Tips for Dealing with Mosquitoes

By Jeff Deiters, Mosquito Joe of Fredericksburg

With summer comes the burden of pesky mosquitoes. You're right to avoid being bitten –- mosquitoes expose us to insect-borne disease. West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are serious health threats in our region, but that doesn’t mean area residents need to bring their parties indoors.

• Regularly empty ponds, bird baths, fountains, plant pots, buckets, barrels, tarps, kids' toys, pet water dishes or anything else that holds water.
• Walk through the yard after every rain and empty any containers or areas where water has collected. Also, watch for puddles where condensation gathers from the AC unit.
• Clean out gutters to avoid standing water –- examine them for clots and damage that would cause water to collect.
• Make sure there are no low spots under decks where water can hide. For example, Dogs love to make low spots where they rest under decks because it’s cool.
• Drill holes in the bottom of tire swings to prevent rainwater from accumulating. Do the same for garbage or recycling bins that reside outdoors.
• Use soil to fill in low areas in lawns and landscaped areas where rainwater may collect and stand for more than seven days.
• Keep swimming pools clean, properly circulated and filtered. Empty "kiddie pools" regularly.
  
• Make sure you have good drainage around hot tub areas.
• Repair leaky outdoor faucets.
• Don't be afraid to educate neighbors. They may not realize they have a wheelbarrow full of water behind their shed. Politely offer to turn it over for them.
• Cut grass and shrubs short, as adult mosquitoes gather to rest in shady, cool areas. Keep the yard weed-free and avoid overgrown vegetation.
• Remove yard clippings, leaves, etc. from your yard.

Mosquitoes can only travel about 20 feet before they land, so professionally applied barrier sprays mean mosquitoes have no where to go.

With any body of water, it is important to use an all-organic spray that protects fish while simultaneously removing mosquitoes. We’ve discovered the first spray removes about 85 percent of mosquitoes, and usually the second spray sets the property.

As families continue with their summertime celebrations, spray treatment is an effective and cost-effective option to maximize outdoors activity.