Insect Repelling Plants And Other Ineffective, Yet Common Ways People Fight Mosquitoes
There is literally nobody on earth who enjoys mosquito bites. In fact, being bitten by several mosquitoes on a hot day is like a nightmare for all people on the planet. Due to the natural desire to be rid of mosquitoes once and for all, several products and remedies have been suggested as effective mosquito-control methods over the years. History is full of different absurd insect-control methods, but surely in today’s world outdated and ineffective mosquito-control remedies are not taken seriously, right? Unfortunately, this is not the case, as several anti-mosquito products are still making snake-oil entrepreneurs millions of dollars every day. Given the modern and widespread concern people have about mosquito-borne diseases, you would think that only the most scientifically reliable mosquito-control methods would be used by the public today. Sadly, there remains several worthless anti-mosquito products and methods that are still used with enthusiasm. You may be surprised to learn which mosquito-control methods have been scientifically dismissed as worthless.
Back in the ‘90s everybody was using citronella candles in order to keep mosquitoes from ruining people’s outdoor fun. Ideally, these candles emit a certain scent that mosquitoes cannot tolerate. So if you surround yourself with citronella candles you will remain free from mosquito-attacks, correct? Actually, not so much. According to Dr. Stan Cope with the American Mosquito Control Association, the only thing about citronella candles that may keep mosquitoes away is the smoke. Since smoke is blown away by wind, these candles do not do much good. There has also never been any scientific evidence that suggests that citronella candles can keep mosquitoes away. Some people are convinced that certain plants work to keep mosquitoes away, but once again, this is not true. In fact, having plants in your yard or on your deck only provides mosquitoes with more dark and moist forms of shelter. Some plants produce essential oils that mosquitoes do not agree with, but these oils can only be obtained by crushing and processing certain plant leaves. Of course, there are also bug-zappers. These devices can be bought in stores and they look like blue-light bulbs enclosed in a cage that hangs from an awning. Bug-zappers work to keep many insects away, but not mosquitoes. According to a study conducted at Notre Dame, only four to six and a half percent of bugs killed by zappers in one day were mosquitoes. When it comes to preventing mosquito bites, Dr. recommended mosquito-repellent is the only way to go.
Have you ever found success with any of these supposed mosquito-control methods?
