An eternal problem that any land owner has to solve is effective protection against insects, which literally attack not only animals, but also people in summer. Otherwise, there can be no question of a full-fledged rest at your dacha, or of working on a hundred square meters, since most of the time you will have to literally fight off mosquitoes and midges.
Various ointments and creams that are sold everywhere are one of the most effective ways to repel them. But this method has disadvantages - some people are allergic to "chemistry", and they do not differ in duration of action, although many are not cheap. How else can you protect yourself from blood-sucking insects or completely protect the site from them? A brief overview of the most common techniques will allow you to choose the best option for getting rid of the dacha from the dominance of midges and mosquitoes.
Midges and mosquitoes in the country, how to protect yourself from insects
Getting to the dacha, we become "victims" of mosquitoes and midges that fly everywhere. If your site is located near a river or any other body of water, and there is also a forest around, then be sure that insects will concentrate around the site in whole swarms. In order to protect yourself from unpleasant bites and constant itching, you must immediately start fighting the enemy upon arrival.
Mosquito nets and ultrasonic repellents will help protect against insects in the house, but in the fresh air it is somewhat more difficult to escape from pests. Repellents, spirals, and folk methods and traps are also used. Below in the material we will tell you more about each method of protection.
First aid for bites
If the insects nevertheless bit, then you can get rid of the unpleasant sensations by treating the bitten place:
- aloe juice;
- kefir or yogurt;
- soda, ammonia or manganese solutions;
- onion juice - cut onion is applied to the bite;
- lemon juice;
- gruel from chopped parsley or plantain leaves;
- balm "Zvezdochka".
The means available to all can relieve a person of discomfort. But if a tick has sucked, then it must be removed correctly and then processed.
Folk remedies against mosquitoes and midges
1. Boil 30 g of wormwood in 200 ml of water for 15 minutes. Apply the resulting broth from the spray to the body.
2. The juice of one lemon is diluted in 300 ml of water, then applied to the body and clothing using a spray bottle. The plus is that this mixture does not leave marks on clothes.
3. On a plate or bowl, place lemon and orange peels, 20 clove spices and pour over with tea tree oil. So you can sit in the gazebo on the street all evening and not a single bloodsucker will bother you.
4. For a comfortable sitting around the fire, throw a few branches of juniper into it.
5. Wheatgrass roots. This weed is found on every site. Boil 30 g of wheatgrass roots in 200 ml of water and apply the broth to the body.
Characteristics of insects
The mosquito is a two-winged flying insect, the females of which feed on human blood, piercing the skin with their proboscis. At the same time, saliva containing strong allergens is injected into the wound.After mosquito bites, there are red, swollen marks that itch a lot. When scratching itchy papules, an infection can enter the bloodstream, which entails a number of dangerous diseases. The mosquito season begins in April and lasts until cold weather. Mosquitoes prefer to hunt at dawn, before it gets too hot, during the day they take a break and become active after sunset.
A midge or gnat are hordes of small flying insects that, after attacking a person, leave many small bites. They strive to get into all accessible places: under clothes, in the mouth and nasal cavities, in the mouth and eyes. The most dangerous is a midge bite in the eye. It can cause severe swelling and damage your eyesight. Midges do not stick to one place for a long time, as mosquitoes do. They rip out pieces of flesh and move to a new location. Redness forms at the site of the bites, which is accompanied by severe itching. The feeding period begins at sunrise and can last all day.
Horseflies are winged insects similar to flies, but are larger in size. Feeding on blood, they inflict painful bites without bothering to inject pain relievers. If there are livestock nearby, horseflies prefer to sting it. The special harm of horseflies is that they lay their eggs directly in the living tissues of the animal. And the larvae feed on flesh during development, which is very painful. After the new generation leaves the nesting site, a large corroded area, similar to an ulcer, remains on the animal's body.
Ticks are spider-like arthropod insects that feed on human blood. They stick to the skin, burying the head inward. While the ticks suck blood, their small, flat abdomen gradually swells and becomes like a bubble. A person begins to feel discomfort at the site of the bite after the glue has been pumped out of the blood. And when a pot-bellied roommate is discovered, a real panic begins. After all, everyone has heard that ticks can reward a person with encephalitis and a number of no less dangerous diseases: ehrlichiosis, typhus, tularemia, Lyme disease, Q fever.
It is rare to find all these parasites in one place and at the same time, but individually they are quite common. Therefore, when planning to relax in nature, you need to find effective remedies against these parasites.
In summer, mosquitoes cause discomfort, making it difficult to work on your site or relax in nature
Effective folk remedies for mosquitoes and midges
Cow cakes. Of course, this is not the most pleasant remedy to use for scaring away bloodsuckers, but one of the most effective. Already dry cow cakes must be set on fire. It is the smell that scares away bloodsuckers.
Tea tree oil... It is worth applying oil on the wrists, behind the ears, under the knees and mosquitoes will not bother you. In addition, this oil will help relieve itching and swelling from bites, you just need to smear oil on the affected areas.
Coniferous trees. It is necessary to burn dry sprigs of a coniferous tree. The smell of smoke is excellent at warding off parasites.
Fish fat... To prevent the bloodsuckers from bothering you for 3 hours, lubricate the body with fish oil.
Clove and lemon. Cut the lemon in half and pierce the flesh with a clove (spice) and leave on the table. This tool works great both indoors and outdoors.
Domestic flower midges
The mosquitoes that are bred in flower pots are much more difficult to remove than kitchen ones. We will tell you about the most effective folk remedies for midges. In indoor flowers, insects start for several reasons. First, they fly in from vents, windows and vents. Secondly, they come from the ground infected with larvae.
Midges live, develop and reproduce in those pots that are over-watered. Also, liquid organic fertilizers, such as blood, become the cause of the appearance of insects. Rinsing the roots, completely replacing the soil and disinfecting all pots will help get rid of harmless but annoying "neighbors", but not all plants are able to safely survive this kind of stress.
Do-it-yourself mosquito and midge remedy
Homemade traps work effectively in summer cottages. To make it you will need: a plastic bottle, water, yeast and sugar. The upper part is cut off from the bottle. Then 200 ml of water is poured into the lower part, 50 g of sugar and 1 g of instant yeast are added to the water. The top of the bottle is turned over and the container with water is covered with the throat down (without a lid). Winged bloodsuckers flock to the smell of the yeast mass, and they will not be able to leave the trap.
Homemade Velcro does an excellent job as well.
To make them you will need:
- a piece of thick paper or cardboard;
- Castor oil;
- rosin;
- turpentine;
- sugar;
- water.
First, sugar syrup is cooked (for 5 tablespoons of water, take 3 tablespoons of sugar). Next, still hot syrup is mixed with 125 ml of rosin, 100 ml of turpentine and 100 ml of castor oil, mix thoroughly. Strips of cardboard are coated with an adhesive mass. Such strips are hung near the resting place.
Where do they come from
If plants begin to die massively at their summer cottage, the reason for this may be an invasion of sciarids. They actively live and reproduce in moist soil. This is due to the fact that with high humidity in the soil, the process of decay and decomposition occurs. Rotten organic matter is the first necessary food product for sciarid larvae.
Sciaris larva
On indoor plants, midges appear for the same reason. For planting home flowers, you need to use a special potting mix purchased from the store. First, it contains the necessary mineral fertilizers. Secondly, the soil is disinfected and does not contain pest larvae and eggs. If you've used soil from your garden, chances are that it contains not only sciaris larvae, but other parasites or fungi as well.
Vanillin from mosquitoes and midges
Despite the fact that the market offers us a wide range of chemicals, not every remedy is suitable for allergy sufferers and young children to combat bloodsuckers, therefore folk remedies are in great demand. These include vanillin-based products. It should be noted right away that only vanillin is used in the recipes, and not vanilla sugar, since the latter attracts insects even more. We have prepared for you several effective options for dealing with the gnat (this is how biologists generalized all bloodsuckers into one group) based on vanillin.
- Water spray. Vanillin is dissolved in warm, but not hot water at the rate of 1 sachet per 1 liter of water. The mixture is poured into a spray container. The body is sprayed every 2-3 hours.
- Alcohol spray. A package of vanillin is dissolved in 1 tablespoon of alcohol and diluted in 100 ml of water. The mixture is poured into a spray bottle and sprayed on clothing and body.
- Cream. Take a tube of greasy baby cream, squeeze it into a bowl, add 100 g of vanillin to the cream and mix thoroughly. Place the mass in a convenient jar. Apply to exposed areas of the body before going outside.
The vacuum cleaner is a catcher not only of dust, but also of kitchen gnats
If the fruit gnats have stuck to the fruit left on the table, an open watermelon or melon, take a vacuum cleaner and catch all the gnats with it. They will not be able to resist the attraction of the air flow. It will be necessary to immediately plug the hose from the vacuum cleaner with a rag and take the unit out into the street, where you will shake out the unwanted inhabitants of the kitchen.
It must be understood that a trap can and a vacuum cleaner are good remedies for midges in the kitchen, but they alone are not enough to fight insects.If you do not carry out a good cleaning of the entire room, the midges will definitely reappear very soon.
What plants scare away mosquitoes and midges
Another good and sure way to deal with annoying parasites is to plant plants that repel them on the site. For humans, these plants are a pleasant addition and decoration of the site, and for insects they are intolerable.
Melisa. A perennial and pleasantly smelling plant is not only added to tea and cocktails, but also scares away midges and mosquitoes due to its smell. The more of this plant on the site, the less mosquitoes will disturb you.
Basil. For many, basil is the herb used in recipes for different nationalities, but for mosquitoes, it is a repellent repellent. Brown and lemon basil have the greatest effect. It is necessary to plant a plant around the entire perimeter of the site, and it will become unattractive for the diptera family. In addition, basil is excellent in relieving itching from bites. It is necessary to grind the leaves into gruel and apply it to the bite site.
Chernobrivtsy. The pungent smell that these flowers, popular among summer residents, emit, frightens off annoying midges and mosquitoes. One has only to plant flower beds with these flowers, and you will be protected from mosquitoes.
Catnip. This perennial plant has blue flowers and blooms throughout the summer months. After touching the plant, it emits an intense smell, which repels annoying insects.
Garlic. The aroma of this plant of the subfamily of onions is not only unpleasant to people, but also to mosquitoes, including. By planting as much garlic as possible on the site, you will create a natural barrier to blood-sucking mosquitoes and midges.
Lavender... This beautiful plant with a pleasant scent to humans gives the opposite impression to mosquitoes as it contains essential oils.
Mint. This plant is a real lifesaver for lovers of recreation in the country and for protecting houses and apartments from insects, as it takes root well in pots.
Geranium... An unpretentious and widespread flower perfectly repels mosquitoes.
Technical means
Next - an overview of devices that are almost guaranteed to help you get rid of annoying midges.
Ultrasonic scarers
Such devices are mobile and stationary. The former are more convenient to use. Food - from the elements, modest dimensions and weight. But the range of the devices is small - up to a maximum of 2.5 m. Therefore, there is no need to talk about the complete disappearance of midges and mosquitoes, but such devices are quite effective as personal protective equipment. Stationary ones repel insects in large areas, but they need an electrical connection.
Consequently, only the protection of the house and the surrounding area is provided. The principle of operation of the devices is clear from the name - repelling mosquitoes due to radiation at certain frequencies (in the range of 5 - 20 kHz).
"Tornado" series OK.01. Russian development on 3 batteries (will have to be purchased separately), weight - 250 g. Protected area - up to 50 m². The approximate price is 1,510 rubles.
Typhoon LS-200 series. Maximum efficiency on an area of up to 20 "squares", although at maximum mode, the device protects against mosquitoes of 40 m². How reliable is another question. This repeller is powered by a network, so it is advisable to use it to get rid of insects in a country house or veranda. On the territory, in the absence of tension, it is useless. Price - 980 rubles.
Insecticidal lamps
IR radiation literally lures bloodsuckers. They fall into a trap in the form of a grid, in which they die. But all such devices are volatile, therefore, it is necessary to connect to the industrial / voltage.
Hurakan model HKN-MID180. A Chinese device designed to destroy not only mosquitoes, but also other flying insects - beetles, midges, flies, and so on.Pests are killed by touching the energized metal grate. Such a lamp is installed on the floor or suspended on a chain included in the product package. The price is 3,999 rubles.
"Mars-01". Russian device in a plastic case, weight 650 g. Protected area - up to 25 m². Price - 1,540 rubles.
Gas traps
Mosquito Magnet. The carbon dioxide emitted by the device simulates the exhalation of a person. This is the basis of the principle of action. Mosquitoes fly up to the trap and are sucked in (analogue of a mini-vacuum cleaner). The device is available in several modifications, so there is plenty to choose from for a summer residence. The starting price is 6 890 rubles.
Mosquito Killer. The manufacturer positions the kit (reducer, carbon dioxide cylinder, mesh with bracket and support) as the latest development from NASA. Ease of use is provided by 3 modes of operation, including program control from a timer. Who is not confused by the price - about 38,000 rubles - can try. But this technical tool eliminates only mosquitoes (on an area of no more than 40 acres) and needs to be connected to an electric / network. For a summer residence - not the best option, but for a country house with a large adjacent plot it may be of interest.
Fumigators
The principle of operation of such devices is based on air poisoning with substances that are absolutely harmless to humans, but destructive to insects. These are the most demanded technical means, primarily due to their low cost. In some models, special flavored plates are used as a preparation, in others - liquids that will have to be poured into the container of the device. All fumigators, like the above devices, are volatile. Therefore, they can only be installed in a country house.
"Raid". One set (10 plates) is enough for a month of effective getting rid of insects with daily work no more than 8 hours. Coverage area - up to 45 m². Price - 158 rubles.
Fumitox. The price of models (weighing 100 g) with plates (10) is 132 rubles, with a bottle - 199 rubles.
Moskitoll. A Russian device that uses a special liquid. Price - 376 rubles.
Wrist bracelet for repelling mosquitoes and midges
The most safe means of protection against mosquitoes and bloodsuckers, especially for children, is a bracelet. Along with children's protective cosmetics, these are in great demand. Bracelets are impregnated with essential natural oils (geranium, lavender, citronella), the smell of these and repels mosquitoes.
There are 2 types of bracelets:
- disposable (the period of validity is often 7 days);
- reusable (with replaceable cartridges).
When choosing a bracelet, carefully study the instructions, which indicate the recommended age of the person who will use the product. If the bracelet is not intended for children, you should never use it.
The bracelets of the following brands received the most laudatory reviews on the network:
- Farewell squeak;
- Gardex;
- Mothercar;
- Bugslock.
Home chemistry
As the most common and most reliable remedy for midges in flowers, a weak solution of potassium permanganate can be advised. Several crystals must be dissolved in raw unboiled water. It should take on a pale pink color (the strong solution will burn the roots). Be careful! It is necessary to water the plants with potassium permanganate for a month, until the flies disappear completely.
The simplest and cheapest laundry soap can kill all flower midge larvae. It is enough to water the flowers three times with soapy water.
Chemicals for mosquitoes and midges
When choosing personal chemical protective equipment, it is important to carefully study the composition. Most of the chemicals offered to us on the market have a pungent odor, and can also cause allergies. The active ingredients in such products can be: carboxyde, diethyltoluamide (DEET), oxamate and others.These substances are very toxic, so it is important to know their concentration in the selected product and use it only according to the instructions. It is not permissible for a person to use products with a chemical concentration of more than 40%. For adults, the permissible concentration is 20-30%, while for children, allergy sufferers and pregnant women, only 10-15%.
Fumigators. This is one of the most popular methods of getting rid of the gnat from your home. There are 2 types: electrical and pyrotechnic. Electrical (plate and liquid) work, respectively, from the network, and are effective only in the place where there is access to electricity.
Pyrotechnic fumigators the group of which includes spirals and candles, are used only in open areas. The spiral or candle is set on fire for 15 seconds and then extinguished. Each manufacturer gives its own recommendations for the use of these protections, which is why it is important to read the manual for their use.
In addition to chemical fumigators, there are also safer and completely non-toxic fumigators, such as gas fumigators. With this type of protection, a person does not depend on electricity, the device is odorless and operates on a gas canister.
Non-biting midges - there are many of them and they are annoying - what to do?
Midges love moisture and warm climates. If your house is near the water, then you are probably familiar with the creatures quite closely. Standing reservoirs attract midges - in them they are able to lay thousands of eggs from which adults grow up, which in turn begin to actively reproduce. Now it is clear where the horde came from outside your window? Therefore, the first step is getting rid of the larvae.
If midges breed in stagnant water, a small pond, then fill in special bacteria - B.T.I. Here is one of these products, very popular on the American Amazon - Summit 20-Pack Mosquito Dunk for $ 20.
Mosquito and midge repellent
mosquito and midge sprays
These repellents are evenly applied to clothing and skin, providing protection for up to 3 hours. Their greatest efficiency falls on the first 45 minutes after spraying, keeping out the gnat at a distance of 1.5 meters. Spray formulations smell harsh and cause an allergic reaction. It is unacceptable to use them in closed rooms and near fire. The use of aerosols by children and women in position is also not recommended. The most effective sprays are oil-based, they do not wash off well, due to which they stay on the body for 7 days.
insect bite ointments and gels
Ointments, milk and gels have a pleasant smell, are quickly absorbed into the skin, moisturizing it, are not as toxic as aerosols, and are also acceptable for use by children from 1 year of age (age restrictions are indicated on the package). However, such means of protection have an important disadvantage - a short protection period, which averages only 1.5 hours.
Did you know…
Wherever you are, at home or on vacation, there is no escape from these annoying creatures of nature. Their buzzing is annoying, and their bites cause itching, irritation and even painful swelling. But everything would be fine if it did not threaten the most unpredictable consequences. We are all different people, someone tolerates bites quite calmly, and for someone it can cause not only itching, often accompanying the bites of mosquitoes and midges, but also quite strong allergic reactions, which sometimes even force them to seek help from a doctor. It is all the more unpleasant and dangerous when our children are suffering.
It has been proven that bloodsucking insects can be carriers of dangerous and even fatal diseases. The opportunity to receive such a "bonus" with a bite is simply terrifying.
Currently, there are a huge number of mosquito and midge control products on the shelves of stores and pharmacies, they are designed to help avoid bites and relieve swelling and itching after you have been bitten.But we understand that not all the chemical components of creams, aerosols and tablets are safe enough for our health, and even more so for the health of young children, and all of the listed products do not contain absolutely nothing natural.
What essential aromatic oil helps with insect bites
For those who do not want or for some reason cannot use chemical cosmetics, essential oils will be an excellent alternative. Vile will fly around you if you use the following oils:
- lavender;
- thuja;
- carnations;
- geraniums;
- rosemary;
- thyme;
- peppermint;
- eucalyptus.
Prevention measures
Sciarids appear in waterlogged soil. When growing indoor plants, it is easy to regulate the moisture level. All plants should be watered only when needed. The frequency of watering depends on the characteristics of the plant. A pot with an indoor flower or seedlings should have a drainage layer. Drainage thickness at least 3 cm.
If your garden is in a low area, there is a high probability that water will accumulate in the beds after rain. This can lead to decay of plants, the appearance of fungi and the development of parasitic insects. First of all, sciarid larvae will start in the garden. It is necessary to equip a water drainage system on the site. Country drainage is of 2 types: surface and deep.
Cologne for midges and mosquitoes
Excellent scares off bloodsuckers and cologne. The pungent smell in itself is not pleasant for the gnat, but it disappears rather quickly, but it can be enhanced with the help of spices and oils. The most effective remedy is obtained by mixing 40 ml of cologne with 15 drops of clove decoction (20 g of spices are boiled for 7 minutes in 200 ml of water). Mint is no less effective in combination with cologne. Make the mint decoction in the same way as the clove decoction, and mix 20 drops of the decoction and 50 ml of cologne. Instead of a decoction, you can use essential peppermint oil. For 40 ml of cologne, you only need 5 drops of oil.
Some recipes of folk wisdom
At home, you can prepare a universal air freshener based on essential oils that will effectively drive bloodsuckers out of the room. For its preparation, the necessary ingredients are mixed in a suitable container and sprayed with a spray bottle. The most commonly used mixtures are:
- Lemon Basil: For half a liter of water, take five drops of lemon oil, ten drops of basil and twenty drops of citronella oils. Mix everything thoroughly.
- Lavender-mint. You need to mix five drops of lavender oil and peppermint oil, add twenty drops of citronella and dilute the mixture with water (half a liter).
- Lavender vanilla. Five drops of lavender and vanilla oils per twenty drops of citronella oil are diluted with 0.5 liters of water.
Such compositions are convenient to use not only in the home, but also in nature. But it should be remembered that such protection methods are not suitable for everyone. Contraindications are allergic reactions and intolerance to the components. This is especially true for women in a state of pregnancy and small children, who can be harmed by strong odors.
Essential oils perfectly protect the skin and shelter from harmful blood-sucking insects
What smells scare away mosquitoes and midges
Mosquitoes are able to distinguish more than 70 types of different scents, but at the same time, they are very sensitive to them. Bloodsuckers do not tolerate pungent and spicy odors, and this fact must be taken into account. Basil, anise, clove and eucalyptus oils are ideal for fighting the "enemy". And if you decide to light a fire, then you should throw cones, spruce branches and moss into it. The smell and smoke will keep insects away for a long time. Along with smoke, the gnat does not tolerate the smell of tobacco.
Drosophila harm is often underestimated
If midges are in the apartment, this does not always mean that the hostess does not keep order in her home well. Very often this misfortune is just a consequence of her diligence and diligence. For example, indoor plants are often a hotbed for midges. Indoor midges do not bite a person, but you still need to get rid of them, and not only because they are annoying with intrusiveness: their excrement and other derivatives of metabolism pollute the air and can provoke allergic reactions.
How to treat the area from midges and mosquitoes
First of all, I would like to say that if you decide to independently process your site, you will need special equipment as well as protective clothing, since without them processing will become impossible and even life-threatening. That is why summer residents most often resort to the services of sanitary offices.
It is necessary to process the sector in 2 stages. The first stage consists in the destruction of the larvae, and the second in the destruction of the insect itself. The most popular and effective chemicals for treating areas are Medilis Ziper and Cefox.
What a "beast"
The maximum insect size is 2 mm. Sciarid can be found in the garden and indoors. In apartments and houses, she is content with indoor plants, and in the garden and vegetable garden she has a place to "roam". Flying mushroom mosquitoes do not harm plants. They lay eggs in the soil, from which transparent larvae emerge, eating up the roots and posing a serious threat to plants.
The most harmful species:
- greenhouse mosquito (feeds on the rhizome of greenhouse cucumbers);
- potato mosquito (damages the root system and potato tubers in the open field);
- cucumber or mushroom mosquito (feeds on the roots of cucumbers planted in the open field, as well as oyster mushrooms and mushrooms).
Sciarid larvae living in the ground feed mainly on decaying residues of plant origin. They begin to "absorb" the living roots of plants only in the case of mass reproduction. Only 50 larvae can destroy a cucumber bush or house plant.
Mosquito and midge repellents
Several years ago, ultrasonic products were introduced to the market to combat annoying pests. The package includes ultrasonic frequency generators with a range of 4.8-7 kHz. These devices do not harm humans, since the frequencies they emit are too high for human hearing. The device is powered by batteries or electrical adapters. Devices are of 2 types: outdoor and personal. The former are stationary and powered by a network, while the latter look like a small portable device that can easily fit into your pocket. Personal scarers have a short range, so they work most effectively when attached to clothing.
Before purchasing an ultrasonic repeller, pay attention to its purpose, range and the ability to manually adjust the frequency for a more extended range.
Ways to get rid of sciaris
Sciarid larvae do not live long in the garden. This is due to the frequent change of weather conditions. The high air temperature and the scorching sun do not allow the soil to stay moist for a long time. Indoor plants and seedlings are at risk. To get rid of the risk of contamination of seedlings, buy specially treated soil. If this is not possible for you, heat the earth in the oven. This procedure will destroy larvae and eggs, fungal spores and old weed seeds.
If midges still hover over seedlings or indoor flowers, use special insecticides or folk methods. The most popular insecticides are:
- Intavir;
- Fitoverm;
- "Karbofos";
- "Lightning";
- "Bazudin";
- "Decis Profi".
Instructions with precise instructions on dosage and method of administration are located on the back of the packaging of each drug. After applying the herbicide, do not water the indoor plants or garden beds for 5 days for the drug to take effect. When working with any herbicide, you need to take care of your own health. Be sure to wear gloves and a respirator to protect your respiratory tract.
Adults flying indoors must be fought with aerosols (Dichlorvos) or fumigants. Mosquito plates or fumigators can be used to control mushroom mosquitoes. Close windows and doors in a room with seedlings or indoor flowers and leave the fumigator on for 12 hours. Adults will have no chance to survive, and you will only have to destroy the larvae in the ground.
