Page 6 - North Haven Magazine Issue 19 Summer 2021

by Sally Brockett
t is summer and the bugs are out to find a meal. Sometimes, that meal might be you! There are a variety of ways to fend off these trou-
Iblesome insects, including use of particular plants and herbs, and essential oils. Let’s look at some methods that work but are natural
and safer than chemicals.
Peppermint
Peppermint oil has a fresh, clean fragrance Neem Oil
that most people enjoy, but ants and mos- Neem Oil is extracted from the seeds of the
quitoes are repelled by the smell. It is Neem tree, which grows in India and other
thought that it may disrupt the ability of tropical areas. It is useful as an organic in-
ants to communicate with other ants, so secticide and fungicide in the garden. The
they avoid it. To repel ants in your home, highest quality oil, used in cosmetics and
fill a small bottle with water and 10 drops in skin products, is cold-pressed. Insect re-
of peppermint oil. Spray an inconspicuous Lavender is a popular insect repellent. pellents may contain neem oil along with
area first to test stained or painted wood to other oils to enhance the fragrance. Neem
assure it is not damaged by the spray. The oil may help control many parasites such as
spray can be used in crevices where ants mites, fleas, ticks, and lice. It is quite potent,
may enter. dient in many natural insect repellents. A so it is recommended to dilute it with a car-
mixture of lavender, lemon, and witch ha- rier oil such as coconut-, almond-, olive-,
zel can be used to spray on people and pets. jojoba oil in a ratio of 1 to 10, or about ½
You may find it even helps deter fleas from teaspoon of Neem to an ounce of carrier oil.
your furry friends. This is another great
plant to place around your patio and deck. Diatomaceous Earth
Not only may it deter pesky insects, but it Diatomaceous Earth or DE is a non-toxic
is also known to be calming and relaxing. off-white, environmentally friendly powder
Citronella composed of fossilized remains of marine
phytoplankton. It is harmless to us but will
Citronella, or lemon grass is in the Gerani- kill any bug with an exoskeleton and can be
um family and is a versatile plant to grow, used in the home and garden. Use a bulb
indoors or outside. The oil is used by some puffer (ear syringe) to blow the dust into
Peppermint oil makes a good mosquito to repel mosquitoes. It is less potent than crevices where insects hide. This is effective
repellent. peppermint, so a lot more needs to be used. for ants, roaches, centipedes, squash bugs,
A popular way to use this oil is in a tiki silverfish, ticks, and many more bugs. It is
torch around the deck or patio. not used on human skin to repel insects but
When we hike or are out in locations where may reduce the troublesome bugs in our
there may be mosquitoes, we use a drop of living space.
peppermint oil in a few places (hat, cuffs at
wrists and ankles,) to repel them. It only It is important to understand how to use
takes a tiny amount as the oil is very potent. natural products for protection against in-
Avoid getting it near your eyes because it sects. There are many websites that explain
can sting. This was even quite effective the variety of herbs and oils that may be
against those giant, hungry mosquitoes used, and some include do-it-yourself rec-
in Alaska and Texas. While others in our ipes for making the repellents. There are
group used DEET, our peppermint oil kept Keep basil in the kitchen for making fly and also many more natural repellents than
us mosquito-free. moth repellent, as well as for seasoning your those discussed in this introductory article.
meals. Some oils have a strong fragrance that may
Peppermint plants can be placed in pots not be enjoyed by some individuals, so it is
around your patio and doorways to help best to experiment with small amounts to
repel outdoor ants and mosquitoes. Plants Basil find ones that are suitable for those using
in the mint family can spread aggressively, them. Some people may be sensitive or in-
so containing them in a pot can help con- Basil is a popular herb used in the kitch- tolerant to certain oils and plants. If you are
trol where they grow. You can also remove en, but it can also repel flies and moths. A uncertain about exposure to a particular oil
any flower heads or seed pods to limit the natural repellent can be made by adding 12 or plant, test with a small amount to see if
spread of seeds. drops of basil oil to 1 fluid oz. of a carri- there is any negative reaction. Be sure to
er oil such as olive oil. This can be rubbed
Lavender directly on your skin. A pot or two of basil learn more information through the many
websites available if you are interested in
Lavender is another popular oil used as an in your outdoor living space may help de- using natural oils and plants to repel pests,
insect repellent. It is known to repel mos- ter the flies and moths and will be quickly and maybe the summer bugs will not bug
quitoes and flies and is a common ingre- available to add to your favorite dishes. you so much!

6 North Haven Magazine - Summer Issue 2021