Mosquito Control

A Mission not an Adventure

As fears of West Nile Virus rise, so does the need for mosquito control. The good news is that if labels can be believed, there are more products available today than ever before to help you do just that. Unfortunately, most poisons and pesticides aren’t the best choices for repellents. In fact, many of them do little if anything to control mosquitoes. The good news is that there are many things you can do for little or no cost that will assist you in controlling the mosquito population around your home.

Use natural means in order to control mosquitoes whenever possible. One way you can do this is to eliminate potential breeding grounds on and around your property. Examples of these would be drainage ditches, small empty flowerpots, pails, and kids’ toys that hold water after rain. Water is public enemy number one when it comes to mosquitoes, particularly water that is standing still. Remove this as much as possible from your property. Even a tiny amount of standing water can cause big mosquito population problems.

While it is preferable to use natural methods to control the mosquito population, sometimes there is simply nothing you can do and you have to try other means of doing so. Deet is a great insect repellant. Not only is Deet effective for mosquito control, but other biting insects as well. Before buying deet, you compare the various products that claim to contain deet and choose the one that has the greatest concentration. Unfortunately, companies are only required to carry a ridiculously low amount of deet in order to claim that they contain it. The more deet, the more effective the product you are buying is going to be.

In addition to deet products you can burn citronella candles or burn citronella oil in tikki torches placed strategically around your lawn. If you do not find the fragrance offensive and love candles and torches for lighting the garden, this is a good option. Citronella is not for everyone though and while it does help with mosquito control, some people find it not worth the effort.

Although bug zappers are a popular purchase, they are the least effective method of controlling mosquitoes.. You’ve probably seen them and laughed with sadistic glee as they made the zapping sound that indicates another bug meeting its maker. However, the zappers are simply not an effective means of controlling the mosquito population. They only get rids of the bugs that are attracted to the light, and can only effect a small part of your yard.

Don’t buy the first mosquito repellent that you find. Instead, be sure to study the labels carefully if buying pesticides and find the one that will not only be the most effective but is one that you can live with the reality of using. If every product were a perfect fit for every consumer, there would only be one product. Take control of your lawn and garden back from the nasty mosquito.