Mosquito Control

The Mosquito has a long, piercing proboscis. It has long legs and smaller wings.

Detection
Mosquitoes are an annoyance because of the bites they produce that can cause extensive itching.

Impact
Some species of Mosquitoes can cause malaria, yellow fever, some types of encephalitis and dengue fever. Public health control measures have almost eliminated these problems in the United States. However, they are severe pests in warm weather because of their annoyance to people. Many outdoor gatherings are interrupted or prevented because people do not want to be aggravated by these pests.

Prevention
One way to prevent a mosquito problem is to use repellent.

Repellents are substances that cause a mosquito to avoid biting people. Persons working or playing in mosquito-infested areas will find repellents very helpful in preventing mosquito bites. Repellents are formulated and sold as aerosols, creams, solids (sticks) and liquids. For more than 40 years, DEET has been the standard in mosquito repellents. Check the label for this active ingredient.

Follow these rules when using repellents:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants outdoors during peak mosquito activity time periods.
• Apply repellent sparingly to exposed skin or clothing only.
• Keep repellents away from eyes, nostrils and lips: do not inhale or ingest repellents or get them into the eyes.
• Avoid applying high-concentration (>30% DEET) products to the skin, particularly on children.

Here are other ways to help prevent a mosquito problem:

• Dispose of containers that collect and hold water. Do not allow water to accumulate in the saucers of flowerpots, cemetery urns or in pet dishes for more than 2 days.
• Clean debris from rain gutters and remove any standing water under or around structures, or on flat roofs. Check around faucets and air conditioner units and repair leaks or eliminate puddles.
• Change the water in birdbaths and wading pools at least once a week.
• Fill or drain puddles, ditches and swampy areas, and either remove, drain or fill tree holes and stumps with mortar.
• Eliminate seepage from cisterns, cesspools and septic tanks.
• Check for trapped water in plastic or canvas tarps used to cover boats, pools, etc. Arrange the tarp to drain the water.
• Irrigate lawns and gardens carefully to prevent water from standing for several days.
• If ditches contain stagnant water for one week or longer, they can produce large numbers of mosquitoes. Report such conditions to a Mosquito Control or Public Health office. Do not attempt to clear these ditches because they may be protected by wetland regulations.