Enjoy more time in your backyard by eliminating mosquito breeding environments and selecting the right insect repellant.

Anyone who’s ever taken shelter inside because of buzzing, biting mosquitos knows these tiny insects are annoying. The problem goes beyond a simple nuisance; disease-carrying mosquitos pose a health threat to both people and animals. Discover a few tips to help reduce the mosquito population in your yard and protect yourself and loved ones from their itchy bites.

The health threats of mosquitos

While the itching, redness and swelling of most mosquito bites is a temporary annoyance, mosquitos can carry life-threatening diseases. Last year, 15 animals and one person in Michigan tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis and 54 human cases of West Nile Virus, Jamestown Canyon virus, and other arboviruses were recorded by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS).

The presence of mosquitos is also a threat to pets because these insects can also carry the heartworm parasite, which can be deadly for cats and dogs who haven’t been vaccinated.

Eliminate mosquito breeding environments

As little as a quarter-inch of standing water in something as small as a bottle cap can provide mosquitos with the environment they need to reproduce. And it doesn’t take long! With the right conditions, a mosquito’s life cycle from egg to adult can be completed in as few as eight days. Eliminate places where water stands and you’ll reduce the number of mosquitos in your yard. Such as keeping ditches and drains clear so they can completely drain.

Mosquitos only lay their eggs in still water. Consider using an electric- or solar-powered fountain pump in ponds and birdbaths. If you can’t keep birdbath water moving, change the water regularly. Stocking a pond with fish that feed on mosquitos can also help control the pests.

Stagnant water sitting anyplace—including planters, clogged gutters, garbage and recycling bins—can provide mosquito breeding conditions. Remove any objects that collect water or drill drainage holes in items such as trash bins.

Protect yourself, your loved ones and pets

In addition to eliminating stagnant water around your home, the MDHHS recommends the following actions for controlling mosquitos and reducing the chance of getting a mosquito-borne disease:

• Keep screens in good repair—if it’s time for new windows, consider a Consumers home equity loan
• Frequently replace water in pet bowls
• Keep grass and shrubbery trimmed
• Repair failed septic systems

When outdoors, MDHHS recommends use of an insect repellant approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The agency reports, “When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.”

Look for a repellant with one of these ingredients: DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), p-menthane-diol 3,8-diol (PMD) or 2-undecanone. To avoid getting insect repellant in your eyes, spray it on your hands and then rub on your face, head and neck.

For help in choosing the right insect repellant for your needs, check out the EPA’s online insect repellant search tool.

Are mosquitos good for anything?

As a species, mosquitos are survivors and scientists believe they’ve inhabited the earth for 226 million years. As annoying as they are to us, they play a vital role in the ecosystem, namely, mosquitos serve as pollinators. You might be surprised that their primary food is flower nectar, not blood. Mosquitos are also an integral part of the food system and supply nutrition for hummingbirds, bats, turtles, dragonflies and more. Learn more about the purpose of mosquitoes from the National Wildlife Federation.

Consumers helps thousands of members finance land, first and second homes, and home improvement projects each year. We’d love to help you with a mortgage or home equity line of credit; contact us online or call us at 800.991.2221.

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