mosquitoes
Use Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets...Best thing ever used in
Louisiana.. just wipe on & go...
Great for Babies

Bob, a fisherman, takes one vitamin B-1 tablet a day
April through October . He said it works. He was right.
The odor the tablet gives out through your skin
(YOU can not smell it) repels mosquitoes, black flies,
no seeums, and knats. It does not work on stinging insects.
Hasn't had a mosquito bit in 33 years. Try it.
Every one he has talked into trying it works on them.
Vitamin B-1( Thiamine Hydrochloride 100 mg.)

Ken said NPR reports that if you eat bananas,
the mosquitoes like you, something about the banana oil
as your body processes it. (Maybe they need the potassium too- lol)
Stop eating bananas for the summer and the mosquitoes
will be much less interested.

This is going to floor you, but one of the best
insect repellents someone found (who is in the woods
every day), is Vick's Vaporub.

Plant marigolds around the yard, the flowers give off
a smell that bugs do not like,
so plant some in that garden also to help ward
off bugs without using insecticides.

"Tough guy" Marines who spend a great deal of time
"camping out" say that the very best mosquito
repellant you can use is
Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil mixed about
half and half with alcohol.

mix your own:
20 drops Eucalyptus oil
20 drops Cedar wood oil
10 drops Tea Tree oil
10 drops Geranium oil
2 oz. carrier oil ( such as Jojoba )
Mix together in a 4 oz. container. Apply to skin as
needed avoiding the eye area. Keep out of reach
of children. Test on a small area of skin for sensitivities .
Experiment with different percentages of essential oil

from Sharon:
One of the best natural insect repellants that I've discovered
is made from the clear real vanilla (not the grocery store
vanilla extract which is mostly alcohol). This is the pure
vanilla that is sold in Mexico. It's cheap there if you know
of someone that lives there or in the US close to the border.
If not, health food stores usually carry it or can order it
for you. I use it half vanilla and half water and find
that it works great for mosquitoes and ticks,
don't know about other insects.
when all else fails--get a frog