Don't let bugs ruin your backyard picnic! Create a "Bite-Free" backyard.
Mosquitoes start life as aquatic creatures, and prefer to breed in still, almost stagnant, bodies of water such as marshes, swamps and small ponds. But being tiny creatures, they don't need lots of space for egg laying -- usually, even the tiniest pool of standing water will suffice. A shallow puddle, a tire swing, an infant's pool, a crook in a tree, an empty bucket or an old tin can are just a few examples of potential mosquito hatcheries. As a result, one of the best preventive measures you can take is to eliminate as many of their breeding sites as possible. This will make your lawn less attractive to mating adults, and thus significantly reduce both the adult and pre-adult (or larval) population. In general, the less junk you have lying around -- and therefore waiting to collect rainwater- the less inviting your property will be to the egg-laying females that inflict bites. More specifically, we recommend that you...
1. Keep your gutters clear and free flowing.
2. Keep child-size swimming pools drained when not in use.
3. Continually refresh and replenish the water in swimming pools and birdbaths.
4. Store unused flowerpots, watering cans, and empty plastic containers in your garage or shed.
5. Keep your lawn and shrubs trimmed to minimize breeding habitat for mosquitoes.
6. Level your yard in low spots to eliminated puddles and pooling water.
7. Remove old stumps.
8. Use a permethrin-based mosquito spray, such as CutterŪ Bug Free Backyard, on your lawn, trees, shrubs, and flowers.
9. Apply a DEET-based insect repellent, like CutterŪ, to exposed skin. An effective repellent will contain 7% to 35% DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide).
10. Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET, as mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing.
11. Whenever you use an insecticide or insect repellent, be sure to read and follow the manufacturer's DIRECTIONS FOR USE, as printed on the product.
12. Vitamin B and "ultrasonic" devices have NOT been proven effective in preventing mosquito bites.
Note: If you have recently been bitten by mosquitoes or ticks and are experiencing symptoms related to the diseases discussed in this website, you should consult a physician as soon as possible.