DIY mosquito repellent candle

It's that time of year where the mosquitos are bigger than most of my backyard birds. We have a worst than normal mosquito problem this year.  1) record breaking amounts of rain.  2) Our walkway has a shade garden planted around it with ferns and hosta which attract the mosquitoes.  3) I have two ponds that I keep...one for the frogs and one for my ducks. So, plenty of nesting sights.

Therefore, the minute anyone opens the door in flies tons of mosquitos. This year my husband talked me into buying a fogger. Of course, it didn't come without much research regarding my beneficial insects and birds. The fogger was successful for a few weeks, UNTIL the monarchs arrived. I had the excruciating decision whether to choose the monarch caterpillars or the mosquitos. My argument, "If it harms the caterpillars, then no way!" He replied (jokingly), " Which is more important...your children's well- being with out suffering the horrid consequences of West Nile, or the monarch caterpillars?" Yes, for a moment I contemplated the decision like a good mother would, then I replied, "But generations of monarchs cocoon here every year!" THE MONARCHS WILL LIVE!!!!!

Hence, this very informative blog on how I eliminated the mosquitoes.  Now, I have both monarchs cocooning and a mosquito free doorway. WIN WIN, right?

my doorway

First, I bought this candle holder from Lowes ($18), my most expensive purchase. I had this idea of hanging it and putting citronella candles in it. However, over the weeks using a candle every day or so, I found this too expensive to keep up. Then I tried these disposable citronella oil candles.

These worked good, so I knew filling this area with the citronella would work,  but each one costs about $2.50 and lasted about 3 days. I didn't think I could keep that cost up through monarch season. Then I found the 3 qt size of the citronella oil ($8.00) and the rest was history.

I took the disposable containers, and yes, the tops don't just screw off like you would think, and I cut the tops off with a pair of scissors. 

Then I got a baby food jar and simply cut a hole in the lid with scissors.  I hot glued the plastic lid from the disposable candle to to the lid of the baby food jar.

It is not pretty, but effective in keeping it from spilling out if it was to fall. I filled the jar with the oil and went out to the garden for some lemongrass. Lemongrass is a perennial grass sometimes called "mosquito grass".  It contains citronella and gives off a strong citrus odor that is offensive to mosquitoes.

I was thinking how people put herbs in oil and how it gives off the odor of the herb. So, I took the grass and clumped it in my fist and put it in the oil. 

Done! When I put it in the candle holder, there were about 3-4 mosquitos flying around. I lit the candle and with in 10 minutes there were none. This morning, I lit the candle when I awoke and counted 5-6 along the wall. It was lit for maybe 10 minutes, NO mosquitos were flying around the door and none for the rest of the day.  Now, I can just refill the bottle when needed.

Well, I hope you try this much "cheaper" way to get rid of mosquitoes. I think I will look for some more of these lanterns (now that summer clearance is going on) and line my walkway with them for both ambiance and necessity. My reward for all this hard work? (not as you would suspect)...children without West Nile, but the sight of one more monarch hatching. Hoping generations of monarchs will come back and thank me for not fogging them!

this guy is starting his cocoon on the ceiling feet away from my lantern

Happy Gardening!

Nicki