Organic Insecticides | Organic Pesticides | EcoSMART Bug Spray

3 Mosquito Natural Control Alternatives

April 13th, 2010 Posted in Mosquitoes & Repellent

As a child, the little freedoms our parents gave us created the most memorable moments. Try to remember the thrill of picking out your own outfit to wear to school for the first time.

You’re probably cringing as you imagine what your wore, but you loved it because you chose it.

As an adult, you can still get a thrill from options when you try out these 3 mosquito natural control alternatives.

Want to know how?

• Replace DEET Repellent With Natural Repellent
• Replace Chemical Spray With an Organic Product
• Replace Shorts and T-Shirts With Pants and Caps

Replace DEET Repellent With Natural Repellent

Today, DEET is in more than 230 products with concentrations as high as 100 percent. But just because it’s widely used, does not mean DEET is safe. Mosquito natural control is the better option.

There are actually many dangers associated with DEET products. Studies done on rats exposed to DEET showed behavioral changes and even brain cell death after a period of time.

Heavy exposure to DEET also causes side effects in humans, including:

• memory loss
• headaches
• weakness
• fatigue
• muscle and joint pain
• tremors
• shortness of breath

If DEET is used along with other insecticides (like permethrin), the damage is more severe.

Duke University Medical Center pharmacologist Mohamed Abou-Donia warns, “Damage to these areas [in the brain] could result in problems with muscle coordination, muscle weakness, walking or even memory and cognition.”

What’s even scarier is these side effects may not show up for months or even years after over exposure.

But you cannot afford to wait that long. This summer, replace repellents containing DEET with a better mosquito natural control method.

Replace Chemical Spray With an Organic Product

People also control mosquitoes by spraying chemical pesticides all over their home and backyard. However, overexposure to chemical pesticides, just like DEET, can harm you.

The Truth About Safety Tests
Even though safety tests are run on chemical pesticides, they do not always tell the whole story.

Tests run on chemical pesticides do not test for chronic effects from multiple chemicals. Many tests also only test on healthy subjects over a short period of time. This will not give researchers the full story about long term effects.

Even if you think you’re being careful, it is still possible to expose yourself to these dangers.

Pesticides can be absorbed through the skin, swallowed or inhaled. When pesticides drift after being applied, they can travel from 12 feet to as far as 10 or more miles.

Children and pets can track pesticides into the house.

Also, the chemicals can run off into water or hang in the air.

Unfortunately, there are multiple ways you can unknowingly expose yourself. But take an important first step and swear off chemical pesticides all together. Use an organic insect killer instead.

Your family and future self will thank you when you use mosquito natural control alternatives.

Replace Shorts and T-Shirts With Pants and Caps

Okay, so now you have the natural repellent and your using organic home pest control. Wondering what else you can do?

When we apply repellent at the beginning of the day, we may forget to reapply later. If this happens, you may be bitten despite your best intentions.

That’s why you need back up protection. And a simple way to do this is wear protective clothing.

Tips When Dressing for Mosquito Natural Control

• Wear light colored clothing (dark colors attract mosquitoes)
• Wear a hat to protect your face
• Make sure clothes are loose fitting and a heavier material (mosquitoes can bite through thin, tight clothes)
• If your clothes are thin or tight, spray clothing with repellent
• Tuck pants into socks to protect your ankles

This outfit may not be as thrilling or “fashionable” as your ensemble from 2nd grade. But it will certainly keep you safe from mosquitoes.

Get back to your choosy roots and pick mosquito natural control alternatives this summer.