The Ultimate Mosquito Control Tips

Summertime brings lots of fun and outdoor activities. Unfortunately, along with outdoor activities comes the threat of mosquitoes. Mosquito control is more important today than it's ever been since we know the potential for mosquitoes to carry such serious diseases as the West Nile Virus.



What is the best way to prevent mosquito bites?

One of the most important ways to prevent mosquitoes around your home is to eliminate any stagnant sources of water. Mosquitoes live and breed in murky waters. If you have a bird bath or pond, change the water every few days. Never leave open pans of water outside for any period of time. Mosquitoes require very little water to flourish and successfully breed.

Look around your yard for open water containers such as flower pots and water cans. Empty them, dry them thoroughly, and turn them upside down. Do you have a swimming pool in your yard? Keep it scrupulously clean. Don't forget about cleaning water from wading pools. Make sure they're clean and dry when not in use. Preventing stagnant water is the most important thing you can do for mosquito control.

By eliminating water, you make it difficult for the pesky mosquito to lay eggs that will eventually develop into lots of little mosquitoes that can make your life miserable.



How can you protect yourself against mosquito bites?

1. When you're outside, wear loose long, sleeved clothing and long pants to keep your skin from being exposed.

2. Mosquitoes are most active at night. Try to limit your evening outdoor activities during mosquito season.

3. There are numerous reports that Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil mixed with equal amounts of rubbing alcohol makes an effective mosquito repellent. Unfortunately, the repellent effect has been shown to be rather short acting, lasting less than 10 minutes before reapplication is necessary.

4. The most effective mosquito repellent, according to a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine in 2002, is DEET. A particular repellent called Off! DEEP Woods Repellent containing about 1/4 DEET performed the best, protecting against mosquitoes for up to 5 hours. Unfortunately, there are still questions about the long term safety of DEET, since its classified as a pesticide. Children should never use a product with a DEET concentration higher than 10%.

5. A relatively new type of device on the market is a called Mosquito Deleto. They are essentially traps designed to attract mosquitoes into their interior where they're unable to get out. They seem to be effective at trapping lots of mosquitoes, so this may eventually prove to be an effective means of mosquito control.



What doesn't work for mosquito control?

You've probably heard about the potential of using citronella candles. Don't waste your money. A study showed they were no more effective than regular candles. Other devices that don't work are electronic mosquito repellents, ultrasonic mosquito repellent devices, and mosquito zappers. These would be ideal since they're nontoxic, but, unfortunately, they haven't lived up to their claims.

There's no doubt that mosquito control can be a challenge.By taking a few simple steps, you can almost certainly reduce your risk of mosquito born illness and annoying mosquito bites.


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