Green Options » mosquitos

Natural Insect Repellent Skin Patch: Don’t Bite Me!

Jennifer Lance — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:06:31 +0000

Applying eco-friendly insect repellent on my son’s skin is like applying sunscreen: he hates it! Luckily, we rarely need it do to a predictable evening wind on our property, but when we go camping or visiting friends, it’s a different story. He’s also a compulsive scratcher, so avoiding the mosquito bites all together prevents this problem as well. Don’t Bite Me! offers a unique approach to this problem with a skin patch.

Don’t Bite Me! is a skin patch that offers up to 36 hours of protection from insects for your entire body, and it is safe for children. It has only two ingredients: vitamin B1 and aloe!

Don’t Bite Me! uses a discreet, all-natural transdermal skin patch to deliver a blend of protective Vitamin B1 and aloe combination throughout the body. Excess B1 is secreted through the body’s pores, creating a scent that is almost undetectable to humans, but offensive to mosquitoes. This scent forms a protective barrier around the body that shields the user from mosquitoes and other biting insects. Aloe, the other active ingredient, accelerates the absorption of the B1 and serves as an anti-inflammatory. Don’t Bite Me! is also environmentally friendly and waterproof, perfect for lakes or pool parties!

How to Both Save Energy and Sleep Easy

Paul Smith — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:00:40 +0000

It’s summer in the Northern hemisphere, and for many, that means going on holiday to warm, tropical locales. And using air conditioning. Lots of it. In fact, in some tropical places, nearly 80% of energy use in a hotel room is for air conditioning. 1200 to 2000 watts on average.

Evening Breeze is an interesting solution: It’s a canopy bed that has adjustments for both temperature and humidity, and delivers it quietly, overhead, using only 400 watts. As it’s focused just on the place where coolness is desired, there’s no need to try and cool the whole room. Simple, brilliant. The resulting energy savings can mean 4MWh, $1000 and 2.5 tons of CO2 reduction annually.

Global Warming Could Quicken the Spread of Disease

Meg Hamill — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:51:48 +0000

Climate change could make it easier for some “deadly” diseases to be transmitted from animals to humans.

Global Warming is not just about melting ice caps and rising temperatures. Scientists continue to discover new ways in which the “butterfly effect” of global warming could transform life on Earth as we know it. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) released a report on October 7th, naming 12 deadly human-wildlife diseases that could spread into new regions as a result of climate change.

The report, entitled The Deadly Dozen: Wildlife Diseases in the Age of Climate Change, was released at the IUCN Conservation Congress being held this week in Barcelona, Spain. The report illustrates examples of how certain disease could spread as a result of rising temperatures and precipitation levels.

“We’ve seen Lyme disease work its way up from the US into Canada, and West Nile fever as well,” said William Karesh, director of WCS’s global health programs. “Basically what you have now are fewer frozen nights in this region, and that allows the ticks and mosquitoes that carry these diseases to survive further north.”

Did Mosquitoes Off The Dinosaurs?

Max Lindberg — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:56:03 +0000

Forget the meteor that slammed into the earth, or massive volcanic eruptions that may have led to extinction of dinosaurs. Here’s a new theory: mosquitoes may have done the deed, or at least contributed to the wipe-out.

Tip o’ the Day: Keep Mosquitos Away

Amy Stodghill — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:35:53 +0000

Don't let mosquitos get in the way of your summer outdoor fun. Here are a few tips on keeping you bite free.

Remove standing water sources. This is prime mosquito breeding ground. Dump water from anything in your yard or outdoor area that is collecting it. For things you'd like to keep water in (birdbaths, wading pools, pet water bowls) change it often.

Turn on a fan. Mosquitos prefer still air. A nice breeze will deter them and keep you cool.

Plan accordingly. Mosquitos are most active in the early morning and early evening, so if you can, plan around these times or take extra precautions if you know you'll be out and about.

Wear long sleeves. When you cover up there's less exposed skin for the little blood suckers to feast on.

Use essential oil based bug sprays. Most bug sprays contain DEET. Even though it works wonders at keeping folks bite free the active ingredient (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is a chemical that absorbs into the skin and could cause reactions such as rash or skin irritation (long term harful effects have yet to be conclusively proven at this time). If you go this route, don't over do it and keep away from eyes or mouth.

There are many natural sprays available at Whole Foods and health food stores that can repel mosquitos without harsh chemicals. You can even mix some up yourself. In a spray bottle use 4 oz of water and ten drops of essential oil such as cedarwood, eucalyptus, lavender, thyme, thai lemongrass, rosemary or catnip (yes catnip oil, it is said to be very effective). Neem oil, a natural vegetable oil from the Neem tree in India, is also said to work as a natural mosquito repellent. You can also add a little vegetable oil to the mix.

Mosquitos are also carriers of diseases such as malaria, west nile virus and dengue fever, which aren't as common in the United States and Western Europe as in other parts of the world, but there is still a risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has additional information on international travel and further tips on vector borne disease prevention (ie. mosquitos).

Amy says: I've been a mosquito magnet for as long as I can remember and have used my fair share of DEET over the years. This summer I think I'll try out some of these natural sprays to see how they work.

Products to try:
Burt's Bees

More info:

Care 2 Living

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