How to Control Mosquitoes

How To Control Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are bothersome little flying insects that like to bite animals and humans to feed on their blood. In the summer, they seem to be unavoidable. However, people will want to keep them under control as mosquitoes carry such diseases as West Nile disease, in humans and heartworms, in canines. This article will explain how to control these troublesome pests.

Things That Attract Mosquitoes

When people know what attracts mosquitoes, they can avoid those things and lessen the chance of the bugs biting them. Solid, dark clothing and dark, flowery prints attract mosquitoes. With that said, when people are going to spend a lot of time outdoors, they should wear plain, light-colored clothes.

Various beauty products and lotions such as hair spray, perfume, and suntan lotion can attract these insects, as well. When going outside for long periods of time, people will want to avoid wearing these things. Mosquitoes are also attracted to sweat. If people want to exercise outdoors in the summer, they should avoid exercising in those areas where mosquitoes are likely to be found.

Probably the biggest thing that attracts these insects is water. If people have pools, they may want to put a cover over them when they are not using them. They may also want to check around their yard for anything that may have collected water, such as old pails or buckets.

What Products Will Help To Control Mosquitoes?

For several decades, people used DDT sprays to control mosquitoes. However, with more people being concerned with using these harsh chemicals, many people are now turning to natural products to control them. There are many herbs that can help control mosquitoes. When people are comparing sprays for mosquito control, they should choose those that have some herbs in them. Some excellent herbs, that will help control these pests, include garlic, oil of cedar, brewers yeast, soybean, eucalyptus, calendula, pennyroyal, tea tree oil, rosemary and goldenseal.

There are some foods that can help to distract mosquitoes, as well. Since mosquitoes do not like foods with vitamin B in them, when people eat foods containing this vitamin, they can effectively ward of the bugs. Some of these foods include fish, brown rice, molasses, brewers yeast and wheat germ. People should avoid eating sweet foods such as watermelon, bananas and candy before going outdoors as the smell of these foods attracts mosquitoes.

The biggest thing that attracts mosquitos is water

by Kimberly Thompson, Home & Garden writer