I’m a pest control pro & I swear by a £1.99 buy to banish flies & mosquitoes from your home – they can’t stand the smell
IF you are fed up with flies and mosquitoes invading your home, then fear not, you’ve come to the right place.
For many, summer is a time when most people want to relax in the sun and enjoy the warm weather – but there’s nothing worse than having to deal with pests buzzing around and getting in your face.
In particular, flies and mosquitoes are very common in the summer months, as it is the ideal temperature for them to breed.
Not only this, but during this season, there are fewer food sources available, meaning they are more likely to go into homes in search of something to eat.
And if you don’t want these insects flying around your kitchen and landing on your dinner, then don’t worry, we’ve got just the thing for you.
It turns out that certain houseplants can keep away flies and mosquitoes – and one will cost you just £1.99.
Adriana Camilleri, a pest control expert from Hoselink, has shared that using plants to deter flies and mosquitoes is not only effective, but an environmentally and safe way to prevent bugs from coming into your home.
She said: “When controlling these pests, it’s important to understand why they hang around.
“They’re not purposely trying to pester us, but are merely going about their natural activity.
“Knowing the plants these insects dislike is valuable knowledge we can use to help keep them at bay.”
Lavender
According to Adriana, whilst many humans love the scent of Lavender, for bugs, it’s a totally different story.
The pest control expert revealed that the beautiful purple flower, known for its highly fragrant scent, is highly irritating to flies and mosquitoes.
Adriana explained: “Lavender has a calming effect that humans have loved for centuries, however, the opposite can be said for insects.
“We advise, to gain the most out of Lavenders’ potential, to plant it in very sunny areas near your garden entrance or front door to reduce the number of bugs that could find their way inside.”
This pretty plant contains oils linalool and linalyl acetate, which interfere with an insect’s sensory perception.
Common garden pests
Common pests in the garden don’t need to be a cause for alarm. If you can identify them, you can work on getting rid of them and preventing them from returning.
Aphids (Greenfly, Blackfly)
Aphids are extremely common and can impact plant growth. They have tiny soft pear-shaped bodies, and are usually green or black. You may spot them clustered on the stem of soft shoots – look under leaves in particular – or may find a sticky substance on your plants that gives away aphids have been there sucking at the sap.
Whitefly
These small white-winged insects are related to aphids, at just 1 or 2 mm in length, and look very much like white moths as adults. They can be found on the underside of leaves, preferring younger, fresher leaves. They fly in clusters when you disturb them. Their lifecycle is only three weeks long, which means an infestation can occur very rapidly.
Slugs
An unmissable, squashy-looking body plus small sensory tentacles on its head. Slugs move along on one muscular foot. They range in scale from surprisingly small to terrifyingly large; limax cinereoniger species can grow comfortably beyond 20 cm in length.
Cabbage Moth Caterpillar
Cabbage moth caterpillars happily make their way into the heart of the vegetables, The caterpillars are distinguished in shades of yellow or browny green with no hair.
Mealy Bug
Mealybugs are tiny oval-shaped insects that have a white, powdery wax coating. There are several different species, many of which have what looks like legs coming from their sides and back end. In their earliest stage of life, it’s entirely possible to mistake them for fungus and not recognise them as insects at all.
As a result, Lavender is best placed near entry points such as windows or doors to keep pests away or planted near a doorway or underneath a window in a garden.
If you haven’t got a Lavender plant and are looking for one that won’t break the bank, you can nab one from Dobies, for just £1.99.
Marigolds
Not only will Lavender do the trick, but Marigolds are bright flowers which are also a natural insect repellent.
These beautiful flowers contain a compound called pyrethrum which affects the nervous system of flies and mosquitos, and will even kill them if they get too close.
Adriana advised: “Easy to grow in sunny locations, the Marigold has a scent that deters flies.
Tips for keeping pests from your garden
- Plant companion plants such as peppermint to repel rats.
- Place Garden Netting Pest Barrier, over your flowerbeds.
- Fill open-top containers with beer and place in soil to repel slugs.
- Spray plants with Neem Oil, to repel ants, flies, and spiders.
- Dust your flowerbeds with Diatomaceous Earth.
- Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap, 10 drops peppermint oil, and 4 cups water and spray on flowerbeds.
- Place eggshells around your plants to protect from slugs and snails.
“Gardeners have been known to plant Marigolds amongst crops and other foliage to prevent insects from eating them but also because of the plant’s unique properties to spur on growth.”
Marigolds are generally considered safe to have around cats or dogs but pet owners should know that these flowers are mildly toxic if ingested and can cause vomiting or diarrhoea so are best kept out of reach of your furry friends.
Lemongrass
And if that wasn’t enough, Adriana revealed that Lemongrass will also keep bugs away from your home this summer.
Keep pests out all summer
IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know.
Hornets and wasps – hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay.
Moths – acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent.
Flying ants – herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents.
Mosquitoes – plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
According to the pest pro, Lemongrass is perfect to deter insects as it contains a high concentration of citronella, one of the strongest compounds known to deter mosquitos.
Adriana shared: “This fragrant plant contains citronella oil, which is a popular ingredient in outdoor candles and most insect repellents due to its bug-deterring qualities.”
Citronella interferes with a mosquito’s ability to detect humans to bite and its pleasant scent will also keep flies away.
It is best planted in outdoor seating areas and near a patio but if kept as a houseplant, it is recommended to be kept next to a window to prevent mosquitoes from coming in.
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