As the weather continues to warm up, you may see more mosquitoes around your home.
Experts say recent rains have become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Female mosquitoes use blood to produce eggs. Then, they lay those eggs in bodies of water. When the water heats up, the eggs hatch, said Micheal Rohlmeier, branch manager of ORKIN in Wichita.
PREVENTION IS KEY
Rohlmeier said preventing mosquitoes is the best way to control them. Homeowners must eliminate as many body of water that they can outside, like birdbaths, tires or grills collecting water or rain gutters that are full.
WEARING REPELLANT
According to a May 2015 article on CNN, Missy Henriksen from the National Pest Management Association said you should wear the bug repellant that is on the market any time you go outside.
“We’ve gotten pretty good about sunscreen, but people need to get better about protecting themselves against insects as well, since mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance. They carry disease,” she said.
Henriksen and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend using products that have one of four active ingredients. Check the label for DEET, picaridin, IR3535 and/or lemon eucalyptus and para-methane-diol products. These products are effective, and they are registered with the EPA (meaning the EPA believes the chemical will only hurt the mosquitoes not you).
Henriksen also suggests you may want to wear shirts with long sleeves and long pants if you can stand it in the heat of summer.
“Bugs (are less likely to) bite what they can’t access,” she said. And hopefully someday, bugs won’t be able to suck what they can’t smell.
A CHEAP DEVICE TO REPEL PESTS
In addition to prevention or treating your lawn with professional chemical treatment, Rohlmeier said some people might wan to use a fan while they’re outside. “Mosquitoes aren’t real strong fliers, so if you could have a gust of wind or a fan, whether that be a ceiling fan or a boxed fan, just to keep the air moving and just to keep the mosquitoes going by. They can’t fly through that current of air.”