Mosquitoes are small and generally go unnoticed until they buzz past your ear with their distinctive high-pitched noise. Of course, you also notify them when they bite you and suck your blood. In many cases, the actual bite is barely noticeable.
However, they will leave an itchy welt and potentially leave bacteria behind. Mosquitoes are well known for carrying a wide array of diseases. In short, if you have an issue with mosquitoes in your home and garden then you need to take steps to eliminate them.
Eradicate Standing Water
Mosquitoes are attracted to various things, including the carbon dioxide you breathe out and the warmth of your blood. But, they also need standing water. This is where they lay their eggs, allowing new mosquitoes to hatch.
Just before they lay their eggs is when they will suck your blood, giving the eggs the nutrients they need.
If you walk around your property and eliminate the standing water the mosquitoes will have nowhere to lay eggs and they will go somewhere else.
Check pet drinking bowls, they can be left but must be emptied at least once a week. Gutters, small leaks, and even rotten wood can offer water collection points. A good check will ensure they are all eliminated.
As part of this, you should tidy your yard. A yard full of clutter attracts a wide variety of pests as you are offering them somewhere to hide, they are then within striking distance of you and your home.
Use Repellant
Repellants, particularly those that contain DEET or Picaridin, are particularly good at keeping mosquitoes away. You should use the repellant daily to prevent yourself from being bitten. You can also use a variety of plant oils, such as lemon eucalyptus. These keep the mosquitoes away naturally.
Alongside putting the repellants on your skin, you can also apply them to the windows and doorframes, helping to keep the mosquitoes away from you.
Of course, you’ll need to replace them regularly.
Get A Pest Inspection
Mosquitoes can be a hassle to eliminate. However, whether you currently have an issue or not, if you search for pest control near me you’ll be able to book an inspection and they will eliminate the issue. More importantly, they will help you to mosquito-proof your home to ensure that the mosquitoes aren’t a pain in the future.
Introduce Predators
Bats are very good at eating mosquitoes as are many species of birds. Getting these can help to keep the mosquito population down in your area. However, it can be difficult to allow your birds to fly freely unless you enclose the entire backyard. That makes them a limited benefit as pets.
But, you can plant bushes and put out bird feeders that attract birds which will then eat mosquitoes as well.
You can also stock any pond with fish to eat mosquito eggs and even turtles are known to eat mosquito larva. By eliminating the eggs you are preventing a mosquito issue in the future.
Plants
There are a variety of plants that are effective at repelling mosquitoes. In particular, anything citrus will keep them away. If you don’t mind spending the time looking after the plants then this is a great way to have a pretty garden while keeping the mosquitoes at bay.
It is difficult to keep every mosquito away. The combination of the above methods and repellant will allow you to enjoy your home and garden at all times of the year.
