Only female mosquitoes bite.
The most common mosquito repellent is an artificial oil known as DEET. DEET has been associated with rare but severe reactions in some humans, and natural oil remedies have been sought and used as mosquito repellent for centuries. Mosquito repellent oils have different effects in repelling mosquitoes, and are effective at different concentrations for different lengths of time.
Significance
Mosquitoes can be anything from annoying to deadly. The females need to ingest blood (animal or human) in order to breed. When they bite, they inject a small amount of saliva that acts as a blood thinner. This causes the irritation, swelling, and redness--not the actual "bite." Efforts to eradicate mosquitoes with spraying from hoses, trucks, even airplanes, can keep populations down, but there always seem to be some left. Mosquito repellents are a last line of defense. Typical manufactured mosquito repellents are based on DEET, a compound developed by the U.S. Army during World War II. Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease, is believed to have killed more humans than any other disease.
Types
Here is a list of some commonly used natural oils for repelling mosquitoes:
Lemon eucalyptus--possibly the most effective and long lasting, marketed commercially as a repellent
Geranium oil--more effective in combination with other natural oils
Citronella--often available as a fogger or candles to repel mosquitoes from an outdoor area
Catnip--some researchers have found this to be more effective than DEET (http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/news/2001releases/catnip.html)
Thyme oil--containing carvacrol and alpha-terprenine; can be smelly and irritating when used alone
Clove oil--effective but also an irritant
Celery extract--you can juice the stalks yourself and apply directly; not terribly effective but certainly all natural (www.dannylipford.com/diy-home-improvement/safety-and-security/green-mosquito-repellent/)
Neem-- a tree extract used in India, it contains azadirachtins and is commonly applied with coconut oil
Peppermint oil--repels mosquitoes and also might kill their larvae (www.journeytoforever.org/edu_homer.html)
Garlic--good for vampires, not for mosquitoes.
The Facts
DEET was developed during World War II as a mosquito repellent for U.S. troops. It provides an irritating smell to mosquitoes, and can be used up to 100 percent strength. The higher the concentration, the longer it works. DEET users are cautioned not to apply DEET under clothing and to wash it off after use. While exceedingly rare, DEET can cause seizures and possibly even death.
Mosquito repellents are evaluated for effectiveness against bites, and the duration they work. Practical considerations are how strong they smell, whether they cause skin irritation, and how long they last. Different species of mosquitoes have different tolerances for repellents. Researchers often find that combinations of natural oils, particularly with DEET, are more effective than single oils.
Tags: natural oils, during World, effective than, have different, more effective, more effective than, mosquito repellent