Spend a little time outside during one of Georgia’s scorching summers, and you’ll begin to understand why mosquitoes are such a big problem for Atlanta residents. While Atlanta is home to several mosquito species, the types you’ll encounter most often include: Aedes (also known as Asian tiger mosquitoes), Culex (house mosquitoes), and Anopheles (marsh mosquitoes).
Not only do these bugs leave itchy bites behind, but they can also be carriers for extremely dangerous diseases like the Zika virus, malaria, and West Nile virus. While you can’t get rid of mosquitoes like other pest infestations, you can deter them – and one way that many people do so is with natural scents.
Why Atlanta Residents Use Essential Oils Over Traditional Mosquito Repellants
Since mosquitoes hang around outside, you can’t completely eliminate their presence – which is why a lot of Atlanta residents choose to use mosquito repellents to keep them away. While there are plenty of traditional mosquito repellants to choose from, some of them may be dangerous for you too, not just the mosquitoes.
Some mosquito repellents are so toxic or aggressive that you can only wear them for a short amount of time, and they have to be washed off once you’re inside.
For many people, essential oils strike a happy balance – while specific scents are potent enough to repel mosquitoes, they’re not aggressive or toxic enough to be a danger to you or anyone else.
Keep in mind that there is some debate over how effective essential oils are for repelling mosquitoes, with some scents having more evidence than others.
Which Natural Scents Deter Mosquitoes In Atlanta, GA?
Not all essential oils work equally to repel mosquitoes, but three that are known to keep these pests away are citronella, lavender, and eucalyptus oil. These are all ingredients you’d find on the back of traditional mosquito repellents – but when you use them as essential oils, you don’t have to worry about what other chemicals they’ve been mixed with.
However, if you’ve never used essential oils before, it’s important that you know how to use them safely, so you’ll want to do your research. You can use essential oils topically, but you’ll usually need to mix them with a carrier oil before they’re applied – and you should be careful about applying too much before you know how they react with your skin.
The Best Way To Deter Mosquitoes In Atlanta, GA
While these essential oils may be a popular natural option for deterring mosquitoes in Atlanta, they aren’t the only ones. If applying essential oils every time you leave the house feels too tiresome, you may want to look into a misting system.
At Tuxedo Mosquito Control, we’ve created our own automatic mosquito misting system, the MistAway Gen III+, which allows you to do more than just stop mosquitoes from biting you; you can also keep them almost completely off your property. The misting system is automated and almost completely maintenance-free with timed releases of insecticide throughout the day.
If you’re interested in learning more about the MistAway Gen III+ or any of our other mosquito control services in Atlanta, don’t hesitate to reach out – contact us today at Tuxedo Mosquito Control to learn more about what we have to offer.