With the recent spread of Chikungunya virus and other mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, it is important to keep your home free of these pests. Here are some important tips to protect your home and your loved ones against this annoying, pesky creature.
Remove stagnant water
Did you know mosquitoes can lay eggs even in water as small amount as inside a water bottle cap? Make sure you do not leave any bowl or cup of water overnight. Clean potted plant holders and do not keep water stored in buckets without a lid. Rooms in your apartment that can be a haven for mosquitoes include the kitchen and bathroom. Make sure these are dry at the end of the day.
You should also examine outdoor spaces such as the rooftop, balconies to ensure there are no stagnant of water.
Keep neighborhood clean
Make sure your neighborhood drainage system is efficient and not a ground for breeding of mosquitoes. If there are too many trees, hire pest control to spray with mosquito repellent insecticides. Try to keep your area clean and tidy. With a less cluttered neighborhood, mosquitoes will find fewer places as breeding spots.
Install fly proof nets
Installing fly proof net on windows and other openings will keep the mosquitoes out while letting fresh air in. Since the disease-spreading mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mostly bite in daylight as well as at night, keep those screens in place even during the day and not just after sunset. If there are any tear and wear on the screen, make sure you patch them up. You should also fix any broken windows you may have the staircase as mosquitoes can get in through those areas too.
Use mosquito nets
This is a no-brainer! No matter how hot it is, even if your room is not air conditioned or you face power outage, do not neglect this simple tip of using mosquito nets during night time. Remember it is better to be safe than sorry.
Try natural repellants
You can try burning citronella, which is an essential oil obtained from lemon grass. The smoke of this burnt-oil repels mosquito. Plants like marigold, lemongrass, basil are also mosquito repellant. Consider planting them in outdoor areas of your apartment. Remember though these only act as repellants and are not to be considered a barrier.
Invest in a mosquito-zapping racket
Instead of using harmful aerosols or mosquito coils, get a mosquito-zapping racket which gives you better chances at killing the pests.
Some pointers about mosquitoes:
- There are over 3,000 species of mosquitoes in the world.
- The most common, and most dangerous, are the various species in the Culex, Anopheles, and Aedes
- Mosquitoes can lay their eggs in as little as 10 milliliters of water.
- Only the female mosquitoes bite as they need the protein from blood to produce eggs.
- Mosquito repellent doesn’t kill mosquitoes on your skin but rather prevents mosquito bites on your skin.
With the arrival of the summer season, mosquitoes can increase in numbers. Although not all mosquitoes are dangerous, the disease spreading ones should not be taken lightly. These tips can guide you better to protect your home and loved ones against these detrimental pests.