Mosquitoes are quite annoying. The constant buzzing or humming -or whatever they call it- makes it impossible to sleep peacefully. Additionally these pests are known to be the purveyors of the dreaded Dengue and Malaria virus. They are also culpable in the transmission of other viruses as well such as the West Nile Virus, Dog Heartworm and Yellow Fever. In this article we will explore a few of the ways in which you can take control of this infuriating situation.
Don’t leave water standing around – mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. In order to reduce the amount of mosquitoes around your home you must be vigilant in ensuring that all such sources are eliminated. Common sources of stagnant water are flower pots, garbage bins and drains. Please ensure that these and other similar containers are kept water free.
Reduce the shaded areas where they can hide – mosquitoes are nocturnal creatures. As such they come out in their full strength during the nights, but spend their days hiding in the cool areas of your vegetation. Go in search of these potential areas and remove them by trimming the areas where they are prone to reside. Make it uncomfortable for the little pests during the day and you will reduce the number of them which are around to bug you during the night.
Turn on your air-conditioning unit – mosquitoes do not like cold air so an effective way to get rid of them is to simply turn the unit on. You will be amazed at the speed at which the mosquitoes suddenly ‘disappear’.
Turn on the fan – another quick trick to get rid of these annoying little critters is to simply turn on a fan and blow them away. This is a great alternative for those individuals who can’t stand the cold air which is generated by the air conditioning unit.
Use a DEET based mosquito repellant – repellants are an effective way of keeping the mosquitoes away. According to the American Mosquito Control Association DEET is ‘the gold standard’ in terms of the active ingredient used in repellants. The implication of this is that when you are shopping for repellents please read the labels so as to ensure that DEET is included.
ULV foggers – a great alternative for getting rid of the pest in the outdoor environs is by using a ULV fogger. A ULV fogger is a machine which generates a mist of ultra low volume droplets containing ingredients which kills the mosquitoes. While there are many types of foggers, studies have shown that the use of ultra low volume droplets have been effective in battling the mosquito.
While there may be a few more methods which you can use, we are confident that the suggestions provided here are effective in the battle against the pest. However, it is in your best interest to do your own due diligence so as not to be taken in by every new fad. In fact there has talk about using ultrasound technology to kill the mosquito, however based on tests performed, this method does nothing to kill the creatures.