Animal and Insect Repellent - Keep Pests at Bay!

We all like to be popular, but sometimes enough is enough! When you and your household are drawing house guests that rip through your walls, leave unwanted gifts and generally make themselves at home, you can find yourself at your wits' end trying to get them to leave. While there is not much that you can do about your aunt Marge, your ant colony is a completely different story!

Animal and insect repellents are deterrents that are designed to keep specific creatures away from certain places, people or other animals. While this seems like a simple enough proposition, there are many different ways that a good repellent can keep your property safe and sound from a variety of different pests. Because each type of repellent is so specific and as there are so many different varieties, it will be wise for you to learn a little about repellents and how they work.

Despite what you may have heard, nearly any animal, no matter how wily or how immune, can be repelled in some way. There are many reasons why you may wish to keep certain animals off your property. Insects can be especially dangerous to your plant-life, whether you have a small garden or many acres of land to take care of. Similarly, you can have issues with stray dogs, coyotes, raccoons or possums, all animals that are known to be destructive and a nuisance to humans.

Some repellents are applied directly to the subject, in the form of sprays. Spray repellents are especially good for use against insects. As they are applied to skin, clothing and other surfaces, they can be carried around wherever the bearer pleases and thus result in a method of staying pest-free that doesn't involve carrying around heavy gear. This is an ideal choice for outdoor events like camping and fishing.

There are also mechanical methods of repellent. Most obvious is barbed wire, a metal wire with sharp spikes wound along its length. Barbed wire is ideal for situations on ranches and farms, when one is trying to keep coyotes away from your stock. Similarly, a fence can be electrified, further encouraging curious vermin to stay away. In a more suburban situation, you can have a sonic repellent that emits a sound in a such a high pitch that it is inaudible to humans, but quite painful to other animals, like stray dogs or feral cats.

For those seeking a more natural repellent, there are ways to make sure that the area you are trying to protect is an unattractive one to the pest in question. The urine of large predators is one way to keep your garden free of vermin: for example, the urine of a fox, will send most rabbits, squirrels and woodchucks packing!

Chemical repellents are also quite common, especially when used to combat insects. Essentially, a chemical repellent either masks the prey that a predator may be interested in or acts as an irritant to deter pests. Citronella and the oil of the lemon eucalyptus are both substances that can drive off mosquitoes. Meta-N,N-diethyl toluamide, more commonly known as DEET effectively blinds insects and makes them unable to detect nearby prey. In the case of stronger repellents, like permethrin, the chemical in question also acts as an insecticide.

Whatever your problem there's no need to play host to a variety of unpleasant party crashers. Read up on repellents and evict them today!

Franko Paul write for a number of websites that provide advice about animal repellent and insect repellent. He is a regular contributor to the Mr Repellent website.

Mosquitoes - Controlling These Unwelcome Summer Pests

Ah, the pleasures of summer time! The sun setting over a beautiful lake, graduation parties, outdoor weddings, picnics with out-of-town family and friends, a ball game complete with peanuts and cracker jacks...does life get any better? Perhaps we are all forgetting one thing: the joys of summer also bear the baggage of unwelcome visitors: mosquitoes! Mosquitoes can potentially drive any of these fun activities indoors.

Mosquitoes Carry Disease

Several problems arrive along with the invasion of mosquitoes. These bloodthirsty nuisances are not only annoying and disruptive but also potentially very dangerous. According to North Carolina State's Department of Entomology, "Mosquitoes are important pests because their biting activity often interferes with outdoor activities and can transmit disease organisms to people and domestic animals."1

According to the American Mosquito Control Association, "Mosquitoes cause more human suffering than any other organism -- over one million people die from mosquito-borne diseases every year."3 Mosquitoes spread diseases to humans and animals alike. The AMCA continues to explain that the diseases that afflict particularly dogs "include dog heartworm, West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE)."3 Diseases more commonly affecting humans include malaria, West Nile Virus, dengue, encephalitis, and yellow fever. Additionally, the mosquitoes' saliva causes skin irritation resulting in those uncomfortable red bumps that form after a bite.

Tips for Treating Mosquito Bites

The first thing that should be done upon receipt of a mosquito bite is to wash the affected area with warm water and soap to rid the area of any bacteria and provide temporary itching relief. The application of Calamine lotion is helpful in relieving the itching or burning sensation resulting from mosquito bites. Cool compresses, antihistamines, and other anti-inflammatory medications are often successful in alleviating symptoms of mosquito bites as well. The temptation to scratch the affected area should be resisted, and if the bite victim feels dizzy or nauseated, they should seek medical attention immediately as these could be signs of an allergic reaction.5

How Mosquitoes Multiply

Water is necessary to the lifecycle of a mosquito. Therefore, habitats that are prone to hurricanes or heavy rainfall are often invaded largely by these pests. Mosquitoes are less likely to abide in areas with ponds or creeks if they contain fish and are free of weeds or other traps where they can hide. Generally mosquitoes remain within a mile of their birthplace, but mosquitoes also can travel far from breeding sites, abounding even in much drier surroundings. Though mosquitoes generally only live 2-3 weeks, they multiply rapidly because less than a half-cup of water is sufficient for their reproduction. Females produce 100 to 300 eggs with each pregnancy, often laying several thousand eggs in a single short lifetime.

Mosquito Prevention Measures

You may ask: why are mosquitoes drawn to humans? Mosquitoes are enticed to humans first by the carbon dioxide that is exhaled. Once the mosquitoes sense this, they are further drawn to their victim by other factors such as sweat and body odor. Wearing perfume, drinking beer, and certain foods add extra advertisements for a mosquito to use your body as a feeding spot.

Certain areas of property attract mosquitoes more strongly because of their ability to retain water. Common objects to monitor include drainage ditches, trash, old tires, rain barrels, unused or poorly maintained pools, birdbaths, barbecue grills, and other items that provide easy access to water. To prevent unnecessary excess swarms of mosquitoes, be sure to clean and maintain your property well. Remove obstructions in drainage ditches, clear gutters, and remove any unnecessary water gatherings.

Repellents are useful for keeping mosquitoes from directly contacting your skin. However, they are less effective at keeping them from swarming in the air near the body, and these repellents can be harmful if used too often.

Citronella candles are often used as another effort to keep mosquitoes away. They benefit the most during times of little wind so the chemical does not spread too quickly or the flame does not blow out.

Such measures as ensuring that your home is properly sealed with tight screens and properly fitted windows and doors will help protect your home from uninvited company. Since bats and purple martins feed on mosquitoes, installing boxes near the house will also encourage their residence and help keep mosquitoes away.

For those who are reluctant to provide for such creatures as bats, the use of a mosquito net may be just what the doctor ordered. Mosquito nets can provide protection for outdoor picnic areas, gazebos, patios, dog pens, or stables. Additionally, mosquito netting can be fortified with chemicals that kill mosquitoes once they land on them.

Since mosquitoes depend on flower nectar and fruit juices for energy, keeping flowers farther from picnic areas or other popular outdoor gathering spots may help ward off their presence. Additionally, being mindful of keeping lids on fruit salads or consuming such foods first may prevent further problems.

Finally, to experience maximum pleasure from outdoor activities, select clothing should be worn. Light-colored, loosely fitting clothing is the least attractive to mosquitoes since they are drawn to dark colors that form tightly to the body allowing easy access to the skin.

To summarize the options for preventing and getting rid of mosquitoes:

- Use mosquito repellents

- Use citronella candles

- Seal your home with tight screens, windows, and doors

- Surround your activity with mosquito netting

- Wear light colors

- Eliminate standing water

- Attract bats and purple martins

Paul Galla

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/mosquito.htm


http://www.co.jackson.ms.us/DS/MosquitoControl.html


http://www.mosquito.org/mosquito-information/mosquito-borne.aspx


[http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4TH/KKHP/1INSECTS/mosquito.html]

http://www.tinymosquito.com/bitetreatment.html

Paul Galla, President

Bird Guard Bird Control Products

http://www.birdguard.com

Camping Pests - Herbal Insect Repellents For Campers

For some people the mention of a camping trip does not bring to mind long fun filled days under sunny skies communing with nature nor does it bring thoughts of those starry nights sitting around a campfire and telling tall tells or singing campfire songs. Instead their first thought when the word camping is mentioned is of mosquitoes, black flies, and all those other camping pests that are an annoying but a very real part of the campers world.

For some people these camping pests are barely nothing, but for those who seem to be bug magnets, these little insects that are so much a part of nature can ruin what would otherwise be the perfect holiday. These people wouldn't think of setting foot in the great outdoors without being armed with a backpack or trunk load of insect repellent. Therein lays the problem.

It seems to be somewhat sacrilegious to plan a weekend or week in the great outdoors enjoying nature and all it has to offer and then ruining the entire experience by coating yourself with insect repellent, which is harmful to the environment not to mention your own skin and health. The good news is that there are many herbal insect repellents on the market today that will not harm the environment and are good for you as well.

Of course you can always make your own herbal insect repellent and there are plenty of recipes to be found on the internet. Here is one that works on both people and pets, and when sprayed around your tent or on it will help keep those little pests well away from your sleeping area as well.

Homemade Herbal Insect Repellent

Ingredients:

lemon or orange peels or a combination of both (flies in particular do not like citrus)

mint leaves or sage leaves

witch hazel

water

Directions:

Combine the leaves and the lemon or orange peels in a pan with water, boil these into an extremely strong tea. Cover and let stand overnight and then drain the liquid into a jar and mix half and half with witch hazel. Place in a spritz bottle for use.

For those who prefer oil based repellents simply heat the orange and/or lemon peels and leaves in oil (heat together but don't let the oil start frying the ingredients) let set overnight and then pour into a sterilized jar.

For even more pest protection try hanging small sachets of basil from low tree branches to help keep flies from invading your camping area. ?

Pests don't have to ruin your camping trip, using natural and herbal insect repellents can make your camping trip a lot more enjoyable.? Now aren't you just itching to pack up and hit the road?

Gary Youngblood is a camping enthusiast and believes that camping clears the mind and lifts the spirit. Pack up your tent and get out there! Go to Go to http://www.highcountrytents.com to check out a great line up of camping tents.