Reader E-mail - Product Recommendation

Dear lila,
I recently read one of the About guide's [article] to natural insect repellents, and I think it could use some more alternatives. We use the Quantum Buzz Away and it is quite effective; the fragrance isn't bad, either. It seems that a lot of the lemon and citrus scents (like lemon balm) may also have a repellent effect. And finally, catnip oil is supposed to help. Maybe that's why I bought two more catmint plants this year, and put them in the back yard. The bees and butterflies certainly like them. There is also supposed to be a new German mosquito zapper that won an award. It may use carbon dioxide, and it vacuums up the curious mosquitoes. If I find the brand of zapper, I will let you know. Thanks for all the useful information, and have a great summer. Who knows what science (and nature) will come up with next! - Brent Bielema

Dear Brent,
Thanks for your email. Both Cathy Wong, Alternative Medicine Guide, and Juli Kight, Herbs For Health Guide have written articles about insect repellants. Their articles are Do Herbal Insect Repellents Measure Up? and I am a Mosquito Magnet. I'll let them both know you wrote to me. Also, there is an intersting article on the history of the bug zapper you might enjoy.
Blessings,
lila