Mosquitoes can be a serious inconvenience and source of irritation, but they can also transmit dangerous diseases. Fortunately, there are several easy ways to prevent being bitten by a mosquito.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Mosquitoes are small flying insects that feed on the blood of animals and humans. |
| They can transmit various diseases, including Malaria, Dengue, West Nile virus, and Zika virus. |
| Mosquito bites are itchy skin reactions caused by the mosquito’s saliva. |
| You can prevent mosquito bites by wearing protective clothing, using mosquito repellents, and avoiding being outdoors during peak mosquito activity. |
| If you get a mosquito bite, clean the bite area with soap and water and apply an anti-itch cream or topical corticosteroid to relieve itching and swelling. |
Here are some tips for protecting yourself against mosquitoes:Find Out Where They Live
If you know where the mosquitoes are hanging out, it’s easier to avoid them. Mosquitoes can live in any area where there is standing water.
You should try to avoid stagnant water sources and drain any standing water you have around your home or business.
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water, so it’s important to keep your drains clean and maintain good drainage systems on your property as well. If you see a lot of mosquitoes around your property, chances are there’s a clog somewhere that needs cleaning up!
Don’t let mosquitoes ruin your outdoor fun! Our easy guide on getting rid of mosquitoes provides simple steps to keep these annoying pests at bay and enjoy the great outdoors worry-free
Cover Exposed Skin
Wear long-sleeve shirts, long pants, socks and shoes. Tuck your shirt into your pants to keep mosquitoes from biting through the fabric. Wear a hat or head net if you are working outside in the evening or at night when mosquitoes are most active.
Use insect repellent on exposed skin. Always follow directions on the product label for using insect repellents safely for you and your family.
Reapply as directed by the product label every few hours (generally every 2-3 hours). Avoid applying repellents to infants aged less than two months of age because they may be more sensitive to these types of chemicals.
Avoid perfumes and cologne when outdoors during peak mosquito activity times (dusk through dawn). These scents can attract mosquitoes to you!
| Clothing | Effectiveness |
|---|---|
| Loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants | Highly effective |
| Dark-colored clothing | Moderately effective |
| Tight-fitting clothing | Less effective |
| Fabric treated with insect repellent | Highly effective |
| Mesh fabric clothing | Less effective |
Wear Lighter-Colored Clothes
The third step to catching mosquitoes is to wear lighter-colored clothes. If you’re going out in the evening, or if your backyard is near a forest or swampy area, mosquitoes will come to bite you while they’re looking for blood meals.
This means that darker colors will attract more mosquito than light colors. Therefore, if you want to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes when doing yard work or sitting around outside on a hot summer day, wearing long sleeves and pants (and even socks) along with a hat can help prevent bites from occurring.
Use Mosquito Repellent On Your Clothes And Exposed Skin
If you’re planning on being outdoors for a long period of time, it’s best to use mosquito repellent on your clothes rather than applying it directly to your skin.
That way, you can ensure that they don’t bite through clothing while still receiving the full effect of the repellent.
When applying repellent, make sure that you apply it in areas where mosquitoes are most likely to come into contact with you.
This includes areas around the ankles and wrists—these are common entry points for mosquitoes into people’s bodies. If possible, keep clothing tucked in so that mosquitoes can’t get under clothing and bite any exposed skin.
If you’re going swimming or sweating heavily (like after exercising), reapply mosquito repellent every three hours or so because this helps keep them away from your body longer than usual.
Say goodbye to itchy mosquito bites forever! Our proven ways to keep mosquitoes away will keep your skin bite-free and your outdoor space mosquito-free
Avoid Being Outdoors At Dusk And Dawn
If you’re looking for a way to avoid mosquitoes, it’s best not to spend time outdoors at dusk and dawn. That’s when mosquitoes are most active. They’re not as active during the middle of the day because they prefer shady areas and humid environments where they can easily lay their eggs.
| Time of Day | Mosquito Activity |
|---|---|
| Dawn | Highest mosquito activity |
| Morning | Mosquito activity decreases |
| Afternoon | Minimal mosquito activity |
| Dusk | Mosquito activity increases |
| Evening | High mosquito activity |
Avoiding being outdoors at dusk and dawn is a good way to prevent m
Install Or Repair Window/Door Screens
Installing window and door screens is one of the best ways to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.
The screen material should have a mesh size large enough to prevent insects from gaining entry, but small enough to keep out larger animals such as rats, mice and squirrels. If you don’t have window/door screens on your home, consider installing them before the summer season begins.
Repairing any holes in existing screens is also an effective way to prevent mosquitoes from entering into your house through these openings.
Eliminate Standing Water Around Your Home
You can also eliminate standing water around your home, which is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Mosquito eggs can survive up to a year in water and mosquito larvae can survive for up to two months.
Mosquitoes lay eggs on the surface of still water, so even small puddles will do. If you have any containers that hold water like flowerpots or bird baths, make sure they’re emptied every few days—or better yet thrown away entirely!
The same applies to potted plants, which are often forgotten until the summer heat strikes and then neglected due to busy schedules. Killing those unwanted pests before they kill you will be worth it down the line when you’re not sneezing through every meal!
If you’re interested in taking this step further, we suggest checking out our article on how much it costs per month based on different areas of Canada (including BC) as well as other factors like whether or not they live alone or with pets.
Clean Clogged Gutters And Downspouts
If you don’t want mosquitoes in your yard, you should make sure your gutters are clean. If leaves and other debris collect in your gutter system, it can become clogged. When this happens, water will back up and leak into the basement or crawlspace of your home.
You may think that heavy rain water is enough to prevent this problem but if you’re like most people living in areas where there’s regular precipitation, then you probably find yourself cleaning out those clogged gutters pretty frequently!
You can use a hose or blower to clear out debris from clogged gutters or downspouts (if you have them).
If you have an older home with old-fashioned metal gutters on the roofline, then try spraying hot water from a pressure washer onto them first before using any other tools for cleaning.
Mosquito bites can be almost as annoying as the mosquitoes themselves. Give yourself some relief with our tips on reducing the swelling of mosquito bites and say goodbye to the itchiness and discomfort.
Change Pet Water Dishes At Least Once A Week
It’s important to change your pet’s water dish at least once a week. This will help prevent mosquito larvae from growing and breeding in the water that is left behind after your pet drinks.
To change a pet water dish:
- Take the old water out of the dish and throw it away in the garbage or recycling bin.
- Clean out any remaining residue on the inside of the bowl using soap, warm water, and sponge (if applicable).
- Rinse well with clean water before refilling with clean fresh drinking supply.
Turn Off Unnecessary Lights Outside Your Home Or Business
Avoid using outdoor lights at night
Turn off unnecessary lights outside your home or business. Mosquitoes are attracted to light, so avoid illuminating dark areas where they may be hiding. Instead, use yellow bulbs that emit less light and attract fewer mosquitoes than white ones do.
If you have a porch light on an automatic timer, make sure it turns off after a few hours of operation so that you don’t leave the area exposed for too long at one time (which will only attract more mosquitoes).
Use mosquito repellent
If you’re going out into an area where there’s a high probability of encountering mosquitoes such as your backyard or front yard make sure to bring along some form of deterrent like DEET-containing repellent or citronella candles to ward off these pesky insects before they arrive in droves!
Want to catch mosquitoes like a pro? Our mosquito trapping pro tips will help you create the most effective mosquito traps and keep your space free from these pesky insects
Use Citronella Candles When Outdoors
Another essential tool for repelling mosquitoes is citronella candles. These small, tea-light-like candles are made from citronella, a plant that has been shown to repel mosquitoes. This is because the plant contains oils that are toxic to insects like mosquitoes and flies.
To keep your home free of these pesky pests, you can use citronella candles around your yard or patio area as well. Place them at least ten feet away from people and pets; never place them on furniture or tables where people might sit down!
If you have a large enough yard, place several different kinds of citronellas around the perimeter so that no matter where someone goes in their yard they’ll be in contact with one of them at all times—this will greatly reduce exposure risk when compared with just having one candle lit near someone’s favorite chair!
Be sure not only to light these up during mosquito season but also throughout spring and summer months when there may still be some activity taking place even though it isn’t officially designated as being an active breeding season yet (this is especially important if there aren’t any other means available for keeping away pests).
Contact Vector Disease Control International For Additional Information
Virus Vector Control International is the world’s leading authority on mosquito control and mosquito removal.
Our team of scientists, researchers, and technicians are on call 24 hours a day to address any issues you may have with mosquitoes in your home or yard.
Take control of your mosquito problem with our expert mosquito control tips and enjoy the outdoors without the worry of mosquito bites and potential diseases they may carry.”
Conclusion
Catching a mosquito is not as easy as it may seem. This is especially true if you want to catch one that is still alive. However, there are several methods that can help you achieve this goal and have some fun in the process!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to learn more about dealing with mosquitoes:
How to Catch a Mosquito: A step-by-step guide on how to catch mosquitoes using various methods.
How to Find and Kill That Single Mosquito Buzzing Around Your Room: Lifehacker’s guide on how to find and eliminate that one annoying mosquito in your space.
DIY Mosquito Trap: Bob Vila’s tutorial on creating a homemade mosquito trap using simple household items.
FAQs
What are mosquitoes and how do they bite?
Mosquitoes are small flying insects that feed on the blood of animals and humans. Their bites are itchy skin reactions caused by the mosquito’s saliva, which contains anticoagulants to keep the blood flowing while they bite.
What diseases can mosquitoes transmit?
Mosquitoes can transmit various diseases, such as Malaria, Dengue, West Nile virus, and Zika virus, to name a few.
Why do mosquitoes prefer certain people over others?
Mosquitoes are attracted to certain chemical compounds found in human sweat and breath. Factors like genetics, blood type, and diet can also play a role in mosquito attraction.
How can I prevent mosquito bites?
Wearing protective clothing, using mosquito repellents, and avoiding being outdoors during peak mosquito activity are some ways to prevent mosquito bites.
What should I do if I get a mosquito bite?
Clean the bite area with soap and water, and apply an anti-itch cream or topical corticosteroid to relieve itching and swelling. Cold compresses and oral antihistamines can also provide relief.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
