Ah, summer! The time to enjoy the outdoors, sunshine and fun with friends. However, the word “friends” doesn’t include mosquitoes! Aside from avoiding the outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active, what can you do? Here are some tips for avoiding mosquito bites this summer.
1. Use bug spray – There are several different bug sprays on the market with different active ingredients. To find one that works for you, consider bug sprays made with one of these main ingredients: DEET, Picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. DEET bug sprays are marketed under the brands Repel, Cutter Skinsations and OFF! Deep Woods. The EPA deems DEET safe when sprayed over clothing and okay for both adults and kids. Picaridin is a substance extracted from the black pepper plant and found in brands Natrapel and Sawyer. The EPA says this bug spray is safe for children two months old and up. Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is found in the brands Repel, BugShield and Cutter. It is not safe for children under three years old.
2. Try other repellents – While the bug sprays above might be the go-to repellents, there are a couple of other products on the market that repel mosquitoes for about two hours and might be a good option for those who prefer to avoid bug sprays. Avon Skin So Soft and Victoria’s Secret Bombshell perfume both repel mosquitoes for about two hours before you need to reapply so you can smell nice and avoid mosquito bites at the same time.
3. Wear repellent clothing – Some clothing brands such as InsectShield, ExOfficio and L.L. Bean’s No Fly Zone have a bug repellent called Permethin built right in to help repel mosquitoes and other bugs. The pre-treated fabrics can repel bugs for up to 70 washes.
4. Cover your skin – Mosquitoes will bite wherever there is access to skin – even through tight fabrics. Wear loose fitting long sleeve shirts, long pants, socks and closed shoes to prevent mosquito bites.
5. Wear light colors – Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors while other bugs are attracted to bright, vibrant colors. To avoid both kinds of bugs, go with light neutral and pastel colored clothing.
6. Keep yard and green space maintained – Keeping your lawn mowed and avoiding buildup of leafy debris provides less space for mosquitoes to hide during the day.
7. Avoid standing water – Mosquitoes use standing water for breeding so if you have a bird bath or other standing water in your yard, empty it at least daily or remedy the standing water to eliminate a mosquito breeding ground.
8. Use mosquito netting – Use mosquito netting around your outdoor areas or around beds or wherever you’re getting bitten. Even better is if you use mosquito netting pre-treated with insecticide.
9. Use a large oscillating fan – Mosquitoes find it difficult to fly in the wind, using a large oscillating fan can help keep mosquitoes away.
10. Consider spatial mosquito control – Consider spatial mosquito control offerings from your pest control provider. Mosquito spraying can significantly cut down on the number of mosquitoes frequenting your yard or space.
When you need to keep the bites at bay, call The Pest Force, your mosquito control and bite prevention experts. We’ll help you avoid the bite this summer!