The Deadliest Animal on the Planet – The Mosquito
If you’re shocked to find out that mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on the planet, you’re not alone. They’re small, and while their sting may be painful, it’s nowhere near the pain you’ll feel from a bee or wasp sting. So what makes mosquitoes so deadly? It’s because of the diseases they carry! If you have a mosquito problem, check out mosquito pest control in Phoenix.
Around 700 million people get infected from mosquito-borne diseases every year, which results in around 1 million deaths around the world. For countries like the United States, the death toll is much, much lower, but thousands still get infected. Last year, 11 people died from the Eastern equine encephalitis – and all within 2 weeks from being bitten.
Having mosquitoes on your property isn’t something you should tolerate – read on to find out what you can do to get rid of them!
Standing Water
Standing water can easily become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and it could come in many forms. Old tires, buckets, flower pots left out in the yard can accumulate water over time and can be the cause of many mosquitoes thriving on your property.
For that reason, go over your property to make sure these items aren’t lying around – if they are, get rid of them or at least turn them over so they don’t accumulate water.
Flat roofs that are not maintained, rain gutters, or an abandoned pool nearby can all be prime real estate for mosquitoes.
If there are areas you can’t do anything about, such as an abandoned pool outside of your property, let the property owners or the local government council know.
For birdbaths, make sure you regularly clean the water. You can also use a larvicide – this is an insecticide that targets larvae only, and is not harmful to humans or pets.
Trim Your Grass (and Plants)
Mosquitoes find shelter in shaded areas during the day, and that includes long blades of grass. Keep your grass short to leave mosquitoes with less respite from the elements. Also trim plants, especially the underside of bushes.
You can also consider spraying insecticide on your lawn – some insecticides can last months and remain active (and harmful to pests) so you don’t have to keep reapplying often.
Plant Mosquito Repellents
If you have a garden or want to take up gardening, then now is the perfect time to plant mosquito repellents.
Some plants actively repel mosquitoes and other pests, such as citronella grass, marigolds, lavender, basil, and rosemary. Not only do these plants beautify your home, but they’re also very useful too!
If you have a cat, then hit 2 birds with 1 stone by planting catnip.
Oil Repellents
Essential oils are very popular and are easily accessible. Some oils that are effective in repelling mosquitoes are citronella oil, cinnamon oil, and castor oil. You can apply the oil to your skin as often as needed – not only does it repel mosquitoes, but it smells great too.
While these oils are generally safe to use on skin, be sure you’re not allergic to any of them before you use them.
Citronella candles are also used to keep mosquitoes away (and again, they smell great). Be sure to check reviews for the candles you want to buy, as some brands – while they may all be citronella-based – are still more effective than others.
Traps
Another relatively easy thing you can do to keep mosquitoes away is by setting traps. You can purchase commercial traps online or in stores, but you can also make your own.
The kinds of traps you can make obviously vary, but generally, all you’ll need are a large drink bottle, water, sugar, and a little yeast. Check online for instructions on making these traps.
Once set, you’ll only need to replace the trap solution every few weeks (so it’s fresher and more enticing for mosquitoes). Some other bugs may also be attracted to these traps, so these can potentially help get rid of more than just mosquitoes.
Get to it!
These are relatively easy things you can do to drastically cut down the number of mosquitoes in and around your home – if you have a big mosquito infestation you need help with, get in touch with your local pest control provider!
Author Bio:
Digvijay Singh Kanwar is a professional Content writer and Digital marketing expert and he loves to write about Finance and Health based Articles. For more details, you can contact him via digvijaykanwar96@gmail.com
