mosquito/ bug repellant plants

i know not technically repair... but with mosquito (and thus West Nile virus) season upon us I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations of plants that might discourage mosquitos or other bugs around the yard.
we live in brooklyn and are carefull not to leave any standing water in the yard. I'd like to be able to go to the yard and have a young child - last year was terrible though. some days too many bugs to be outside.
other options might be kid friendly candle repellants?
is there another group i should post to?
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I should follow up that I am looking for organic / plant solutions (no DEET) because there are children involved.
If anyone has experience with Thai lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), I've read one web story that endorses it, and whether it grows outside in NYC (Brooklyn) and if I can still plant it now (from seed or full grown?)
Same question for catnip - will it grow in NYC, from plant or seed and starting now?
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YOu can try this for the plants. Some say they work and some say they don't.
http://www.rushindustries.com/rmp2.html?ROITrakid 73
You may also want to post in alt.home. lawn garden
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And rec.garden or is it gardens?
On Mon, 06 Jun 2005 03:06:48 GMT, "Ralph Mowery"

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I've heard that Myrtle trees repell mosquitos. I just read an amazing report for the military that Bounce laundry sheets seem to repell almost all bugs. Even wasp and yellow jackets. The military suggest tying a bounce sheet through their belt loops.
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message

season upon us I am

plants that might

yard.
any standing water in

and have a young child

many bugs to be outside.

repellants?
marigolds
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I work for a county mosquito abatement district in California and thus am exposed to a lot of information about mosquitoes and what kills/repels them. While there may be plants that mosquitoes find objectionable I can say that the numbers in which mosquitoes breed it would be very improbable that any plant would repel all the mosquitoes in the area if there are breeding sources nearby. Some species of mosquitoes will fly great distances to seek out a blood meal so while you may not have any standing water in your yard if the neighbors have buckets/ponds/etc. in their yard then you will get some of their mosquitoes. Also- things like storm drains in the street that may hold water can be huge producers of mosquitoes. Some people have success with citronella candles but my personal experience is that they don't work all that well. If you are opposed to using DEET based repellents then you might try Cutter Advanced which uses picardin as the active ingredient. I don't work for Cutter but have tried this product and have had good success with it. Many breeds of mosquitoes are dusk/dawn biters and rest during the day in cooler/shady/damp places so if you have a lot of vegetation on your property the mosquitoes in the area may chose to use it as their resting place. I would contact the local mosquito abatement agency or health department and ask them about possible assistance that they may provide to eliminate the mosquitoes at the source. We use a biological pesticide (BTI) to treat the majority of the breeding sources in our area. It is toxic specifically to mosquito and black fly larva. Good luck.
Dale
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