Whether you are traveling somewhere new or just enjoying your own backyard, mosquitos can quickly ruin an outdoor adventure. Mozzies are responsible for more deaths in the world than any other animal, so controlling them is crucial. In Australia, mosquitoes cause diseases like malaria, dengue, kokobera, Australian encephalitis, Barmah Forest virus, and Ross River Virus (RRv). Avoiding dangerous mosquito bites is a multi-step process that involves both things you can do around your home to disrupt breeding grounds and ways you can protect yourself from bites.
How to Control Mosquitoes Around Your Home
One of the most important things you can do to help control the mosquito population is to eliminate potential breeding areas around your property. Mosquitoes require water to breed and lay eggs, and stagnant water is preferred. They do not require a lot of water, so it is extremely important to eliminate every source of standing water, especially during the rainy season. Here are some things you can do today to limit mosquitoes.
- Turn over or remove objects that might collect water like flower pots, toys, tires, debris, buckets, etc.
- Clean out gutters and downspouts
- Make sure your yard is landscaped so that water runs away from your home and does not puddle
- Fill in any low spots where water might accumulate
- If you have a swimming pool, make sure that it is properly maintained with chlorine
- Get rid of bird baths or change the water weekly
- Keep grass and vegetation trimmed to get rid of mosquito habitat
- Make sure that backyard ponds are treated for mosquitoes, have an aeration system, or contain fish that will eat the mosquitoes
- Ensure that all windows have intact screens
How to Avoid Mosquito Bites
Making efforts to control mosquitoes around your own home is important, but it is not enough to ensure that you are protected from the diseases that they carry. You should always take certain precautions to avoid mosquito bites, especially when traveling. Here are some great tips to keep you and your family safe:
- Use a DEET or picaridin (KBR 3023) insect repellent
- Cover as much skin as possible with clothing; Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and close-toed shoes
- Wear light colored, loose-fitting clothing
- Limit your time outside when mosquitoes are most active, particularly at dawn and dusk
- Cover strollers or baby carriers with mosquito nets
- Consider permethrin treated clothing (also helpful against ticks)
- Sleep under a mosquito net if you are traveling to high risk areas or sleeping outdoors
Sunshine Coast Pest Control
If you need help controlling pests around your home, contact the professionals at Radar Pest Control. Our expert technicians will come up with a comprehensive plan to get rid of the problems you are facing and provide treatments to prevent future ones. For Sunshine Coast pest control, you can trust Radar Pest Control to get the job done right.