It’s almost time for mosquitoes again. When we rush around our daily lives, we often forget to take sensible precautions against these annoying and potentially dangerous pests. Today, that potential danger means exposure to the Zika virus and other diseases. No need to panic but do try to keep precautions in mind that minimize your risk of being bitten. Learn how to repel mosquitoes with some practical mosquito prevention tips from Slug-A-Bug, a Brevard County pest control specialist that’s used to all kinds of Florida pest control:

  1. Wear mosquito repellent. It seems obvious to say, but no matter who we are there will be several times this spring and summer when we forget to put it on. Don’t over-apply the repellent or concentrate it in any one place. Keep in mind that despite a lot of rumors out there, DEET hasn’t been shown to cause cancer, and the liver breaks down almost all the DEET the body absorbs within 24 hours. With that said, there are all-natural repellent solutions if you prefer these. They haven’t been shown to be effective to the same standard, but many are at least somewhat effective.
  2. Wearing longer clothes denies mosquitoes access to your skin. Wearing jeans when you’re outdoors can be as effective in avoiding mosquito bites on the legs as wearing repellent. You can also spray repellent on your clothes before you put them on, as we sometimes tend to forget to do when we’re actually wearing them.
  3. Eliminate pools of standing water around your home. Mosquitoes use these areas to breed. Even a rain barrel or an unused tire can accumulate rainwater and will be used as a breeding ground. Any pools of stagnant water are appealing breeding area for mosquitoes. If you live nearby a breeding area, you are the most appealing targets when they become adults. If you need help with this kind of search and elimination on a property, a Brevard County pest control specialist can help.
  4. If you get mosquito bites, try to avoid scratching them. We know, it’s difficult. Try calamine lotion or an antihistamine cream that can soothe the feeling of the bite. Scratching feels good, but the more you scratch, the more the bite will irritate you later on. If you can let the mosquito bites go for a while, they’ll heal more quickly and ultimately give you less aggravation along the way.