Mosquito and insects?

    • Gold Top Dog

    Mosquito and insects?

    Got a question........
    Summer is almost here and so are the mosquitos.
    I am wondering what you do to keep them away?
     
     
    • Gold Top Dog
    PM Anne (spiritdogs) here on the board.  She has some wonderful essential oils.  I got some from her last summer (they're a little expensive but you only use a few drops at a time so it will last a good long while) and I put about 8 to 10 drops in a cup of water in a little spray bottle. I misted my feet and Max all over whenever we went out in the evening (either for a walk or to the dog park) and neither of  us got bit by anything ... and I still have enough left for a few more summers.  Smells nice, too.  If I remember right it has eucalyptus and lavender.[:)]

    Joyce & Max
    • Gold Top Dog
    I live in Mosquito Central. Well, it's worse out on the tundra, you don't go out there without a suit in summer, but here it's not *that* bad. But can be far worse than anything anywhere else, swamps aside. [;)]

    For a person, if you take an antihistamine, if you get bit you won't get the allergic reaction that is a bite, that is, you won't even know you were bit later. I learned that accidentally, and it's cool.

    For a dog, well, most people up here actually do use citronella and rosemary. But mostly the dogs just get bit a lot. Luckily there isn't any heartworm where I live.

    Oh, at [linkhttp://www.coldspotfeeds.com]Cold Spot Feeds[/link] they have the herbal fly repellant--it's for horses, actually. But folks use it on their dogs, too.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Oh I have a recipe here for a spray using garlic. I'll look around for it. It's works wonderful and last the whole season.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Found it. 100% satisfaction
     
     
    To make garlic and pepper spray concentrate(you don't really need the pepper for mosquitoes) you liquefy 2 cloves(whole bulbs) of garlic and 2 hot peppers in a blender that is 1/2 to 2/3 full of water. (Jalapenos work well but Habenero peppers are fool proof! LOL) After you get the contents liquified you strain all the solids out and add enough water to the remaining juice to make 1 gallon of concentrate. For mosquitoes you can also add a couple of ounces of orange oil (found at organic nursuries) to the concentrate. Then you can use 1/4 of a cup of the concentrate per gallon of water as a spray. I normally put it in a hose-end sprayer for easier application.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Thanks!!  [:)
    • Gold Top Dog
    Angel, what do you spray this ON? All those things would REALLY hurt in an animal's eyes!

    And I wouldn't want to go around with that much garlic on me...not a way to make friends! ROFL!

    It sounds like something you spray in the yard, is that right?
    • Gold Top Dog
    jeano.......haha....... it's a hot one......  [&:]
    I was thinking of ways to keep bugs away from my bedroom as well.....  [:D]
    • Silver
    Well, we haven't really had to worry about insects yet because we got our dog in october, but with my dog, it is the insects that should watch out, not the dog.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Yes you spray it around your yard. I usually walk around the house while spraying and through the yard. I even take it camping. Where we go is terrible for mosquitos, last year I brought the spray and we didn't have a problem.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Neem oil is also supposed to be really good as an insect repellant and also for killing fleas. I've seen Neem shampoos and also sprays. Here's one by Ark Naturals:
     
    [linkhttp://www.mothernature.com/shop/detail.cfm/sku/63032]http://www.mothernature.com/shop/detail.cfm/sku/63032[/link]