The good thing (for you) about these tips is that for most of them you don’t even need the assistance of a pest management professional such as myself.

Step 1: Eliminate Mosquito Nurseries

You may not know this, but mosquitoes live 3 of their 4 life cycle stages in water.  The adult female mosquito deposits her egg is still water or areas that are frequently flooded.  These eggs hatch and the mosquito larvae mature into pupae.  Finally, the pupa emerges from the water as an adult, and in many cases, waits around for a mate to emerge.  These stages can be completed in as little as 7-10 days.  

The trick is to do a thorough inspection around your home.  Standing water is the perfect place for a mosquito to safely lay her eggs.  During your inspection, look for items that hold water easily.  These can be pots, tires, buckets, toys, bird baths, full gutters, and much more.  When you locate these water collectors, make sure and empty the water immediately.  In the event that your gutters are full, get them cleaned as soon as possible.  Also, if you have a bird bath, it is a good idea to refresh the water once a week.

Step 2: Eliminate Mosquito Resting Places mosquito

When mosquitoes aren’t flying around looking for some poor sucker to feed on, they are usually resting on nearby vegetation.  Weeds in flower beds and in the areas surrounding your home provide a vast amount of surface area on which these mosquitoes can rest safely.  Remove these weeds and deprive those blood-suckers of vital resting space.

Step 3: Dress to Resist

Mosquitoes are most active in the early morning and late evenings.  These times of day are still pretty hot here in southwest Georgia, but if you are going to be in an area that you know has mosquitoes during these times, it makes sense to dress yourself defensively.  Long sleeves and long pants will go a long way toward protecting yourself from mosquito bites.

Step 4: Use Mosquito Repellants

Mosquito repellants can be very effective in reducing the number of bites you receive from mosquitoes so if you can’t dress defensively or you want to protect other parts of exposed skin, this is a very useful approach.  A good rule of thumb is to use a repellant with DEET that is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency.  As always, make sure and use the repellant, just like any chemical, in strict compliance with its labeling.  

Step 5: Eliminate Adult Mosquitoes

This final step in mosquito bite prevention and population reduction is the only step that really requires the expertise and care of a trained professional.  Adult mosquitoes can be eliminated by using a wide variety of insecticides with varying degrees of environmental impact and non-target organism toxicity.  A trained professional will be able to determine what product to use to eliminate the disease-carrying pests and how to use them safely.

If you follow these 5 steps, you can make sure that your friends and family have the best chance to avoid mosquito bites when they are around your home.