I hope these mosquitoes were not released in the wild.
The simple answer would be to add a natural strongly repellent gentle oil to the DEET spray.
The simple answer would be to add a natural strongly repellent gentle oil to the DEET spray.
They already loved that shit.
[1] https://www.consumerreports.org/health/insect-repellent/oil-...
DEET is so effective because its effects last a long time. In my experience it basically lasts until I wash or go for a swim, so for as long as it's on my skin. Granted, since I normally use it in the summer months when I'm likely to swim daily it doesn't last more than a day in practice, but that's already far longer than any of the plant-based ones I've tried.
But I now tend to go without bug spray even though I live in Florida. Since I started eating strict carnivore mosquito bites no longer itch, which was unexpected but super helpful. I think because I'm not eating histamines. Mosquitoes are still annoying, but at least they don't itch.
Also, when we go camping it's usually in February, and I never have to use any spray at all then. Can sit outside for hours and hours.
I’m not saying you have to use it; it’s good news for people who have concerns about other chemicals. It works—less effectively, but it works.
“Repellants containing (..) oil of lemon eucalyptus have also been found to be effective.”[1]
[1] Iowa Department of Health, “Controlling Spread of West Nile Virus“ https://hhs.iowa.gov/health-prevention/providers-professiona...
⤷ The Responsibilities of a Free Mind: Cultivating Intellectual Independence
I think the theory is that each post identifies with a certain topic, e.g. DEET, which identifies with a cultish subset of users surrounding that topic. There is no broad academic curiosity among the cult's members, and they suppress all competing topics as to them they represent other cults.
Mosquitoes attracted to DEET will die because of the insecticide. Usually, for personal protection, we tend to prefer repellents, as we don't want to get bitten, killing the mosquito after the fact is not very useful. But here, the idea is to put some evolutionary pressure against mosquitoes not repelled by DEET.
There are also repellants other than DEET. Icaridin being the best alternative. It is almost as effective as DEET without many of its drawbacks. Some essential oils too, as you said, but I don't think any of them have the effectiveness of icaridin or DEET.
Until, of course, they learn to like the replacement oil. At which point, break back out the DEET!
Go ahead, hose yourself down with Lemon oil, citronella, oil, or lemon eucalyptus oil. They simply do not work.
Also, the oils in question work reasonably for bug control, just for a lesser duration, requiring more routine reapplication. When you say they do not work, that's true only for the gap between how long the oils work versus how long ≥35% DEET works. And the concentration matters acutely for both.