• walden@wetshav.ing
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    1 day ago

    Citronella candles and torches don’t repel mosquitos, but they mask the scent of humans. This helps, but not 100%.

    DEET doesn’t mask your scent, so mosquitos are still attracted to you. Once they land on your skin, though, they fly away immediately. Very effective.

    Propane based traps work very well for collecting large numbers of mosquitos. There isn’t a definitive answer on whether they reduce the local mosquito population over time. The idea is that if large numbers are killed, it will reduce the local breeding.

    Thermacell brand mosquito repellers are, IMO, magic. At first I thought they were a gimmick, but my impression of them is very positive. They output a light chemical mist which keeps mosquitoes away. They only work with little to no wind, and they take 15 minutes to warm up and start working.

  • nexguy@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Put out a dedicated standing water source but lace it with eco-friendly Bti that kills the larve. (It doesn’t harm people/pets/birds/other insects)

  • The Bard in Green@lemmy.starlightkel.xyz
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    2 days ago

    I know an engineer who had several ponds near his property who built an elaborate contraption to attract and electrocute them. He killed tens of thousands. Hundreds more ignored it and bit him anyway.

    • pieland@piefed.social
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      1 day ago

      and those mosquitoes went on to reproduce

      people say that engineer is still being bitten to this day…

    • Pirat@lemmy.org
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      2 days ago

      Bug zappers don’t focus on mosquitos. They focus on bugs attracted to light. Mosquitos aren’t particularly attracted to light. They are attracted to body heat and, most particularly, carbon dioxide. Our exhalations draw them near. Then the heat from the veins close to the skin’s surface provide the fine tuned target. So, to attract mosquitos, emit carbon dioxide which then draws near to a body temperature heat source, which then zaps or drowns them. This drowning is accomplished by having the mosquitos attracted to a suction which then blows them into water with a bit of soap in it.

      • Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de
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        1 day ago

        i saw a video of a system like that in action, guy left it running for a good long while and then dumped out a PILE of dead mosquitoes (and only mosquitoes)

  • InvalidName2@lemmy.zip
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    2 days ago

    Gotta geek out a tiny bit.

    Assuming my uncited research from a decade+ ago is correct …

    Citronella was actually extracted from the “Lemon Eucalyptus / Lemon-scented Gum” tree, formerly known as Eucalyptus citriodora but more accurately known as Corymbia citriodora.

    The “Citronella Scented Geraniums” never worked much at all to repel mosquitoes. It was essentially the placebo effect. I’ve done really lame and totally non-scientific experiments myself. The geraniums simply do not work to any significant benefit. People will literally argue with you day and night about this, but it’s just not true.

    That being said, grow scented geraniums to your heart’s content. Burn citronella candles as if your life depended on it. They smell really good and olfactory cues like this will burn memories into your brain that you’ll treasure when you’re older and fading.

  • GreenKnight23@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    I got a couple of these in my garden. I love them.

    when I go out to work in the garden I grab a couple leaves, roll them around between my hands and rub them on my exposed skin.

    usually works for a few hours and works really well. for example without it I’ll get bitten 10-15 times. with it on maybe 2-5 times.

    highly recommend if you garden outside in humid or hot climates.

    • FarceOfWill
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      2 days ago

      Im not loving a plan where i get bitten twice in a few hours.

      Instead of going outside and rubbing plants on me ill stay inside and fill the air with poison.

      • GreenKnight23@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        That’s fine. I get it. I’m the same way usually.

        because of the increase of groceries I expanded my garden and saved myself around $900 last year in groceries alone.

        this year I’ll break even with what it cost to build and probably be in the green a bit towards the end.