Mosquitos can make an enjoyable evening outside quickly become an uncomfortable event. Yes, you can grab citronella candles for mosquito prevention, but they don’t always work. However, there are other ways you can prevent mosquitos.
When left unchecked, mosquitos are more than a flying nuisance. They’re disease vectors and something you don’t want buzzing around. But if you prevent mosquitos from biting in the first place, you can work to mitigate risk. This includes both indoor and outdoor mosquito-prevention methods.
If you still have issues with mosquitos, you may want to
contact a professional pest control technician in Sparta, NJ.
How to Prevent Mosquitos in Your Home
You should work to prevent mosquitos inside and outside of your home. For example, if you open windows during mosquito season, be sure that your fly screens are free from holes, rips, or snags. This is true for fly screens on doors, vents, and chimneys. Use coarse mesh to keep tiny insects out.
Unfortunately, mosquitos don’t necessarily have a “season,” so it’s important to be mindful of them whenever possible, but you’ll commonly see them from April to October.
Keep doors closed, including garage doors, when possible, using air conditioning if possible.
Keep Mosquitos Out of Your Yard and Garden
If you have a garden, work to keep mosquitos out, avoiding bites while gardening. If you have standing water in your yard or garden, clean it up. This includes old tires, pots, and containers.
Put covers on wheelbarrows (or overturn them if not in use). The same goes for trailers, tools, boats, and children’s toys.
Keep your gutters clean and any drains on your property and make sure water is able to freely run through.
If you have any leaking taps or spigots, make repairs. If you have bird baths on your property, change water weekly if not more often (especially when it’s warm out).
Add sand around the base of any potted plants to absorb water. Maintain swimming pools and keep them tightly covered when not being used. If your pool is empty, securely cover it to keep water out.
Clean fish ponds and limit vegetation around its border. Keep your lawn mowed and tidy, working to prevent mosquitos.
How to Prevent Mosquito Bites
Mosquito bite prevention starts with using a safe, non-toxic insect repellent. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions before use.
Remember that “natural” does not mean non-toxic — ensure that all ingredients are safe for use on children before use. If you’re unsure, ask your child’s pediatrician. Wear loose-fitting clothing that covers arms and legs, weather permitting. If babies are in strollers, consider using mosquito netting, following safety guidelines.
When using insect repellent on children, never use anything that contains para-menthane-diol (PMD) or oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) on children under 3 years old. Even then, ask your child’s pediatrician if these ingredients are safe for older children and what other alternatives are available.
Never apply insect repellent to a child’s mouth, eyes, hands, irritated skin, or cuts. When applying insect repellent to a child’s face, adults should apply it onto their hands and then onto a child’s face.
Do Mosquitos Carry Disease?
Yes. Mosquitos carry diseases that affect humans and animals. But
what diseases do mosquitos carry specifically?
For starters, mosquitos carry West Nile Virus (WNV). They also carry Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). This viral infection, although rare, is a very serious disease.
Mosquitos also carry dog heartworm disease. Ask your veterinarian about preventative medicine to keep your pets safe.
Prevent Mosquitos Today
To prevent mosquitos, ensure any screens in your home are free from holes and, if possible, keep windows and doors shut and use the air conditioning. When outside, keep your yard tidy and remove standing water to prevent mosquitos.
If you still have an issue with this stinging insect, Serene Property Services can help. We offer pest control solutions for Sussex County, NJ, and Warwick, NY.
Contact us today.
