Mosquito Prevention Tips and Tricks

You probably know the old phrase, “April showers bring May flowers.” As much as we love seeing those beautiful May blooms, April showers also bring about something else that we’re not quite as fond of: mosquitoes. That’s right, May is the start of mosquito season as well. On top of being itchy and annoying, mosquito bites can also be dangerous as they can possibly transmit a variety of diseases, including the Zika Virus. The best way to protect yourself and your family is to eliminate mosquito breeding habitats on your property, which greatly decreases the number of mosquitoes that you will come in contact with, and to understand how to safely use mosquito repellents. Here are some of our best tips:

• Mosquitoes can breed in as little as ½ an inch of standing water. Dump out any standing water that has collected in your gutters, flowerpots, buckets, plastic tarps, grill covers, baby pools, old tires, and trash cans.
• Check each of these places periodically and after any heavy rainstorms to ensure no water is allowed to collect for long periods of time.
• If you have tire swings, wheel barrels or other equipment on your property that could easily collect water, drill a small hole in the bottom so that water will drain out naturally.
• If you have any birdbaths, fountains, rain barrels, water trays for potted plants or other similar water receptacles, make sure to empty these out and refill them with fresh water about once a week to ensure mosquitos cannot breed inside them.
• If you have any swimming pools or ponds on your property, make sure the water is continually circulated and is properly treated to ensure mosquitoes cannot breed in either of these places.
• Only buy EPA-registered mosquito repellents and always read the application directions on the package and follow them closely.
• Check out our blog for tips and advice on how to use mosquito repellents and other home pest control products safely.
• When heading into marshy or wooded areas that contain mosquitoes, wear long pants, long sleeves, and close-toed shoes. Make sure to tuck your shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks (yes, it looks silly but it really helps).
• Apply mosquito repellent only to your clothing and any exposed skin. Do not apply to skin that will be covered by your clothing. And never apply mosquito repellants to ears, mouth, eyes, broken skin or open wounds.
• When applying mosquito repellent to your face, spray into your hand and then pat onto your face. Never spray directly into your face.
• Always help children to apply their mosquito repellent to avoid accidental over spraying or spraying into sensitive areas like nose and mouth.
• Replace your outdoor lights with yellow “bug lights,” available online or from most hardware stores. These are not mosquito repellents but will attract fewer mosquitoes than normal outdoor lights do.
• You can get citronella candles (made from citronella oil which repels mosquitoes and other flying insects) or torches for your deck or porch.
• If possible, try to avoid going outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, at sunrise, sunset and early evening.
• Check your window screens and screen doors to make sure there are no small holes which mosquitoes can get through. Also, check for gaps or cracks around doors and windows which could let mosquitoes inside. If you find any, repair or replace the screens and fill in cracks or gaps with weather stripping.

At Emtec Pest Control, we are committed to safe and responsible pest control. We understand that your family’s safety is your number one priority, so we make it our priority, too. If you have any other questions about mosquitoes, how to eliminate mosquito habitats around your home or how to safely use mosquito repellants, contact your Oklahoma pest control experts at Emtec Pest Control by calling us or by filling out our online contact form. Our service areas in Northeast Oklahoma include Bixby, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Owasso, Jenks, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Skiatook, Stillwater, Tulsa and the surrounding areas. In Central Oklahoma, we service Edmond, Moore, Oklahoma City, Yukon and the surrounding areas. You can also connect with us on social media for more helpful pest control tips and information. We are on Facebook and Google+.