If you spend any time outside at all, you’ve likely found yourself on the receiving end of a bite or two from the ever-nagging mosquito.
Quite frankly for most of my life, all I ever worried about was easing the itch from getting bitten. The problem is this “after the fact” approach isn’t such a great idea today.
Two years ago while spending some time in Kansas City I got a bite from a mosquito. I caught the critter in the act and killed it but later that evening it was apparent that it was different than a typical mosquito bite.
I felt absolutely miserable for the next week or two with flu like symptoms and have since learned that west nile virus had been commonly found in the area where I was bitten.
After that experience I must admit that I become much more proactive about warding off mosquitoes. Granted this isn’t always easy, but it sure beats the alternative. So as they say, the best defense is a good offense.
Around our home, I make a point to not let water collect in areas where mosquitoes can breed. I do my best to avoid being outside near dusk and I make sure I put on a safe “deet free” repellent that I trust when I spend much time outdoors.
And along with these steps I use some simple skeeter traps, and eco-friendly larvae control to take a combined approach to dealing with the critters and for the most part I like the approach. It addresses controlling mosquitoes at their weakest point, and if they do get to adulthood or blow in, there’s a bit of protection in that too.
I cover this multi-control approach in the video below and I hope that it provides a few ideas to keep you and your family safe this summer.
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