5 Plants That Repel Mosquitoes

As the climate gets drier and mercury in the thermometer rises, mosquitoes are preparing themselves for all-you-can-eat human buffets. How, you might ask? Mosquitoes are drawn to human sweats, which is unavoidable under the sweltering heat. Besides from their annoyingly itchy bites, mosquitoes are also vectors for life-threatening diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, and Zika virus.

But don’t worry, you can still enjoy some fun under the sun with the help of mosquito-repelling plants! Yes, you read that right: certain plants have the ability to repel mosquitoes. Although some species of plants have mosquito repellent ability to some extent, they are not a foolproof solution in preventing other biting insects such as bed bugs and fleas.

How Do Plants Repel Mosquitoes?

It’s simple really… those lovely fragrances we love from plants, mosquitoes aren’t really that fond of them.

Although they might not seem strong to you and I, the aromatic oils found in the leaves of plants actually help to both repel mosquitoes and mask the scent that humans produce, which makes us so attractive to them.

Use the plants described below in your home and garden to help ward off these biting insects. Although they can help reduce mosquitoes and mosquito bites, don’t expect them to be 100% effective.

Citronella

Research has shown that the scent from citronella plants can repel mosquitoes. However, this only works to a certain extent.

Catnip

Catnip is related to the mint plant. It is used as a natural mosquito repellent due to it containing the chemical nepetalactone, which is particularly attractive for cats. So just be careful; although this plant might help to repel mosquitoes you might also end up hosting a party for a bunch of cats and have a little more cleaning up to do in your garden.

Basil

Basil goes great with spaghetti Bolognese and makes great pesto, but did you know it can also help repel mosquitoes? Certain chemicals found in basil plants are known to do a fine job in keeping mosquitoes at bay. Although it may seem like a heavenly smell to us, is something quite unpleasant to these biting insects. Some research also suggests that basil contains four mosquito repelling substances, helping it to repel mosquitoes more effectively.

Lavender

It’s hard to believe that a scent that is used in a range of products from hand lotion to washing powder is detested by mosquitoes, it is also believed to even hinder their ability to smell! All the more reason to use it right?

Marigold

These easy-to-grow flowers are believed to be effective in repelling mosquitoes. It is argued that the delectable scent and its essential oils help to not only keep your home and garden safe from mosquitoes but aphids too!

How To Get Rid of Mosquitoes Effectively?

Although plants do have the ability to repel mosquitoes to varying degrees, they are not a full-blown solution. You’d have to turn your home and garden into a jungle of mosquito repelling plants in order to fully protect yourself from mosquito bites.

The best way to keep your home and business safe from mosquitoes is by enlisting the help of a pest control expert.  At Rentokil, we offer Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) programme which tackles mosquitoes at all four life cycles.

Call us today at 1300 881 911 or contact us online to find out more about our innovative IMM programme.