Ray says OLE is as effective as the commonly used deet-based products. If you want a plant-based alternative to deet, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) is an effective insect repellent - and note that OLE is different from lemon eucalyptus essential oils. Deet also breaks down easily, so its usage isn’t an environmental hazard. According to the most recent review by the EPA in 2014, deet continues to meet safety standards and is not identified as a concern to human health, as long as people the instructions for applying it. army in 1946 and was registered for public use in 1957. The most common and arguably effective chemical found in insect repellents is deet. “Test after test after test, they don’t seem to hold up to the same level of protection as say, the insecticide-based chemicals do,” said Ray. Ray says citronella candles are a bit more effective in repelling mosquitoes but only in the immediate area where it is placed. Citronella tiki torches are poorly effective because they aren’t used in closed spaces and are usually placed on a yard’s periphery, so the citronella-infused smoke blows away with the wind. Unfortunately, citronella is not very effective at repelling mosquitoes, according to Ray. Bacterial larvicides are made from natural substances and is toxic to mosquito larvae, black flies and fungus gnats, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ĭon’t rely on citronella. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant pools of water, no matter how big or small - even up-turned bottle caps filled with water can become a mini-cesspool for mosquito larvae to thrive. Ray suggests a preventative approach beginning with identifying areas around your home and community where water accumulates, like in flower pots, rain ditches and backyard drains. But no need to be alarmed (right now) as none of these viruses are currently known to spread within the state, according to the California Department of Public Health. The night-biters are Culix mosquitoes, and they can transmit the West Nile virus. The Aedes mosquitoes, or “ankle-biters,” are day-biting mosquitoes.The invasive Aedes species began populating Southern California in 2011 and have the potential to transmit viruses such as dengue, chikungunya, zika and yellow fever. Ray says that’s because there are two new species of mosquitoes breeding and spreading in the region: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Over the last two to three years, as my colleague Caitlin Hernandez has covered, Southern California has experienced a growing problem with mosquitoes. There are more than 3,500 species of mosquitoes, but only about 20 bite humans, according to Anandasankar Ray, a molecular cell and systems biology professor at the University of California at Riverside.Īnother fun fact: only female mosquitoes bite.
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