In the countryside and cities, the first insects, such as flies, are appearing. A little lemon zest helps keep them away. But will it be true?
When temperatures rise in the house, the first insects appear. Flies begin to appear, followed closely by mosquitoes. An ancient Amalfi tradition recommends using lemon peel to cover windows.
This is a type of lemon with a large appearance and thick skin. Its flavor is not pungent and, in fact, it can be eaten sliced with a little salt or sugar, including the skin. Once carved, it gives off a very pleasant aroma and is used both to flavor coffee and to make limoncello. These lemon peels were placed on windowsills to scent rooms and repel insects. However, the intense fragrance of these lemon peels is not found in ordinary lemons.
Lemon peels against flies and mosquitoes at the window
It is thus believed that the lemony scent of lemon is perceived as undesirable by certain insects, such as mosquitoes or flies, and can therefore act as a natural repellent. At present, there is no scientific guarantee that lemon peels safely repel insects .
Placing lemon peels on the window might make sense to scent the air in the room. In fact, they give off a fresh citrus scent and may help purify the air. However, lemon peels are not able to filter or remove pollutants found in the air of big cities . Additionally, lemon peels can rot and attract insects instead of repelling them, so it’s important to change them often.
If you want to keep insects away, it’s best to use preventative measures. An effective solution is mosquito netting or frequent house cleaning to prevent insects from finding a suitable environment to lay their eggs.
An effective scent against mosquitoes
In addition to lemon peels for flies and mosquitoes, there are several effective natural insect repellents. Examples include essential oils of eucalyptus, lemongrass, peppermint, geranium, and lavender. They can be diffused into the air or applied to the skin.
Some studies support the effectiveness of natural insect repellents. For example, citronella oil is effective as a mosquito repellent, as is the use of lavender products.
However, for citronella candles, often sold as natural mosquito repellents, there is no scientific evidence to actually prove their effectiveness in repelling insects.
It is often a matter of calibrating the oil concentrations in the different products so that the remedy becomes effective against insects.