bites! You can buzz off!

Gather your ingredients…

• 1/8 cup apple cider vinegar• 1/8 cup rubbing alcohol or (yes, I’m going there) plain vodka. Just be sure to not use any fruit

flavored vodkas!• 1/8 cup distilled water or reverse osmosis (RO) water• 25 drops eucalyptus essential oil (about 1/4 teaspoon)• 25 drops citronella essential oil (about 1/4 teaspoon)• 50 drops peppermint essential oil (about 1/2 teaspoon)• Small spray bottle

Mix ‘em up directions…Pour everything into the spray bottle and shake well. Make sure to shake it up before each use.

My mosquito repellent recipeI use an empty 26 oz industrial spray bottle and fill half with witch hazel and half with distilled water. To that I add 1 TBS of vegetable glycerin or polysorbate 20 (an emulsifier to mix the waterand oils together better) Then, I like using 15 drops each of the following essential oils: eucalyptus, lemongrass, citronella, catnip. Followed with 7 drops of cinnamon oil. I also keep jojoba or almond oil on hand. Before I go outside, I apply oil to myself first and then I shake up my spray and spray myself. Mosquitos don't like oil because it breaks down their bodies

An easy and effective mozzie and sandfly repellent is 50% sunscreen,25% dettol,25% baby oil.mix up and spray or rub on.1010% efffective.

Vinegar of the Four TheivesThis stuff kept away the Bubonic Plague! Seriously strong but natural and cheaper than oils. Smells foul when wet but OK when dry: Vinegar of the Four Thieves Insect Repellent Ingredients: ■1 32 ounce bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar ■2 TBSP each of dried Sage, Rosemary, Lavender, Thyme and Mint ■At least quart size glass jar with airtight lid How to Make the Vinegar of the Four Thieves Insect Repellent: 1.Put the vinegar and dried herbs into large glass jar. 2.Seal tightly and store on counter or place you will see it daily. Shake well each day for 2-3 weeks. 3.After 2-3 weeks, strain the herbs out and store in spray bottles or tincture bottles, preferably in fridge. 4.To use on skin, dilute to half with water in a spray bottle and use as needed. 5.Use whenever you need serious bug control! [Note: This mixture is very strong and hasantiviral and antibacterial properties.]

Mosquitos repellenting fumesMixture of dried leaves and fruit coats of tree Pongamia Pinneta impregnetd with 2 % Neem oil and 2 % Pongamia Pinneta oil when burned like insecce sticks to give fumes repells moaquitos from the room. Pongamia Pinneta is called KARANJ in Hindi.

Mosquito Repellent Recipe

• 1/2 ounce citronella oil• 1/4 ounce lavender oil• 1/8 ounce pennyroyal oil• 1/8 ounce tea tree oil• 1/8 ounce jojoba oil

Do not use this blend undiluted on your skin.

Follow these instructions for diluting:

• To make bug repellent oil that can be used on your body, add 16 ounces of jojoba or almond oil to the base oil mixture and blend thoroughly.

• For bug repellent spray, add 16 ounces of vodka to the base oil mixture, pour into a spray bottle, and shake before using.

Mine:

vodka infused with meyer lemon10 pumps jojoba oil1 drop red thyme2 d. rosemary2 d. tea tree2 d. cassia2 d. oregano3 d. clove3 d. citronella4 d. catnip4 d. neem oil4 d. camphor5 d. pennyroyal5 d. cedarwood6 d. peppermint6 d. geranium10 d. lemon oil15 d eucalyptus15 d turpentine

Herbal Insect Repellents Do not copy or distribute any portion of this page without the authors written permission. ©

1996

Creating your own mosquito repellents is a safe and effective alternative to commercial repellents. Using herbs and essential oils, you can prepare your own mosquito repellents, and products for your pets and home with little effort.

The most frequently used natural mosquito repellent is citronella essential oil. The citronella

essential oil is extracted from the plant Cymbopagon nardus and has a pleasant citrus-like aroma. Usually the citronella is simply mixed with a base such as oil or alcohol at a strength of 5-10% (see ESSENTIAL OILS for precautions).

Citronella Repellent © Millie Fodor

2 ounces witch hazel extract60 drops citronella essential oilPreparation: Put 2 ounces of witch hazel into a lotion or spray bottle. Add 60 drops of citronellaessential oil. Label properly. Shake well before each use.

This is approximately a 5 % dilution. For a 10 % dilution add 120 drops of citronella. Witch hazel extract is non-drying and medicinally soothing to insect bites. You may use olive oil, rubbing alcohol, vodka, or prepare a lotion in place of the witch hazel.

Shop for Citronella Essential Oil

Citronella Lotion © Millie Fodor

2 ounces distilled water2 ounces olive oil120 drops citronella essential oilA lotion is an emulsification of water and oil. To prepare: Put water into a deep mixing bowl. Begin to drizzle in the oil slowly and beat vigorously with a wire whisk. By the time all the oil is added you should have a nice creamy white lotion. Stir in the citronella oil. Pour into a lotion bottle and label.

Herbal Repellent Oil © Millie Fodor

1 part fresh pennyroyal1 part fresh thyme1/2 part fresh basil1/2 part neem leaf (if available)tea tree essential oilcitronella essential oilolive oilPick your fresh herbs. Manually remove any dirt then set them in a sunny place until the herbs are wilted.

Using 1/4 cup as your part, measure 1/4 cup of pennyroyal and thyme, and 1/8 cup basil and neem leaf into a crock pot. Pour in enough olive oil to cover the herbs plus another inch of oil (approximately 1 cup). Turn the crock pot on low temperature and heat the herbs for about 3 hours. An alternative way to prepare your oil extraction is to place the herbs in a clear glass jar

and set it in the sun for about five days. Shake it once or twice a day.

When you have finished heating your oil, strain your oil through a cheesecloth lined strainer. Squeeze out as much oil as possible. Measure out how much oil you now have. For each ounce of oil add 10 drops of citronella essential oil and 5 drops of tea tree oil.

Pour into lotion bottle and label.

VARIATIONS

You can use this herbal oil in place of the olive oil in the CITRONELLA LOTION recipe.

Herbal Closet Sachet © Millie Fodor

1 part Rosemary1 part Cedarwood Chips1/2 part Oak Moss1 part Pennyroyal1 part Chrysanthemum Flowers1 part Cloves1 part Eucalyptus Leaf1 part Orris RootBlend the herbs together then package in muslin bags. You may add essential oils such as cedarwood to strengthen the aroma. Hang the bags in your closet and place in your chest of drawers. Variations: You can choose any assortment of the moth repellent herbs to formulate your own sachet blends. Orris root is used in this recipe as a fixative. It helps to hold the scent in the sachet.

Among the good reasons for preparing your own repellents, protecting yourself from toxic chemicals is the most important. Fifty to sixty percent of what is applied to the skin is absorbed internally. Because our body-care products often contain chemicals that are inadequately researched or known to produce a variety of ill effects, it has become important for us to look for ways to minimize our use of them.

PRECAUTION

If you find that you need to apply repellents several times throughout the day, and you are doingthis everyday, I recommend that you make several different repellents and use them in alternation.

Insect Repelling Plants

ANT REPELLENTS

TANSY

FLEAS

BREWERS YEAST

GARLIC

FENNEL

PENNYROYAL

PYRETHRUM DAISY

GARLIC - Garlic combined with brewers yeast protects your pets against fleas. They usually love this sprinkled on their food each day.

PENNYROYAL - Place a drop of pennyroyal on your pets collar to repel fleas. You can also add a few drops of pennyroyal oil to water and spray around areas where your pets sleeps.

FLY REPELLENTS

BASIL

BAY LEAF

CLOVES

TANSY

MICE

MINTS

MOTHS

BASIL

BAY LEAF

CEDAR

CLOVES

EUCALYPTUS

LAVENDER

MINTS, EXCEPT PEPPERMINT

PATCHOULI

PENNYROYAL

PEPPER, BLACK

PYRETHRUM DAISY

ROSEMARY

RUE

SOUTHERNWOOD

SANTOLINA

TANSY

THYME

WORMWOOD

FOR PEOPLE

BASIL

BAY LEAF

CITRONELLA OIL

CLOVE

GARLIC

NEEM LEAF

PENNYROYAL

ROSEMARY

RUE

TEA TREE OIL

THYME

WITCH HAZEL

WEEVILS

BAY LEAF - Place whole leaf in grain and flour packages.

ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential oils are steam distilled concentrates of the natural oils present in plants, flowers, roots,and trees. They are 100 % pure and must be carefully used by the drop.

Patch test for skin irritations using the diluted oil before general use.

CEDARWOOD (Juniperus mexicana) - Apply a few drops inside your chest of drawers to repelmoths and other cloth eating insects.

CITRONELLA (Cymbopagon nardus) - Effective insect repellent. May be used full strength or diluted. Patch test before using on your skin. Keep out of mucus membranes.

LEMONGRASS (Cymbopogon citratus) - Insect repellent. Pleasant lemon fragrance. Patch testbefore using on your skin.

PENNYROYAL (Mentha puleglum) - Use to repel fleas from your pets and home. Also used as a general insect repellent at safe dilution's. WARNING: Abortive. Keep away from pregnant women.

TEA TREE OIL ( Melaleuca alternifolia) - Repels ticks, leeches, and lice.

REFERENCES

CONSUMER'S DICTIONARY OF COSMETIC INGREDIENTS. Ruth Winter. New York. Crown Publishers.1989.

ECO-HERBALISM: ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS FACING HERBALIST TODAY. Rosemary Gladstar. Written for the North East Herb Association Newsletter.

HERB BOOK. John Lust. New York. Bantam Books. 1974.

HERBAL HEALING FOR WOMEN, Rosemary Gladstar. New York. Simon & Schuster.1993

INDIAN HERBOLOGY OF NORTH AMERICA, Alma R. Hutchens. Boston. Shambhala. 1973.

NATURAL HEALTH: THE GUIDE TO WELL-BEING. Jan/ Feb. 1995. Vol. 25. # 1. How to Use Gentle Herbs to Clean, Soothe, and Refresh Your Skin.. p. 72-77.

A TREASURY OF NATURAL FIRST AID REMEDIES FROM A TO Z, James Kusick. New York. Parker Publishing Co. 1995

THE WAY OF HERBS, Michael Tierra C.A.,N.D. New York, Washington Square Press.1983.

George Washington Sears recommends the following for bug lotion:

3 parts pine tar2 parts castor oil1 part pennyroyal oilSimmer together and bottle.

Ok, but my quick readings of pennyroyal oil say it's toxic and causes acute damage to liver and lung (if used as aromatherapy... figure it'd be the same effect if slatheredon your body and face). Anyone more familiar with this?

Mosquitoes, The why and how they find and bite you!

Now let me just say right off the bat, that I am in no way a mosquito expert! I don’t have any special training nor am I a scientist or entomologist (bug specialist). BUT, I can read, AND I have done my research on the how and why of mosquitoes. Here’s what the scientists and experts have found out so far.

Only female mosquitoes bite. (why)? They need a blood meal to develop and lay their eggs. How do they find the blood they need? As with all of nature’s creatures mosquitoes have evolved to survive by highly developing only the exact senses they need to live long enough to reproduce. So do they see better than other creatures? NO! It has been proven that a mosquito can not only find you in complete and total darkness, but will go strait for you!

Here’s how they do it. Scientist have known for some time that mosquitoes sense carbon dioxide in the air. Not only do they sense it they home in on certain chemicals carried in that carbon dioxide. It’s called acarbon dioxide signature.

Plants, animals, water, and almost everything has its own carbon dioxide signature. It is now known that different plants can be identified by this signature. By the same rules even humans all have a different carbon dioxide signature. It’s even being called a carbon dioxide fingerprint and is being used in crime labs to identify people!

Ever wonder why the mosquitoes bite you and not the guy next to you? They are attracted to certain chemicals in the carbon dioxide being released from your body and the guy next to you doesn't have as much of these chemicals in his carbon dioxide as you do. However, there are thousands of chemicals already identified in human carbon dioxide release! What are these certain chemicals that attract mosquitoes? Have they been identified? Yes! but the scientists who discovered them aren't telling us exactly what they are! That’s right they are keeping these facts a secret! All they will say is that three key chemical signatures found in the release of human carbon dioxide will attract mosquitoes at a rate of 100%.

Other scientist have proven that these chemicals are Lactic Acid related and another attractant is fatty acids being released in the human carbon dioxide signature.

There is no such thing as a mosquito repellent!

So, now we know more about what attracts mosquitoes. What do we know about what repels them? Get this, the truth is "mosquitoes aren't repelled by anything!" They simply cannot sense anything that sends them running, is irritating, disgusting or repulsive! Therefore there is no such thing as a mosquito repellent! They are either attracted or they aren't!

So if it isn't the disgusting stench of DEET that keeps them off of you what is it? The truth is out there, allone has to do is look for it! Here’s what I found. DEET inhibits the lactic acid receptor cells, (it masks thelactic acids, changes it) confuses the mosquito and prevents the blood feeding response. In other words, the mosquito will not bite when you wear DEET because it cannot smell lactic acid and cannot identify you as a meal. Most insect repellents work in the same way, no matter what the source, they confuse the olfactory receptors and the mosquito simply cannot smell you.

How does it do this? DEET contains plant chemicals that when placed on the skin evaporate and are released with your carbon dioxide. This changes your carbon dioxide signature to that of a plant! The mosquito sees a plant, not what she is looking for so she looks elsewhere. BUT, DEET also contains allot of other unnecessary poisons intended to KILL the mosquitoes. It has been proven these same chemicals will KILL YOU!

Let’s stop right here and look at this a minute. How many mosquitoes do we have to kill so that we never get bit by one that is carrying some awful disease? Don’t get me wrong, I hate the bloody little buggers asmuch as the next guy, but is it even possible to kill that many? And if we managed to kill too many mosquitoes, what then? What happens to the creatures who survive by eating mosquitoes? They starve to extinction! Then the creatures who survive by eating the creatures who eat mosquitoes die also. This is theway nature works and some of these same creatures pollinate our plants! How long before we realize we are killing ourselves? Trying to kill mosquitoes is not only futile but is doing irreparable damage to our entire ecology. Already people are asking "what happened to all the Purple Martins that used to be around?" How much of nature’s beauty have we already destroyed with this vendetta?

ALL you need to keep the mosquitoes from biting you is a disguise, something that makes you undetectable, an anti-mosquito cloak that conceals or hides you, so mosquitoes don't recognize you as a meal. This would give you a protective shield. Some plants oils contain chemicals which when applied to the skin evaporate and are carried into the air with your carbon dioxide thereby changing your signature. Nepetalactone, found in Catnip oil is one of the most recently discovered plant chemicals which is proving to be very effective in masking the human signature. It is not an irritant as reported.

The insect repellent properties of Catnip and Catnip oil have been used for centuries and written about in many famous books long before the research was even done by Iowa State University entomologist Chris Peterson, Ph.D., with Joel Coats, Ph.D. . It was already an established FACT that Nepetalactone was the active chemical responsible for these repellent activities. The books listed below are just a few.

Click here for more information on the Catnip plant!

The Magic and Medicine of plants Published by Reader'sDigest published in 1986, page 134, "The excited joy that catnip inspires in cats is caused by an oil the plant secretes to ward off insects."

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North AmericanWildflowers - Published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Copyright 1979. Page577, plant#183 Catnip "It contains a terpene-like chemical, nepetalactone, which tends to repel insects and can therefore be used toprotect other plants."

Peterson Field Guides, Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke, Published 1990, Houghton Mifflin Co, New York, NY. Page 70, "nepetalactone, a mild sedative compound in Catnip, also possesses herbicidail and insect-repellant properties."

Glossary of Plant-Derived Insect Deterrents, by M. Jacobson, published in 1990, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, FL, page 213.

Handbook of biologically active phytochemicals and their activities by James A. Duke, published 1992 byCRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.

Click HERE to purchase this NEW Natural insect protection made with Catnip Oil!

The EPA considers anything that calls itself a repellent to be a pesticide!

Not only that but if you call it an insect repellent it HAS to be registered as a PESTICIDE!

Quote from the EPA website "Products are generally considered to be pesticides if they are intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest or intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant."

In Merriam-Webster's Dictionary a pesticide is defined as "an agent used to destroy pests"! Where as a repellent simply means "serving or tending to drive away or ward off"! Leave it to the US Government to redefine the English language!

CATNIPNepeta cataria

Other Names: Catmint, Catnep, Catswort, Fieldbalm

Habitat: Catnip is a perennial herb found growing wild throughout North America and Europe where it is thought to have originated. It is easily cultivated in any garden soil. A member of the mint family it has square,erect and branched stems and grows 2 to 3 feet high. The leaves are heart-shaped, toothed, opposite and covered with fine downy hairs especially on the under sides giving the whole plant a grayish green appearance.The small tubular, two-lipped flowers grow in dense whorls in spike form, atop each stem and are white to lavender with reddish to purple spots. Blooming from June to September the entire plant has a minty fragrance. Gather the above ground parts just after blooms open.

Properties: Young leaves are edible raw. They have an aromatic mint-like flavor eaten in salads. As the name (cat-nip) suggests, cats love to nip at it, although watching them it might better be called (cat-roll) for they seem to roll, rub, and totally crush the plant into the ground. They discover that the more they crush it the moreoil it releases. Plant constituents include Nepetalic acid, Alpha- & beta- Citral, Nepetalactone, Limonene, Geraniol, Dipentene, Citronella, Nerol, a terpene, Acetic acid, Butyric acid, Valeric acid and Tannin. The leaves and flowering tops are strongly antispasmodic, antitussive, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, slightly emmenagogue, refrigerant, sedative, slightly stimulant, stomachic and tonic. Catnip has a long history of use inalternative medicine, being employed especially in treating disorders of the digestive system and, as it stimulates sweating, it is useful in reducing fevers. The fresh juice is used as an emmenagogue (to promote menstruation). Mild catnip tea is used to relieve colic in babies, restlessness and nervousness, and is very useful as a mild nervine for children. Stronger tea relieves fevers due to colds and flu as well as calming the stomach and preventing nausea and diarrhea. The fresh young shoots are good in spring salads and rubbed intomeat for flavor. Applied externally or added to bath it is good for skin irritations. Catnip oil is great for aroma therapy. A strong infusion can be used to repel fleas from carpets or the fur of animals. An extract from the

leaves (called nepetalactone) has herbicidal and insect repellant properties. Now proven to repel mosquitoes byan Iowa State University research group, which found that Catnip oil repels mosquitoes 10 times better than DEET!

CLICK HERE TO FIND CATNIP INFORMATION AND PRODUCTS!

Folklore: It was once believed that smoking the leaves would produce a mild hallucinogenic effect. Although this use has since been dispelled, it may work in some individuals. It was also believed to deter the (evil-eye) from children given to fits, this because of its ability to calm an extremely agitated child and diminish nightmares. Once used in charms for fertility and love.

TRY THESE RECIPES

To 1 cup of boiling water add 2 tsp. dried herb; steep for 10 min. give warm in cup doses-½ cup for children 1 tbsp. diluted or in milk for babies.

Mintcream: Add 3 tbsp. to ½ cup heavy cream use in cocoa or coffee.

Nature's Herbal mosquito formula (Catie took to Dominican Republic)

Ingredients: 100% pure Catnip oil (nepetalactone), 100% pure Cornmint oil (known to shield against biting insects), 100% pure Rosemary oil for broader protection (to deter more kinds of insects). and Pure Vegetable Glycerin, used to keep the oils on the skin for up to 8 hours.