The early days of Spring bring joy to so many of us. It marks the end of cold weather while promising longer days and blooming flowers. With the chance to go outside and shake off the winter blues fast approaching, something far worse than a sunburn is too: the mosquito.
Common Effects from Mosquito Bites:
While most people find mosquito bites a simple, itchy nuisance, they come with dozens of dangers to your health such as:
- Disease: Mosquitoes can spread diseases such as Dengue Fever, West Nile Virus, Zika Virus, etc. The mosquito is one of the deadliest insects on the planet, causing more than 700,000 deaths worldwide every year. The smallest bite has potentially disastrous side effects.
- Infection: Whenever a bite itches, the natural response we have is to scratch. It’s an urge only the strongest of us can resist. When you scratch a mosquito bite, you can break open the top layer of skin. This can easily lead to an infected wound that’s more difficult to treat.
- Allergic Reaction: Scratching is caused by an allergic reaction to the mosquito’s saliva. For an unlucky few it’s far more severe, leading to massive welts/lesions, skin discoloration, necrosis, and even anaphylaxis.
It is natural to want to protect you and your loved ones with any mosquito prevention method out there. There are many different DIY prevention tips out there; we’ve cycled through the ones that work – and the ones that don’t!
The Dont’s of Mosquito Prevention:
Commercially available and DIY options are most consumers’ go-to first line of prevention. While these may be sold and labeled as effective, these options do not work in the long run:
- Citronella Candles: While the citronella scent can repel mosquitos, they lose their efficiency the further you are from them. These candles lose their potency as well and need to be replaced often.
- Coffee Grounds: Many people want to find a way to get rid of mosquitoes naturally. Sprinkling coffee grounds outside can help prevent mosquitoes from breeding; caffeine is a natural poison, and as such can make water more inhospitable for the larvae. The downside is it does little to prevent the adults from finding you. Instead of wasting coffee grounds on mosquito control, place it in your compost bin for added nitrogen!
- Bug Zappers: Bug zappers are excellent for insects drawn to light, but useless when it comes to mosquitos. Mosquitos can be drawn to heat, CO2, and body odor, but light-based zappers do little to get rid of them. Bug zappers may even kill off natural predators of mosquitoes, such as dragonflies.
The Do’s of Mosquito Prevention:
Luckily there are many easy and effective ways to prevent mosquitoes, and you’ll soon be free from at least one of your blood-sucking neighbors.
- Drain Standing Water from Your Yard: Mosquitoes require standing water to breed, and providing proper drainage to your soil removes any chance of them making your yard a home. Mosquitoes can lay their eggs in as little as half an inch of water.
- Introduce Natural Predators to Your Water Features: If you have a pond or similar water feature, introducing a hunter is a simple way of keeping mosquitoes away. Just make sure they’re native to your ecosystem!
- Netting On Doors/Windows: If they can’t get inside, they can’t bite you, and you can rest easy without their buzzing haunting you in the night. Adding mosquito netting to doors and windows can keep these and other pests out of your home while you can enjoy the summer breeze.
Professional Mosquito Extermination:
At the end of the day, while there are many ways of getting rid of at least one mosquito, expert pest control is the most effective. The professionals at Magic Exterminating can tailor the way they treat your yard to ensure that you will be free of these pests for longer than any other method. Their personalized approach to the problem will stop infestations from starting and keep you safe. Call today for a free quote!
