Mosquitoes are one of the few things that most people have no sympathy for. Not only are they capable of ruining a night out, but it is also responsible for the transmission of various diseases that cause the death of more than one million people every year. The need to eliminate them from our daily lives in a simple manner has never been more important. In the following page, we will discuss three easy steps to extinguish these undesirable insects from your life.
Step 1: Remove and reduce breeding areas Mosquitoes breed in any amount of water, even in small puddles. Thus, ensuring that water is eliminated will reduce the possibility of reproduction. Start by walking around your yard and flipping over or removing old buckets, containers, or any other objects that may contain water (old toys, overturned trash can lids, empty beverage containers, etc). Keeping the gutters clean and dredging ditches of water can make large differences in the mosquito population.
If holding water is intentional and cannot be avoided, such as in bird baths, livestock water troughs, and the bottoms of plant holders, try to replace the water twice a week. Alternatively, there exist products that can be sprinkled in standing water to eliminate larvae. Be aware that these products will not kill adult mosquitoes or harm any other wildlife that may consume or come in contact with them. Herbs and shrubs should be cut during the summer months and the leaves raked regularly.
Step 2: Protect your home and yard Make sure to install screens on windows and doors properly to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home. Bug light zappers can eradicate occasional mosquitoes individually that get past the screens. Sometimes, despite best efforts to eliminate breeding areas, mosquitoes will still thrive and multiply. This applies to areas that are too large for containment: farms, fields, lakes, and more.
Step 3: Protect Yourself The last step to avoid mosquito bites is to protect yourself with insect repellent. The most effective products are those containing DEET, but these materials have been shown to have harmful effects on animals and humans. Many other products contain organic ingredients that are still very effective. There is no single cure for mosquito control, but with the overall reduction of right breeding sources, the use of mosquito traps, and mosquito repellent your family can enjoy the outdoors once again.
