The Mosquitoes are Coming, The Mosquitoes are Coming!

It’s that time of the year when mosquitoes are on everyone’s mind, even more so this year because of the Zika virus that is especially dangerous for pregnant women. Mosquito season starts in the spring, and they don’t completely go away until the first freeze. They’ll stay around as long as it’s warm and wet.The mosquito industry is a huge one with everything from special hats and clothing to repellent and misting systems for the grounds around homes.

HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO TO KEEP THOSE ANNOYING CRITTERS AWAY FROM YOU AND YOURS:

1. Don’t allow standing water around your home. Clean bird baths weekly. Fix leaks on faucets and hoses. Do not over-water around your home. Check lawn ornaments to make sure they don’t have a place that will hold water.

2. Use insect repellent. Avoid repellents with more than 30 percent Deet, and do not use it on infants younger than 2 months. Other repellents that contain picaridin, lemon eucalyptus and IR3535 are also effective.

3. Clean debris out of rain gutters so the water will flow smoothly. Do the same at outside drains.

4. If you don’t already give your dog a repellent for fleas and ticks, it’s time to start. Some will kill mosquitoes and others will repel them. The mosquito is the primary source of heartworm.

5. Avoid going out at dawn or dusk when the mosquitoes are the most active.

6. If you have to go out when the mosquitos are bad, invest in appropriate clothing – bug jackets and bug pants, hats with head-net mesh face protection, long sleeves and long pants. 

“Mosquitoes remind us that we are not as high up on the food chain as we think.”   Tom Wilson