| Mosquito Management |
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Over the past several years, the image of a mosquito has gone from one of a nuisance to a major health hazard. Whether it’s preventing annoying, itchy bumps or protecting your family from West Nile Virus, you can take some simple steps to control mosquitoes around your home.First, make sure they don’t have a place to live or breed. This involves eliminating standing water in and around your yard. Think about areas such as rain gutters, old tires, buckets, plastic covers, and toys. If you can’t drain a temporary pool of water in your yard, consider filling it with dirt.
Mark your calendar to change the water in items such as bird baths, fountains, wading pools and plant trays once a week during mosquito season. Products such as Mosquito Dunks are available to kill mosquito larvae in these areas. They are safe in fish habitats and for birds and protect for 30 days. Second, limit your exposure to mosquitoes. Consider staying inside during the evening hours when mosquitoes are most active. Also, make sure that your window and door screens are free of holes if you keep your windows open during the night. We offer screen repair services to help you keep the bugs outside. You can also replace your outdoor lights with yellow bug lights. These do not repel mosquitoes, but tend to attract fewer of them. If you are going to be outside, consider covering yourself with long sleeves and pants. Finally, you can use repellents. These products are available both for your environment (such as a citronella candle) or for your body (sprays and lotions). There are many EPA-registered repellents on the market, including Off® and Cutter®. As with any chemical substance, follow label directions and precautions closely. The Centers for Disease Control offers excellent information on types of repellents and proper use on their website. |
