Mosquito prevention becomes a priority this time of year. The number of illnesses that mosquitoes carry has ramped up even more, included EEE, West Nile, and Zika virus. The long-term effects of some of these illnesses is still being discovered, but we know various mosquito-borne illnesses cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) that can result in symptoms ranging from confusion and loss of sensation all the way to paralysis, coma, and death. The full spread of Zika virus is still being determined.
Repel Mosquitoes
Chances are if you’re bitten by a mosquito, you won’t suffer anything like this, but the problem rests in just how many mosquitoes there are. It’s never just one bite, and the more we get, the greater our risk. This makes mosquito prevention one of the most important factors in Floridians health today.
Remember if there are high mosquito numbers, long pants and shirts can help stave off a lot of bites. In addition, you can wear a variety of mosquito repellents. Repellent with DEET is safe to use on people. Just don’t use it on pets since they lick their fur.
Natural Mosquito Repellent
There are natural mosquito repellents as well. Eucalyptus oil works well (you might find it as lemon eucalyptus oil). You might also try lavender oil, thyme oil, or soybean oil, though these are less tested and proven than eucalyptus.
Citronella also works well. It’s a natural ingredient in many repellents, and burning citronella candles can help repel mosquitoes from an area.
Always check with a vet before applying a repellent of any type to a pet.
Mosquito Prevention
Natural mosquito repellent and good preventative habits are good steps. There’s one more that neighborhoods can start taking. After a storm, make sure to dump out any cans, cups, or other containers that might have collected water. For stationary objects like tree stumps or rain barrels, you can treat the water to kill off any mosquito eggs.
Under no circumstances should you attempt to treat natural bodies of water, waterways, or wetland areas. This is dangerous and illegal. Not just this, but you can kill off animals that eat mosquitoes and keep the mosquito population down. Do not treat any natural water feature; only treat what you have the right or permission to treat.
When entire neighborhoods pay attention and dump or treat standing water, they can reduce the mosquito population in the area. This is one of the most effective ways to repel mosquitoes. Use this neighborhood strategy in conjunction with smart habits and a repellent of your choice.
If you need some assistance with outdoor pest control and/or lawn care, please contact Slug-A-Bug today!