House flies and lavender oil

Factual Questions
1

For years, my wife and I have been using lavender oil to keep away flies when we barbecue or otherwise eat outside. We’ve got an pertroleum burning lantern, and we put some lavender oil in with the regular fuel.

It seems to work, though I’ll be the first to admit it might be nothing more than wishful thinking.

This last weekend, we had visitors from out of town, and barbecued and ate outside. Our little lantern was burning merrily,and we had no trouble with flies (maybe just coincidentally.) Afterwards, I started cleaning up and carried all of the dishes in to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, the flies were running wild. All over the dishes and buzzing around and being annoying. On my next trip out, I brought in the lantern. I then went out for more dishes and stuff.

When I came back in a few minutes later, there wasn’t a fly to be seen. Until you looked closer. All of the flies had found a spot to sit down, and not a one was flying, buzzing, or even moving.

I ran and got the fly swatter, and laid waste to the lot of them rather quickly. They would just sit there and wait to be swatted. If I missed (there were a couple in hard to reach spots,) then the fly would take off and then quickly land again - and just sit there waiting again.

Does anyone know if the lavender oil (which I could smell quite strongly in the kitchen) had anything to do with this, or was it perhaps carbon monoxide poisoning from the lantern - or did all of the flies just get full bellies at the same time and take a nap together?

2

Shameless **bump **

3

Dunno Mort. This is the first I have heard of trying such a thing.

4

I’d say no, the lavender oil has nothing to do with it. Why would I say this? Because earlier today I made some drawer sachets with lavender oil and left a bottle open on the kitchen counter. Then, to help get the over-powering smell of lavender out of the kitchen, I opened a window. Many many flies came in and flew around. They are not all gone, yet.

But perhaps the lure of the cat-food dish was stronger than the obstacle of the lavender oil. Between the odor and the bugs, it’s like Six Feet Under in here.

5

geranium bourbon has a stronger effect on flies and mozzies than lavender.
lavander from the latin lavare - to wash, has cleansing properties.
Also skin healing properties.
Is not an insect deterrent, I’m afraid.

try a combination of tea tree oil and geranium bourbon.

good luck.

6

More evidence:
Today at lunch (chicken soup and sanwiches) the flies nearly ate us up.

This afternoon, I barbecued but hat my lavender lamps burning. One outside with me, one in the kitchen.

The flies left us almost completely alone. We had two do a fly by as we were eating, and that was the end of it. No other flies.

On days when I’ve barbecued with out the lamps (out of lamp oil, etc.) the flies damned near carry off the hotdogs.

Any one knwo what is going on here?