Does Citronella Repel Flies? (All You Need to Know) (2024)

Is citronella useful for repelling flies? If so, is it effective? We will explore these questions and more in our exploration of citronella’s fly-repelling properties. We will also examine citronella oil’s effectiveness and find out which flies it is most effective against.

Does citronella repel flies?

Citronella repels almost all types of insects. Generally, fly repellents with a single active ingredient (such as DEET) work by producing an unpleasant odor or taste. Citronella contains compounds that produce the same effect, but they are bothered by the smell of citronella itself.

Additionally, citronella candles are known to keep flies away for up to four hours. Light a citronella candle and the smell will repel flies, stopping them in their tracks.

Fruit flies:

Research suggests citronella is effective at repelling fruit flies, but the results are still inconclusive.

Citronella has been shown to terminate a variety of fruit fly species, including Drosophila melanogaster and Musca domestica, in preliminary laboratory studies.

Crane flies:

Citronella candles repel crane flies. Citronellal, the main ingredient in citronella candles, has been shown to repel some species of mosquitoes, including crane flies.

According to a University of Texas study, citronella can repel both adult mosquitoes (Aedes Aegypti) and larval mosquitoes from humans when used outdoors.

Horse flies:

Citronella is very effective at repelling horse flies. Citronella oil repels horse flies as well as other biting insects due to its pheromones.

Additionally, the oil repels other microbial pests such as mosquitoes, fleas, and lice.

Black flies:

Citronella oil repels black flies effectively. Citronella was found to increase black fly larval mortality rates significantly when applied to black fly larvae by the University of Kentucky.

Additionally, mosquitoes and aphids were shown to be effectively controlled by the oil compounds.

Yellow flies:

yellow fly larvae were effectively repelled by citronella in a study conducted by the U.S. Army.

In addition to mosquitoes and black flies, the oil was effective against other biting insects. The study did not test citronella’s effectiveness against yellow fly adults.

Sand flies:

Additionally, citronella repels sand flies. Citronella is an excellent natural fly repellent because of its repellent properties against other biting flies.

Furthermore, citronella has antifungal properties that can help control fungal infections such as athlete’s foot.

Deer flies:

Deer flies are a common nuisance in warm weather areas, and Citronella oil works well to repel them.

Almost 100% of the essential oil is effective against deer fly larvae, so a little goes a long way. Aphids and mosquitoes have also been found to be effectively controlled by these oils compounds.

Do citronella oil candles and plants repel flies?

Candles and plants infused with citronella oil repel flies. Because Citronella oil has a strong odor that is offensive to mosquitoes and other flying insects, it is often used to repel them.

Depending on the plant, its leaves can be used as natural mosquito repellents by producing oils that repel these pests from biting them. Eucalyptus oil candles and plants are also sometimes used to repel flies by some people.

The citronella oil in candles repels flies. A candle infused with citronella oil emits an odor that is both strong and unpleasant and that mosquitoes find offensive.

It is also important to mention that the plants in these arrangements act as natural mosquito repellents in the sense that they produce oils that repel these pests from the area.

Furthermore, Citronella plants repel flies as well. It is the strong scent of citronella oil that mosquitoes and other flying insects find offensive, which is why they avoid it.

As a result, the plant is an excellent choice for being used as a natural fly repellent due to its properties.

In addition, citronella possesses antifungal properties due to the compounds found in its essential oils, which can help control fungal infections such as athlete’s foot.

5 reasons why citronella repels flies:

Many home and garden products that repel flies contain citronella as an ingredient. The citronella oil contains a compound called geraniol, which terminates or inhibits insects.

It has this property that makes it an effective fly repellent. Citronella repels flies for the following reasons:

Aromas of masks:

The smell of citronella oil may be an effective fly repellent for some people since it masks any smells that may attract flies. Keeping fly populations at bay can be achieved by masking the scent of other attractants, such as rotting food or garbage.

A strong scent:

The citronella oil’s strong odor makes it useful for repelling flies in addition to its effectiveness as a fly repellent.

A lot of flying insects, including mosquitoes, will not land and seek out your food or drink if they find the smell unpleasant, which may prevent them from landing at all.

Natural properties:

Among the things that make citronella oil so effective at repelling flies is its natural properties.

As many of the plant’s components have insect-terminating properties, it is a useful product for controlling fly populations in general.

Odor:

Those who are trying to avoid attracting fly populations may find citronella oil to be an unpleasant option due to its strong odor.

A combination of citronella oil and other repellents may be helpful if you’re looking for both effective and pleasant results.

A bitter taste:

Citronella oil has a bitter flavor, which makes it an effective repellent for some people. The bitterness of your food or drinks may deter flies from landing on your food or drinks and seeking them out.

How to use citronella to repel flies?

There are a few reasons to use citronella as a repellent against flies. Most likely, it would be to mask any attractive smells or to provide some degree of protection from fly populations. There are a few rules to follow when using citronella as a repellent:

Make use of natural ingredients:

The natural ingredients in citronella oil are effective in repelling flies as they are natural products. When using citronella oil as a repellent against flies, it’s important to use only high-quality products containing this ingredient.

Use a diffuser:

Citronella oil works well as a repellent against flies when diffused. Fly populations will be deterred from landing as the odor will disseminate throughout your environment. It is important to diffuse citronella oil if you want to use it as a repellent against flies.

Applying sprays:

The sprays that contain citronella oil can also be used to get rid of flies from surfaces where they are a problem.

For example, you can use it to keep your house clean and free of bugs. Remember that citronella oil can be used in many ways as a repellent against flies.

Using water and citronella oil:

A great way to repel flies is to mix citronella oil with water if you are interested in using it as a repellent against flies. By doing this, you will be able to create an effective spray that can be used in areas where there are flies that are a problem.

Citronella candles:

Citronella candles are also a great way to repel flies if you want to protect yourself from them. Let the candle burn until it goes out, and then simply light it, and let it burn until it goes out. A citronella plant’s aroma will scare off many flies because of its smell

What other insects does citronella repel?

co*ckroaches, bedbugs, mosquitoes, and ticks are other insects that citronella repels.

You should choose a high-quality product and diffuser that will provide the best repellent results for the insects you are trying to control, except if you need to use it on those specific insects.

co*ckroaches:

The oil of citronella is very effective in repelling co*ckroaches to a great extent. You should however use a high-quality product and diffuser if you have a lot of these pests living in your home to get the most benefits from the product.

Bedbugs:

Citronella is also effective in repelling bedbugs, which is another insect that citronella repels. Additionally, this oil can be used as an extermination spray on beds and furniture that are hiding these critters to get rid of them.

Mosquitoes:

A common problem in flood-prone areas is the presence of mosquitoes, which can be a real nuisance. Make sure to use high-quality citronella oil-based repellent sprays and diffusers around your home if you intend to use repellent sprays containing citronella oil.

Ticks:

Citronella oil can also help repel ticks if it is applied topically. Mix a small amount of this oil with water and apply it to the exposed areas of the skin to get the maximum level of protection.

For the best results, you should also use a powder that repels ticks in addition to repellent cream.

Ants:

Ants are a common problem, and citronella oil is a great repellent for them. Treat surfaces where these pesky insects are likely to come into contacts with it, such as around your doors and windows, with this oil.

Final Thoughts

Fly repellents such as citronella are very effective. It contains several volatile compounds, one of which is citronellol, which has been demonstrated to be highly effective in repelling flies. Additionally, citronella is effective at repelling co*ckroaches, bedbugs, mosquitoes, and ticks.