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What are good Insect repellent plants?

Bagpuss57Bagpuss57 Posts: 256
in Plants
A friend of mine has asked me what is best to plant to keep mosquitos away or things that are good deterrent for these kind of bugs and flies near the patio? I have heard about lavender being good but has anyone got any good advice on what to plant or has had experience of using plants as a deterrent?

Posts

  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 21,915
    The best way to keep mosquitos away is to make sure that they have no stagnant, standing water in which to breed. No blocked gutters, old plant pot dishes etc.

    Flies come in different types. Some live on dead bodies, some on rotting fruit, some are attracted to living bodies and their blood, some to flower pollen. Difficult to know how to keep such a diverse group of insects at bay at any given time.
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • Bagpuss57Bagpuss57 Posts: 256
    Hmm sounds like fighting a loosing battle but there has to be something out there that at least helps a bit to deter mozzis??
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,166
    Bagpuss57 said:
    Hmm sounds like fighting a loosing battle but there has to be something out there that at least helps a bit to deter mozzis??
    Bats, Pipistrelles, they eat them by the thousand


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    Yes, mozis don't tend to fly very high or very far from the breeding area (often less than 100 ft) so tackling the standing water, as mentioned, is probably the best way. Encourage neighbours to empty out pots and buckets and store them upside down. Fix drainage. Seal water butts to make sure they are not breeding there.

    I swear by mozi dunks for ponds. Mozi specific bacteria target only mozis and get rid of the larva in a matter of hours. They work much like nematodes; they are in the water anyway, but you increase the levels. I have given some to my next door neighbour/friends to use in their old sink/pond. I crumble about a teaspoon into my pond every few months. It really works a treat.

    I'm allergic to the bites and swell up like crazy, so having the dunks has allowed me to have a great pond, which is currently full of frogs. And no, having lots of frogs/tadpoles in a small pond does nothing at all to change the levels of mozi larva in the water. You'd hope so, but it turns out not to be remotely the case.
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