Fight the West Nile Virus: OK, mosquitoes... prepare to be repelled!

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, noseeums and gnats. It does not work on stinging insects. He hasn't had a mosquito bite in 33 years. Try it. Every one he has talked into trying it says 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 repellent you can use is Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil mixed about half and half with alcohol.

Mix your own repellent: 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.

One of the best natural insect repellents 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.