What Are the Best Plants to Keep Mosquitoes Away?
Mosquitoes use their keen sense of smell to find humans and animals to feed on. Therefore, strong fragrances may work to distract them or mask your smell. Pungent plants and herbs can help keep mosquitoes at bay, but they are only effective when the leaves or stems are crushed to extract their oils.
You won’t get far by relying on plants alone to repel mosquitoes, so it’s smart to contact a professional mosquito exterminator for help.
Plants That Repel Mosquitoes
Some oils extracted from plants work as natural deterrents against mosquitoes. For that reason, you might be interested in planting a garden to grow natural mosquito repellents. These plants include:
- Citronella. Often labeled as “mosquito plants” in stores, this leafy plant is actually a variety of geranium. These might look more promising, but citronella grass is more useful for extracting the oil that repels mosquitoes.
- Lavender. A famously fragrant plant, lavender distracts mosquitoes by blocking their sense of smell.
- Marigolds. Marigolds are low-maintenance and beautiful, and also emit a scent that keeps mosquitoes away. They also prevent aphids, whiteflies, and other pests from inhabiting your garden.
- Rosemary, basil & thyme. These all work in the same way as lavender, by releasing a strong scent that blocks human odors. Fragrant plants like these are helpful in limiting mosquito populations in your yard.
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Do Mosquitoes Feed on Nectar?
Contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes don’t rely solely on blood for nutrients. In fact, nectar is a staple to the mosquito diet, and male mosquitoes won’t draw blood at all, feeding only on nectar, plant sap, and honeydew. Female mosquitoes feed on blood solely to prepare their bodies for reproduction. Just like the many other insects in your garden, mosquitoes are sustaining themselves on a diet with lots of nectar.
What Scents Repel Mosquitoes?
Scent is one of the strongest attractants for mosquitoes. Female mosquitoes seek out carbon dioxide emissions from humans exhaling. This means that scents and fragrances in many forms can confuse mosquitoes, preventing them from finding us. Perfumes, citronella candles, and natural scents work great to keep mosquitoes out of your home or garden in El Paso.
What Are The Best Plants to Keep Mosquitoes Away? in El Paso TX
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