Mosquitoes are at the top of the list of most annoying and incessant pests of all time. They swarm your bare legs and arms, trying to land wherever they are not noticed. Preventing mosquitoes from taking over your yard is important if you want to step outside this summer without instantly becoming mosquito food.
Natural Repellents and Prevention
Discouraging mosquitoes from entering your yard is the best way to stop a problem before it gets started. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in shallow, calm water. Never let standing water remain on your property for even one day. Inspecting your property of any places that hold water and promptly turning over any containers that may fill up with water from rain or sprinklers can help keep mosquitoes from breeding in your yard.
Planting mosquito repelling plants around your house and patio can prevent your yard from becoming a popular hangout for these blood suckers. Plants like basil, lemon grass, lavender, marigolds, and geraniums can naturally repel mosquitoes.
When you plan on being outside for a while, light a citronella candle to repel those little pests and allow you to enjoy your outdoor space without having to deal with mosquitoes. Also, keep an outdoor fan going if you are on the porch or patio to create a breeze. Mosquitoes can’t fly well in the wind and a fan will at least keep these little flyers away from you when you are outside.
Another way to prevent mosquitoes from biting is to apply a personal repellant. This can come in the form of a repellant spray. Some people do not like the feeling or irritation that a direct contact spray has on their skin. Others can bathe and shower using a mosquito repelling soap with natural properties that keep those pesking blood suckers from biting.
Risks
Mosquitoes may seem like tiny creatures but the effects of getting a disease from a mosquito bite is not a small problem. According to the CDC, out of the 200 US mosquito species, only 12 spread disease. Although malaria has been on the list of US diseases spread by mosquitoes, today, most cases reported in the US come from people who have recently returned from traveling abroad. Diseases in the US spread by mosquitoes included:
- West Nile
- Dengue
- Chikungunya
- Zika
Call a professional
Mosquitoes are not the kind of pest you want buzzing around your home or your family. They can use wet spots in your yard for laying eggs, including at the foot of some of your favorite flowering plants. Male mosquitoes eat nectar from flowers while the females are the ones torturing your family with bites. The entire lifecycle of a mosquito can be just two weeks long but they can get a lot of biting in before they die.
Don’t take the risk of getting an infected bite from scratching or even a disease. Call a professional pest control company to eliminate mosquitoes from your yard so you and your family can enjoy being outside once again. For Passaic County residents, give Abarb Pest Services a call today.
