How to fend off mosquitoes

The best ways to avoid mosquito bites — from removing standing water to applying effective repellents. Photo / 123rf

How to keep the pests away from your house and protect yourself from bites when you go outdoors.

Summer is here, and in certain areas, mosquitoes will be out in full force.

Most of the time, bug bites are no more than a nuisance that fades in a few days. But mosquitoes can transmit pathogens that cause diseases.

You can take simple precautions to keep mosquitoes away from your home and protect yourself when you’re outdoors.

Get rid of standing water

Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in still water, said Dina Fonseca, an entomology professor at Rutgers University, which means any source of standing water near your home is a potential breeding ground.

Look out for water pooling inside your gutters where leaves have built up, near leaky sprinklers, on top of tarps and in flower pots or buckets you keep outside. Mosquitoes don’t need much water to lay their eggs, so try to be thorough.

“It’s actually pretty sneaky,” said Dr Jen Wall Forrester, division director of infectious diseases at the University of Cincinnati. “It’s really hard to get rid of all the water in your yard,” she said.

Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in tiny amounts of standing water, even those as small as a bottle cap. Photo / 123RF

Apply bug spray liberally

Experts said many species of mosquitoes, particularly those that can carry pathogens and transmit viruses, are most active at dawn or dusk. But some mosquitoes are out during the day, so it’s best to apply mosquito repellent whenever you step outside.

“Every time is mosquito time,” Fonseca said.

Go with a mosquito repellent that contains DEET, which is “easily the most effective” at keeping bugs at bay, Markowski said.

Apply it to any exposed skin, paying careful attention to places you might forget such as your ankles, hands, wrists, the tops of your feet and the back of your neck. To cover your face without getting spray into your eyes or mouth, consider spraying the repellent on to your hands and rubbing it on to your face with your hands, Markowski said. You can also opt for a lotion repellent to make it easier to avoid your eyes and mouth, he added.

Mosquito repellents containing 25% DEET typically protect you for up to eight hours, said Karthikeyan Chandrasegaran, an assistant professor of entomology at the University of California, Riverside. But check a product’s label to see how long it provides protection.

You should reapply your repellent after swimming or sweating from physical activity to stay protected.

DEET-based repellents provide up to eight hours of protection from mosquito bites. Photo / 123RF

Cover up when you go outdoors

Tight or thin clothing such as leggings and linen pants makes you an easy target because mosquitoes can bite through them, Wall Forrester said.

When possible, wear loose, long-sleeve shirts and full-length pants made of thicker materials, such as denim or khaki. You can also tuck your pants into your socks to better protect your ankles. “It is not very attractive, but it’s very good,” Markowski said.

You can also spray your clothes with mosquito repellent. Chandrasegaran said bug spray containing picaridin can be a good option because it is odourless and less greasy than sprays containing DEET. Other alternatives include sprays that contain oil of lemon eucalyptus and the chemical IR3535, though experts stressed DEET remains the most effective option.

Protect your space

Make sure your window screens don’t have holes that will let mosquitoes fly inside, Markowski said. If your windows don’t have screens or you are sleeping outdoors, consider mesh mosquito nets, which can be hung above a bed, Chandrasegaran added.

Outside, you can hang a mosquito coil. These work by heating and vaporising its active ingredient, such as an insecticide, that can repel or potentially kill mosquitoes. Chandrasegaran said the effectiveness of mosquito coils largely depends on the weather. If it’s windy, the breeze will blow the fumes away before they can repel pests.

For that reason, Chandrasegaran said, mosquito coils should be a last resort. You’re better off using other options.

Window screens and mesh nets can be life-savers when it comes to keeping mosquitoes out of your home. Photo / 123RF

This article originally appeared in the New York Times.

Written by: Katie Mogg.

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