Here's how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of mosquitos:

While mosquito bites are an annoyance from their annoying itchy welts, the health threats they pose to people and pets are significant and can take place right in your own backyard. With summer’s warmer weather having arrived, people are spending more time outdoors. However, with increased outdoor activity, you can be at risk of becoming a meal for summer’s most dangerous and pesky pest – the mosquito. 

According to the National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA) 2021 Bug Barometer®, this year’s warmer and wet spring will carry through the summer months allowing mosquito populations to thrive.

“With much of the country expected to experience a hot, rainy spring and summer, disease-transmitting pests like mosquitoes will be afforded ideal conditions for populations to thrive,” said Jim Fredericks, Ph.D., chief entomologist for the NPMA.

With the threat of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases, it’s important for people to take the necessary precautions to prevent mosquito bites when spending time outdoors this summer.

Mosquito Prevention Tips

All mosquitoes require water in which to breed. Homeowners should drain any standing water around their homes to stop attracting mosquitoes.

To help reduce conditions that attract mosquitoes in and around your home, Rottler offers the following tips:

• Dispose of any unused tires. One tire can breed thousands of mosquitoes.
• Drill small holes in the bottom of recycling containers to allow excess water to drain.
• Clear roof gutters of debris.
• Check and empty outdoor toys nightly.
• Repair leaky outdoor faucets.
• Install tight-fitting screens on windows and doors, and repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Change the water in birdbaths and kiddie pools at least once a week.
• Turn over large objects like canoes and boats.
• Don't allow water to collect on pool covers.
• Empty water collected in tarps around the yard or on woodpiles.
• Eliminate small containers like bottles, buckets, trash can lids, flowerpots, and tin cans.
• Plug holes in trees.

Personal Mosquito Protection Tips

With mosquito season upon us, Rottler offers the following tips on how to protect you and your family against mosquitoes and the harmful diseases they transmit:

• Apply insect repellant containing DEET when outdoors and use as directed on the product label.
• Apply repellant over top of sunscreen and reapply every four to six hours.
• Minimize outside activity between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and closed-toe shoes when outdoors.
• Since most mosquitoes are not good flyers using a fan on porches or patios can create a negative airflow.