Anti-mosquito bracelets
The operating principle of the device is simple. Inside the bracelet there is a plate with oil, which gradually evaporates and neutralizes the carbon dioxide odor of a person.
The device operates at a distance of 2–3 meters.
Advantages of the bracelet:
- a child and an adult can cope with it;
- low price;
- safe natural materials are used for production;
- durability subject to storage and operating conditions;
- contact with skin is not necessary; can be worn over the sleeve of clothing.
Flaws:
- Strong smell;
- allergic reactions to essential oils are possible;
- prohibited for pregnant women, nursing mothers, children under three years of age and allergy sufferers.
Mosquito repellents for children
Blood suckers are especially dangerous for newborns and infants. Children have delicate skin, insect bites are large and itchy. Allergies to mosquito bites often occur. From folk remedies, children are allowed:
- essential oils;
- vanillin solution;
- mint;
- basil.
Not all folk remedies can be applied to the skin for children. Only vanillin solution is applied directly to the body. A drop of essential oil is placed on the child's clothing. During rest, bunches of mint or basil are attached to things. Plants can be placed in the stroller where the child is.
See our review of insect repellent oil for children:
Precautionary measures
When using folk life hacks, you should take the simplest precautions:
- You can verify the safety of a repellent after conducting a sensitivity test.
- Women during pregnancy and lactation should use homemade repellents with extreme caution. It would be helpful to consult a doctor about this.
- Concentrated solutions should not be used by young children; such products should first be diluted with water.
- When making repellent from essential oils, use dark glass containers. It is better to store the finished product in a dark and cool place.
Repellers
They are fumigators. This method of controlling mosquitoes has shown to be highly effective indoors, but devices for outdoor spaces are also on sale. Portable devices ThermaCell, Raptor, Xiaomi have proven themselves well.
How they work
The principle of action is similar to repellents, but repellers use other active ingredients - insecticides. Most often it is allethrin: in the format of a bottle with liquid, or plates soaked in it. Fumigators are equipped with a heating element powered by mains power, a battery, batteries or a portable gas cartridge.
Portable gas-powered ThermaCell repeller. Photo from the manufacturer's website
The surface interacting with the insecticide heats up and the poison evaporates. The vapor concentration is harmless to humans and animals, but not to insects. Allethrin disrupts the functioning of the nervous system, causing spatial disorientation, hyperactivity, prostration, and paralysis. Indoors this ends in the death of the bloodsuckers; in the open air they try to get away.
Advantages
- Suitable not only for individual but also group protection. You can hang it on your belt or put it in a gazebo while relaxing - there will be no mosquitoes within a radius of 5 meters.
- Duration is limited by the life of consumables and power supply. The repeller will work quietly all night.
- The devices are universal - you can take them with you fishing, on a hike, or even turn them on at home.
Flaws
As soon as the device stops working, the mosquitoes will return. Hungry and angry. And if you left the range, they are already waiting for you. In general, repellers will help you spend a couple of relatively calm evenings at the dacha, but, alas, they are not able to destroy mosquitoes on the site.
There are ultrasonic mosquito repellers on the market. We did not consider them in the article for two reasons: firstly, many studies were conducted that did not confirm the performance (not to mention the effectiveness) of such devices; secondly, if we assume that ultrasound has a negative effect on insects, then there may be unpleasant consequences for pets. Whatever one may say, the idea looks dubious.
Electrofumigators
These devices help repel insects indoors. Electric fumigators are designed for a specific area of influence. A container with liquid or a plate is installed in the device.
When heated, they release insecticide.
The active substance has a nerve-paralytic effect on mosquitoes. After a few minutes they become lethargic and soon die. The devices are effective and safe, but the substances in them sometimes cause allergies. The instructions do not recommend staying closer than 1 meter from a working fumigator.
Vanillin ointment
Homemade mosquito repellent ointment has a good effect. It has a delicate texture and a pleasant aroma. Substances contained in vanilla remove redness, including those caused by insect bites. To prepare the cream you will need:
- container for mixing ingredients;
- a small jar for cream so that it is convenient to carry with you;
- a packet of vanillin;
- baby cream (can be either oily, for additional moisturizing of the skin, or a lighter texture).
Squeeze some of the baby cream into the prepared container, then pour in the vanilla. Mix well. Transfer the mixture into a small jar. Before going out into nature, you need to treat unprotected skin with the resulting ointment. The cream repels both mosquitoes and midges well. Another plus: it is suitable for delicate baby skin.
There is a simpler recipe for mosquito repellent with vanilla. Instead of baby cream, use plain water and add vanilla powder. Vanilla water should be applied to the body and wait until it dries. This emulsion also repels insects well.
Traps
The principle of operation of traps is to attract insects and destroy them. The bait for attraction can be one or several in a complex. Gas, heat, and light act as baits. Mosquitoes are not afraid of light and fly towards the heat emitted by the lamp. In general, bloodsuckers do not care about light or darkness; they orient themselves using not only the organ of vision.
Gas traps imitate human breathing; insects sense gas at a distance of up to 50 meters and rush to the device.
Propane exterminators are used on site. H20 traps can be used indoors and outdoors. The disadvantage of gas devices is the regular purchase of gas cylinders.
Electric traps with a lamp can be used outdoors and indoors, but due to their high price they are not in high demand. Devices with a fan or models that emit carbon dioxide are effective.
Water traps are effective in the home and yard. They are equipped with a special container where dead insects are disposed of. Are mosquitoes afraid of water? No, they lay eggs in water. But adults drown in liquid. Periodically you need to add and change water.
Light traps are inexpensive, but are ineffective if it is an ultraviolet lamp. Mosquitoes fly towards heat, not light. It’s good if, along with light, the device produces heat.
Repellent candles
Excellent protection against mosquitoes - homemade repellent candles. They will create comfort and a romantic atmosphere at a party or during evening tea in a summer gazebo.
To make them, you will need several ordinary candles, which must be placed in a tin can or other container. The container is placed in a pan of water, thus creating a water bath. As the paraffin melts, add 20 drops of citronella essential oil to it, after first removing the wick from the liquid mass.
The freed wick is tied to a thin strip, which is placed over the neck of a suitable jar. Then melted paraffin is poured into the container in a thin stream. Repellent candles will be ready once they have completely hardened.
On a note!
Citronella essential oil can be replaced with clove, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary, mint, basil or geranium oil. The aroma of these concentrates can repel mosquitoes, midges, mosquitoes, blood-sucking flies and other annoying insects.
