Pest Control Aid

Few creatures on Earth have seemingly less redeeming value than the mosquito. Aside from providing food for birds and other insects, it’s hard to come up with any quality that they possess that makes the world a better place.

I suppose of you’re a mosquitologist, or whatever an expert on these flying pains in the you know what are called; they may hold some fascination for you. But for just about everyone else, the consensus opinion is probably that the world would not miss these guys if they found another planet, in another solar system, in another galaxy, in another universe, to live on.

Mosquitoes can ruin an otherwise perfect day. The cookout where everyone is enjoying the food, drink, company and weather, can become a bad memory if mosquitoes appear in numbers. And a relaxing, fun-filled camping or fishing trip, can turn miserable when these flying micro-vampires start to swarm.

But mosquitoes are more than just major league nuisances. They can be downright dangerous to have around because of the many diseases they carry. Some of the nastiest infections a bug can deliver are borne by mosquitoes. Dengue, West Nile virus, various forms of encephalitis, malaria, and a host of others are all delivered to the human population courtesy of the mosquito. They also threaten our pets as the carriers of heartworm disease. So, as was stated previously, they have little or no redemptive value.

These guys are found worldwide. They are a problem wherever they’re found, but they can be controlled. In order to do so it helps to know something about them.

Mosquito females are the troublesome ones for people, and other mammals. The adult females are the ones who bite. The males and the immature mosquitoes do not. Males are important only as mates. The females need to feed on blood in order to produce eggs that are viable. They lay their eggs in any standing water that they can find. That’s why they’re so much worse when there is a lot of rain in a given year.

Mosquitoes can be controlled in a number of ways. One of the most important is to make sure there is no standing water on your property. This won’t eliminate them entirely as they can fly from somewhere else, but it can help to reduce the ones produced in your immediate area.

After thorough elimination of all standing water, you must deal with those water sources that can’t be eliminated. These include pools, birdbaths, fish pods and the like. For these you can use mosquito dunks, which are little floating, doughnut shaped biological control products that kill mosquito larvae. They will kill all of the larvae in water but are completely safe for humans, pets, fish and other forms of life. Killing these pests in the larval stage is more effective, efficient and a lot easier than killing the adults. If need be, they can be broken into pieces and used in smaller containers of water.

To kill mosquitoes outdoor you can use a fogger. When populations are really large or when in preparation for outdoors activities, a fogger will not only kill mosquitoes, but other outdoors pests as well. Be sure when using them to follow all package directions and warnings.

For personal mosquito protection, a good repellent is a must. Many containing the active ingredient DEET have proven to be effective. Be sure to read and follow all label directions for any product you use. In general, repellents are applied to the exposed parts of the body and clothes. These products will not kill mosquitoes but will keep them from lighting on you and biting.

Finally, one of the best warm weather protections against mosquitoes is a well-made screen porch. One without any holes in the screen. You can enjoy the nice weather and keep frustrated mosquitoes on the outside, dreaming about the meal that they can’t have.

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