Ways To Avoid Mosquito Bites
Best Ways to Avoid Mosquito Bites
Mosquito bites are more than annoying, itchy blemishes. Mosquitoes carry deadly diseases like West Nile virus and EEE, so avoiding mosquito bites is important when you’re outdoors. Luckily there are several ways to avoid mosquito bites this summer.
Use insect repellent. Even being outside a short time can be long enough to get a mosquito bite. There are a variety of safe and effective repellents on the market that can help you avoid mosquito bites. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective when used as directed. Be sure to choose an EPA-registered repellent that has DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), Para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone as the active ingredient. Make sure to follow directions on the label. If mosquitoes are biting you, reapply repellent, or think about going inside.
Be aware of peak mosquito hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for mosquitoes. Take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing during evening and early morning to avoid mosquito bites. Consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times if possible.
Cover up. Wearing long sleeves, pants, and socks can help you avoid mosquito bites. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spraying clothes with repellent will give extra protection. Always read the ingredients on your repellent and only apply to clothes or to the skin underneath clothes if safe to do so. There are many summer weight garments available, so be sure to choose clothing that will protect your skin but won’t be too hot!
Use netting. There are many mosquito net products available to help you avoid mosquito bites. Hats, drapes, screen houses, and even full suits give you extra protection from bites while you’re camping, hiking, or enjoying the outdoors. Effective mosquito nets are made with a fine enough mesh to keep mosquitoes from biting you while still allowing airflow inside the net. Some nets are treated with repellent and others are not. Whether you decide to use a treated or untreated net is completely up to you, however, the extra protection provided by a coated net can be worth it.
Stay away from standing water. Mosquitoes like to breed in standing water. Draining standing water decreases the mosquito population in your yard and lessens your chance of getting a bite. Empty buckets, clear water from tarps, and change the water in outdoor pet water dishes often to avoid breeding mosquitoes. When camping, avoid staying overnight near freshwater swamps.
Treat your yard. Having your yard treated by a professional can eliminate biting mosquitoes. Treatments can last for up to 21 days and are available to residential and commercial properties. Barrier sprays that kill mosquitoes on contact and bond to foliage are ideal. They also act as a mosquito repellent for weeks to come. Make sure the treatment you choose is safe for pets and kids.
If you are tired of your outside keeping you inside, give Mosquito Joe of Walpole-Waltham a call today at 508-669-0271 or request a free quote at https://walpole-waltham.mosquitojoe.com/.
