Knowing the natural means to repel insects means that you do not necessarily need a can of DEETS to keep the battalions of bugs away when you hit the wild. Let them come; your natural army is aching to repel.
5 Natural Means To Repel Insects
Except you are an entomologist (and in the field), you must loathe being surrounded by insects or bugs, particularly if they sting. We do not deny that these little creatures are crucial to the balance of nature, but there’s a reason they are not domesticated. They can be a great nuisance in outdoor environments, and some are even carriers of diseases.
DEETS or your everyday bug repellant may keep them far from you, but for how long? Your can of DEETS is sure to exhaust someday. Else, you’ll be spending so much on purchases. But what if you’re in the wilderness and can’t even find a store? Well, it doesn’t have to be hell, nor do you have to become an entomologist mandatorily.
Let us look at the several effective natural means to repel insects below.
Make Your DIY Repellant
Before you hit the wild, either for camping or because SHTF, have your self-made bug repellant in your kit. Even if you don’t, endeavor to know the process for making one. You’ll need it.
True, your DIY insect repellant may not be the most effective in the world, you can keep bugs at bay merely using a blend of essential oils and ordinary household items. You can easily find these products on a trip to the local store or even order online. They will barely be expensive, so you can make as much as you’d like to.
The ingredients required for making your DIY bug repellant are:
- A spray bottle
- 1 pint of water
- 1 pint of distilled white vinegar
- 25 drops, lavender essential oil
- 25 drops, tea tree oil
The production process is straightforward, as well. Just mix and shake every item in the spray bottle, and you are done. To use, spritz on your skin, gear, and clothing. And as they are affordable, you may even choose to make enough for your bathing waters. I mean, it doesn’t hurt.
Check For Ticks Regularly
Ticks are more distasteful to our dogs than they are to us. You probably know that, don’t you? You’ve probably taken your canine buddy to the vet this year for tick nuisances, haven’t you? We are home to about 90 of the world’s 900 species of ticks, so you see why these troublemaking arachnids are available in virtually every region in America.
Sadly, these ticks do not only get in our face and make us inconvenient. They have (and gladly wield) the power to infect people, making them a real nuisance for outdoor lovers. Ticks are gleeful transmitters of diseases, and remember that you haven’t built a clinic in the wilderness yet, have you? Common diseases carried by ticks include anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan disease, RMSF—Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, STARI—Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness & Tularemia.
To check for ticks, put on brightly colored clothing as they attract them. So, you’ll have a field day checking for ticks on you throughout the day. As soon as the tick is embedded, remove it instantly using a pair of tweezers if available. In fact, pull your skin if need be; just ensure that you get the tick out.
Keep Your Gear Appropriately
Most preppers leave their boots out over the night due to the odors they may give off, and while this is understandable, it is a breeding aid to bugs and insects.
Your clothes, bag, or boots are considered “fine new homes” by scorpions, spiders, ticks, and other insects, particularly if they are left undisturbed for a long while. Then, when you put your clothing on, the insect is threatened and instantly notifies you of his presence through a sting or bite, which may be mildly or extremely venomous.
Scorpions are an instance. There are about a thousand known species of scorpions, out of which only 25 carry venom. Out of these 25, only one is in the US, and that is the Arizona Bark Scorpion, with fortunately a low-spectrum range of venom. Still, this doesn’t mean that the sting won’t cause some pain and even fatal consequences, especially in babies. So, what to do is to keep your gear as you should. Do not leave garments out over the night or hang your wears on a tree. Keep your backpack closed and safely keep gear not in use.
Use Wild Plants As A Repellent
According to the environment, there may be several plants containing bug-repelling compounds around you. It is up to you to identify and use them. These plants may be native or imported; it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re sure of the leaf you’re rubbing on your skin. You can always use a wild plant guidebook to be on the safer side.
Common wild plants that help to repel bugs or insects include paw-paw (Asimina triloba), Catnip (Nepeta cataria), and Pineapple weed (Matricaria matricarioides).
It is vital to be sure of these plants before using them on your skin. Some wild crops can cause severe damage to your skin.
Come With The Net
The net isn’t expensive, and it doesn’t have to be pretty either. It may, however, keep you sane and safe, as well as protected from the scourge of diseases. Netted headwear & mesh bug suits are highly useful when the bugs are unrelenting. They are, in fact, more effective than putting on several layers of clothing.
Keep your netted headwear tightly wound when worn. You surely don’t want a couple of hugs flying inside your headwear. Cover every exposed part of the body with your bug net, because disregarded bites may eventually lead to diseases. Mosquitoes alone are devastating wreckers of havoc. Malaria, encephalitis, yellow fever, and Zika are mere examples of what they have in offer.
Takeaways From The Natural Means To Repel Insects
Without knowing the natural means to repel insects, your outdoor adventure may be disastrous, especially in a region with many ticks. There are several other bugs and insects to watch out for as well. Falling victim to any of them is surely unadvisable but avoidable. Thankfully, there are natural, affordable methods to do so.