Rains have slacked and school has started leaving us with extremely long afternoons while the day length is still long. The only problem with these long days is that over the past two weeks it seems like the mosquitoes are just as bad during the day as they are at night. So why is that? Well the recent rains did not help by creating more areas for them to thrive in. We have good mosquito control measures in place now with the city but the following are some tips in which will also help you out as a homeowner.
Mosquitoes lay eggs in water so reducing this habitat is crucial. Any place that could catch and hold water should be fixed and allowed to drain. Common areas where this can occur are old tires, clogged gutters, open garbage cans, and wagons or other toys. For areas that are not meant to drain such as ponds or birdbaths, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or oil treatments can be used to kill larvae. Remove any tall vegetation that could reduce airflow through an area with a dense population of mosquitoes. Make sure to mow tall grass and reduce large brush to help eliminate resting sites for adult mosquitoes. The most important is protecting yourself and family by ensuring doors are properly sealed, wearing protective clothing, protect animals with screens, and using repellents when having to be outside during mosquito active hours.
Even though we have abundant water we can still control our homes by using the 5 D’s:
Dusk-Dawn- avoid this time when mosquitoes are feeding
Dress- clothing should be loose fitting and cover most of your skin
DEET- Use repellants along with clothing when being exposed to mosquitoes
Drainage- Eliminate excess water for larvae of mosquitoes to survive in
