| Slapping yourself silly trying to keep mosquitoes | | | | offers an all-natural product that contains essential |
| from biting you? Besides causing irritating itching | | | | oils such as rosemary and thyme, which have |
| bites, mosquitoes can also carry and transmit | | | | shown repellent properties. Eco-blend comes in |
| several diseases including the West Nile Virus. | | | | bottles for human use and spray bottles for |
| Although you cannot get rid of every mosquito, | | | | equine use. Always be sure to read the label |
| there are many ways to protect yourself and | | | | instructions and follow these instructions carefully. |
| those around you. | | | | If you would rather choose a more high-tech |
| The most important way to help fight mosquitoes | | | | solution which helps reduce the population of |
| is by breaking their breeding cycle. Mosquitoes lay | | | | mosquitoes, then you may want to investigate a |
| their eggs in stagnant water and those eggs | | | | propane based collection system or a mosquito |
| hatch within 48 hours. Once hatched, the larvae | | | | misting system. The propane collection system |
| feed on debris in the stagnant water until they | | | | works by converting the propane to carbon |
| move into the resting stage. In this stage, the | | | | dioxide. The carbon dioxide draws the mosquitoes |
| larvae become pupae. The mosquito begins to | | | | to the unit in the same way your exhaled breath |
| develop and finally emerges as an adult mosquito. | | | | draws mosquitoes to you. In the collection |
| All this can happen in less than 5 days! | | | | system, the mosquito is 'trapped' in a bag when |
| Be pro-active and check the area around your | | | | the pest enters the unit. These units need to |
| home for places where standing water may | | | | have their collection bag cleaned frequently and |
| accumulate such as birdbaths, clogged gutters, | | | | you must change/refill the propane tank. |
| buckets, kiddie pools, toys, even bottle caps - | | | | Placement is critical. The units need to be placed |
| mosquitoes can breed in just a thimble full of | | | | downwind of your area and must be moved |
| water. Change water often in birdbaths. Empty | | | | every time the wind direction shifts. These types |
| kiddy pools and turn them upside down when not | | | | of units require a fair amount of human |
| in use so they do not collect water. Keep your | | | | intervention to operate at peak performance so |
| gutters clear of debris. | | | | the cost vs. the price should be weighed |
| If you have done your best to help prevent | | | | accordingly. |
| breeding and are still being bothered by | | | | Another high-tech solution that is fairly new to the |
| mosquitoes, there are many products on the | | | | market, the mosquito mister system is |
| market to repel or kill mosquitoes. The available | | | | permanently installed around your home. The |
| products range from low-cost items such as | | | | system is comprised of a reservoir, pump, timer, |
| lotions and sprays to higher priced solutions such | | | | and nozzles. Once the system is installed, it is set |
| as traps and misters. Along with a range in cost | | | | to mist a diluted Pyrethrum concentrate, at |
| comes a range in effectiveness. | | | | specified intervals - usually 4 times per day for |
| Citronella candles and torches are ineffective | | | | about 30 seconds each period. The active |
| except in very small areas. One study showed | | | | ingredient in Pyrethrum is Pyrethrin, which is a |
| that use of citronella candles resulted in people still | | | | natural pesticide made by crushing a special type |
| being bitten by mosquitoes, but they had half as | | | | of chrysanthemum flower into powder form. The |
| many bites as those who were not around the | | | | powder is then added to an insecticide, commonly |
| candles. Other products that do not perform well | | | | referred to as PBO, to increase the effectiveness |
| are 'sonic' repelling systems. While these products | | | | of the solution. Misting Systems require only |
| are inexpensive, laboratory studies have shown | | | | occasional maintenance and refilling, but are priced |
| that they do not work. | | | | higher than other options. More advanced mister |
| When looking for lotions or sprays, the Center for | | | | systems can be equipped with a remote control |
| Disease Control recommends selecting those, | | | | and variable timing functions in addition to |
| which contain DEET, picaridin, or lemon eucalyptus. | | | | automatic weather control options. |
| Products containing these ingredients can be | | | | Now that you know how mosquitoes breed and |
| obtained from most drug stores or home and | | | | how to protect against their bites, don't let them |
| garden stores. In addition to the products | | | | run your life. Take action, tame your outdoors |
| recommended by the CDC, there are also all | | | | and enjoy your summer! |
| natural products available. Lewey's Eco-Blends | | | | |