Not only are mosquitoes extremely annoying when their bites become itchy, they can also be dangerous. Some mosquitoes carry diseases like West Nile and the Zika virus, which can be dangerous and even deadly to humans. If a mosquito that is infected with a disease bites you, you could be exposed to the disease. The best way to prevent this from happening is by preventing all mosquitoes from being around you, which also comes with the added benefit of not being covered in bug bites after a long day outside.
Insect Repellant
The most wide-spread way of preventing mosquito bites is by using insect repellant, or bug spray. This can be a good option in the short term, but ultimately will become ineffective after the spray wears off. Most bug sprays are also not-so-pleasing on our noses, which can be a detriment when you need to keep reapplying it. One solution to this problem is to use natural insect repellants. Some essential oils repel mosquitos, such as lemon eucalyptus, lavender, cinnamon, and thyme. Another great method for repelling mosquitoes is by burning citronella. Burning a citronella candle close to where your outdoor activities are taking place will usually ward off mosquitos because they don’t like the smell, but most people don’t mind, or even enjoy, the smell of citronella. Citronella tiki torches are another great option, as you can almost create a barrier of the torches that the pesky insects won’t cross.
Remove Stagnant Water From Your Property
The best way to get rid of mosquitoes is to attack them at their source: by removing any still standing water from in and around your home. Mosquitoes thrive in the presence of stagnant water because that’s where they lay their eggs. It takes only about two weeks for a mosquito egg to become a full grown adult, which means that the mosquito population on your property can multiply in what seems like the blink of an eye. Prevent this from happening by making sure to get rid of all still standing water around your home: bird baths, pet’s water bowls, drainage systems, puddles, and even tires after a rainstorm. By doing this, the mosquito population around your home will dwindle.
Contact Pied Piper Pest Control
If you have mosquito problems in the greater New Orleans area, contact Pied Piper Pest Control to speak to one of our pest control specialists. Give us a call at (504) 366-1333 or fill out our contact form here.