Ah, the pleasures of summer time! The sun setting over a beautiful lake, graduation parties, outdoor weddings, picnics with out-of-town family and friends, a ball game complete with peanuts and cracker jacks...does life get any better? Perhaps we are all forgetting one thing: the joys of summer also bear the baggage of unwelcome visitors: mosquitoes! Mosquitoes can potentially drive any of these fun activities indoors.
Mosquitoes Carry Disease
Several problems arrive along with the invasion of mosquitoes. These bloodthirsty nuisances are not only annoying and disruptive but also potentially very dangerous. According to North Carolina State's Department of Entomology, "Mosquitoes are important pests because their biting activity often interferes with outdoor activities and can transmit disease organisms to people and domestic animals."1
According to the American Mosquito Control Association, "Mosquitoes cause more human suffering than any other organism -- over one million people die from mosquito-borne diseases every year."3 Mosquitoes spread diseases to humans and animals alike. The AMCA continues to explain that the diseases that afflict particularly dogs "include dog heartworm, West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE)."3 Diseases more commonly affecting humans include malaria, West Nile Virus, dengue, encephalitis, and yellow fever. Additionally, the mosquitoes' saliva causes skin irritation resulting in those uncomfortable red bumps that form after a bite.
Tips for Treating Mosquito Bites
The first thing that should be done upon receipt of a mosquito bite is to wash the affected area with warm water and soap to rid the area of any bacteria and provide temporary itching relief. The application of Calamine lotion is helpful in relieving the itching or burning sensation resulting from mosquito bites. Cool compresses, antihistamines, and other anti-inflammatory medications are often successful in alleviating symptoms of mosquito bites as well. The temptation to scratch the affected area should be resisted, and if the bite victim feels dizzy or nauseated, they should seek medical attention immediately as these could be signs of an allergic reaction.5
How Mosquitoes Multiply
Water is necessary to the lifecycle of a mosquito. Therefore, habitats that are prone to hurricanes or heavy rainfall are often invaded largely by these pests. Mosquitoes are less likely to abide in areas with ponds or creeks if they contain fish and are free of weeds or other traps where they can hide. Generally mosquitoes remain within a mile of their birthplace, but mosquitoes also can travel far from breeding sites, abounding even in much drier surroundings. Though mosquitoes generally only live 2-3 weeks, they multiply rapidly because less than a half-cup of water is sufficient for their reproduction. Females produce 100 to 300 eggs with each pregnancy, often laying several thousand eggs in a single short lifetime.
Mosquito Prevention Measures
You may ask: why are mosquitoes drawn to humans? Mosquitoes are enticed to humans first by the carbon dioxide that is exhaled. Once the mosquitoes sense this, they are further drawn to their victim by other factors such as sweat and body odor. Wearing perfume, drinking beer, and certain foods add extra advertisements for a mosquito to use your body as a feeding spot.
Certain areas of property attract mosquitoes more strongly because of their ability to retain water. Common objects to monitor include drainage ditches, trash, old tires, rain barrels, unused or poorly maintained pools, birdbaths, barbecue grills, and other items that provide easy access to water. To prevent unnecessary excess swarms of mosquitoes, be sure to clean and maintain your property well. Remove obstructions in drainage ditches, clear gutters, and remove any unnecessary water gatherings.
Repellents are useful for keeping mosquitoes from directly contacting your skin. However, they are less effective at keeping them from swarming in the air near the body, and these repellents can be harmful if used too often.
Citronella candles are often used as another effort to keep mosquitoes away. They benefit the most during times of little wind so the chemical does not spread too quickly or the flame does not blow out.
Such measures as ensuring that your home is properly sealed with tight screens and properly fitted windows and doors will help protect your home from uninvited company. Since bats and purple martins feed on mosquitoes, installing boxes near the house will also encourage their residence and help keep mosquitoes away.
For those who are reluctant to provide for such creatures as bats, the use of a mosquito net may be just what the doctor ordered. Mosquito nets can provide protection for outdoor picnic areas, gazebos, patios, dog pens, or stables. Additionally, mosquito netting can be fortified with chemicals that kill mosquitoes once they land on them.
Since mosquitoes depend on flower nectar and fruit juices for energy, keeping flowers farther from picnic areas or other popular outdoor gathering spots may help ward off their presence. Additionally, being mindful of keeping lids on fruit salads or consuming such foods first may prevent further problems.
Finally, to experience maximum pleasure from outdoor activities, select clothing should be worn. Light-colored, loosely fitting clothing is the least attractive to mosquitoes since they are drawn to dark colors that form tightly to the body allowing easy access to the skin.
To summarize the options for preventing and getting rid of mosquitoes:
- Use mosquito repellents
- Use citronella candles
- Seal your home with tight screens, windows, and doors
- Surround your activity with mosquito netting
- Wear light colors
- Eliminate standing water
- Attract bats and purple martins
Paul Galla
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/mosquito.htm
http://www.co.jackson.ms.us/DS/MosquitoControl.html
http://www.mosquito.org/mosquito-information/mosquito-borne.aspx
[http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4TH/KKHP/1INSECTS/mosquito.html]
http://www.tinymosquito.com/bitetreatment.html
Paul Galla, President
Bird Guard Bird Control Products
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