Nothing can take the fun away from your evening barbecue outdoors like a bunch of annoying mosquitoes. In addition to the mosquito bite, mosquitoes are known for transmitting diseases as well. You can help in keeping the mosquito in control by limiting their habitat on your property and avoiding the bites by repellents and barriers. Knowing how to control mosquitoes can be a little tough but it is not impossible.
Steps:
Control breeding habitat
- Start eliminating water sources, by keeping the next generations of mosquitoes from taking their residence in your surroundings. Drill holes at the base and not on the sides of a recycling or garbage container, which is stored outdoors. If the holes are on the side of the container, they will let the water store at the base and it will increase mosquitoes’ breeding.
- Keep all the gutters unclogged and clean. Make sure that your downspouts are cleaned properly, without leaving any puddles in the drain area. You will have to reroute your downspouts or you can add some extensions for carrying the water away.
- If you have a swimming pool in your house, then you must always keep it clean and chlorinated even when you are not using it. If you go away on vacation without properly chlorinating the pool, you will return to a mosquito hatchery.
- After the rains, walk out on your property and look around the landscape, to locate any drainage problems. If you notice any puddles, which are there for four or more days, then you must regrade the area.
- Remember that ornamental ponds should be aerated for keeping the water moving and discourage all the mosquitos from laying eggs in your ponds. Another thing you can do to keep them away is to hire a mosquito-eating fish.
- Dump away anything, which tends to hold water after every rain. Non-chlorinating pools, birdbaths, footbaths, pottery and garbage can lids can attract breeding mosquitos. Always remember that you must empty saucers, which are kept under the flowerpots, and never leave the pet bowls for more than two days. Ensure that your property is clean of stagnant water.
Avoid exposure to mosquitoes
- Make your window and door screens of 16-18 mesh, which can fit in a snugly manner, without any gaps around the edges. Make sure that you check the screens for holes and replace or repair them if required.
- You will have to replace your outdoor light with yellow bug lights. These lights are known for repelling insects, but mosquitoes and other kinds of pets will find it less attractive and will not wander in your yard.
- When you are outdoors, you must apply a DEET-based insect repellent, as per the directions that are mentioned on the label. You will have to reapply this repellent after every 3-4 hours.
- You must treat clothing, screen houses and sunshades with a product of permithrin bas, like Permanone. Permethrin will repel all the mosquitoes and ticks, and will last longer on your clothing even after several washes.
- There are some insecticides available commercially, which are used by the homeowner for mosquito control. You can look for chemicals with EPA- approved products, which are effective for the adult and larval mosquitoes. Just apply a light spray around the building foundations, grasses and shrubs. This will keep the adult mosquitoes away from resting in this area.
- You can also use some other repellent products like mosquito coils or citronella candles. These products are useful when used in windless conditions. There have been some concerns about the mosquito coil, and the chemicals in that coil causing breathing problems, but you can still use it.
Things that will not work for controlling mosquitoes
- Bug zappers: This product gives you a satisfying sizzle that you hear from this new insect torture, but do not expect much relief from all the mosquitoes with this device.
- Citrosa plants: Citronella oil has been proved to be the most effective mosquito repellent, but the genetically modified plants are of no use. In fact, you will notice that mosquitoes land on the citrosa plant leaves the most.
- Bats and purple martins: Purple martins and bats are known for consuming mosquitoes, but these small insects are a small percentage of their daily intake. Do not give habitat to bats or purple martins for getting rid of the mosquitoes.
- Always remember that the electronic devices used for transmitting sounds for attracting the male mosquitoes never work. All claims made by the distributors are proved fraud.
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