I have always hated mosquitoes. ALWAYS. HATED.
I am that person whom the flying blood suckers search for and destroy by biting me in rapid succession on any tiny patch of skin they find in the cracks between shirts, pants, and socks. I have been known to wear long sleeves and pants on the hottest of days to avoid bites.
I don’t just endure bites, but they are, in fact, mammoth sized itchy welts that linger for days. I simply hate them even though my daughter tells me all about the life cycles of bats, frogs, and other creepy creatures that eat them for survival. I am undeterred; my quest for eradication continues.
Admittedly, this Zika scare is freaking me out. Not just for me or the masses of people who are more prone to mosquito bites, but of course for my daughter and her potential children down the line. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working furiously to figure out all of the details regarding different modes of transmission of the disease, but they are frank in letting the public know they just don’t know all the facts yet.
Don’t forget, mosquitoes are responsible for other diseases such as malaria, West Nile virus, elephantiasis, dengue fever, and yellow fever. Gratefully, these infections are specific to certain geographic areas and are typically rare for us in the United States, but international travelers should always be extra cautious. Please also remember your dog, who can contract heartworm disease from mosquitoes if not treated with preventative medication.
So what are we supposed to do while vaccines and other foolproof prevention techniques are perfected?
The answer is, a little bit of everything because nothing works 100%.
The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) offers an easy guide to follow that breaks down many of the prevention and destruction techniques into three "D" categories. Briefly, here are few of their suggestions, but read the full guide for thorough advice.
DRAIN
DRESS
DEFEND
The three repellents AMCA recommends are:
Consumer Reports echoes AMCA’s advice for removing any source of water, including leaking outdoor spigots but adds its own two cents for warding off the buggers. Plus, they discuss the mosquito’s hateful cousin, the tick.
Speaking of outdoor spaces--what a waste those beautifully decorated decks and patios become when riddled by mosquitoes during peak entertaining hours of dinner and dusk. When performing other summer home maintenance chores, consider this extra layer of mosquito repellent to add to your arsenal: flowers and plants.
Yes, these multi-taskers can beautify your outdoor space, feed your family, and ward off mosquitoes in various ways. Plants repel the bugs either by masking your human sweat scent and the body’s carbon dioxide emitted, or they release a smell mosquitoes can’t stand. Take a look at a few of the most popular options for garden beds and container planting.
Eucalyptus is a barrier that mosquitoes will avoid temporarily, so rub a few leaves on exposed skin for protection during brief gardening sessions.
Basil works very well because of the scent it produces, even without crushing or bruising the leaves. The odor is unpleasant to mosquitoes. Lemon and Cinnamon Basil seem to be the most pungent.
Likewise, these popular plants deter bothersome mosquitoes:
Combined with other techniques, like cleaning the yard of standing water, using oscillating fans, and DEET, pots of these pretty and powerful plants surrounding entertaining or eating areas will stave off the flying beasts and increase the chances of enjoying your outdoor spaces in the evening throughout the summer months.
I certainly intend to incorporate many of these suggestions and, although controversial, I’ll even enlist the help of professionals to come spray our backyard so we can enjoy all the beautiful summer nights the season has to offer.