Reduce the Risk of Mosquito Infestation Around Your Residence

Mosquito infestation can be discouraged by taking simple precautions around your place of residence, in particular, paying special attention to areas that encourage water.

Steps

  1. Check the yard for items and areas that permit the pooling of water. Water is the chief attractant for mosquitoes whose larvae develop in stagnant water. Water that has been allowed to stand for as little as four days can be attractive to mosquitoes.
  2. Remove or regularly clean objects that permit water pooling. Clean a Birdbath should be cleaned out regularly. Avoid leaving buckets, wading pools, toys, gardening items, pots, any other form of containers, etc. to sit outside where they can gather water.
  3. Keep your gutters clean. If they are clogged up, they can accumulate water and provide ideal breeding grounds.
  4. Stop leaks. If you have leaking taps or pipes, get these fixed. It is likely that the leak is pooling somewhere, not to mention wasting precious water.
  5. Fill in garden space that creates natural pools. If there are ground depressions in the yard that can fill with water that doesn't drain around, fill these in. They can be a reclaimed garden or yard playing space. Use clean fill.
  6. Check the Air Conditioning. Ensure that drips from air conditioning units are running free and evaporating, rather than pooling somewhere.
  7. Maintain the swimming pool and spa. Use the right pool treatment chemicals and procedures to prevent these from becoming breeding areas.
    • Empty or completely cover kid's pools when not in use. This is a Teach Your Children About Water Safety issue as much as aImprove Your Mosquito Screens prevention issue too.
  8. Stock ponds with fish and prevent them from going stagnant. A pond needs to be an active pond; if it goes stagnant, it will provide an ideal place for mosquito larvae. Stock it with fish (use the mosquito fish who will eat any larvae), keep the weeds out (infestations will choke the pond and leave it stagnant) and keep leaf litter, grass clippings, etc. away from it. Vegetation cleaning will also expose the water to direct sunlight and overheating that mosquitoes prefer to avoid.[1]
  9. For standing water such as animal troughs, etc., your farm supply sells mosquito dunks that contain a bacteria (for example BTI) that kills mosquito larvae but is not harmful to other animals. This can also be used for bird baths and other similar standing water areas.



Tips

  • For a more natural approach, use cedar oil. The oil naturally confuses the insects' reception.
  • Go to the outdoor section at your store. There are usually lamps and/or repellents to get them to stay away.
  • Use screens to prevent the entry of mosquitoes into your home. Keep windows and doors shut from the evening to dawn, where you don't have screens.
  • When enjoying your backyard in the evening and at night, use citronella candles, wear repellents, and light colored clothing.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://howto-getridof-mosquito-bites.com - Original source, shared with permission

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