Effective mosquito control is necessary wherever there is standing water. The likelihood of mosquito infestation is quite probable in these areas. To enjoy the outdoors, individuals need to be active in how they handle their surroundings. Iowa residents understand the use of effective mosquito control to attain a pest free environment while enjoying nature during warm weather.
The simplest and most cost effective way of preventing mosquito bites is to wear long pants and long sleeved shirts in heavily infested areas. These areas would include wooded areas, around ponds, camping in locations where the water is standing and not moving, and along any areas where water has been standing longer than a week. The weather can never be predicted so a wet soggy summer will produce more mosquitoes than a dry summer. It is important to dump any containers that may have standing water in them for longer than a week in any type of weather. This will prevent the larva from hatching and producing adult mosquitoes.
Low cost effective mosquito control would include: using mosquito repellant with DEET; spraying the area you will be enjoying with a yard spray; burning citronella candles (which are all natural); and, spraying with a citronella spray. These alternatives will help but have a minimal effectiveness but they do help.
The mosquito / bug zappers are the most popular deterrent after mosquito repellant and yard spray. Zappers work by attracting mosquitoes and other flying insects through the use of ultra-violet light. As the flying insects approach the light, they go through a grid that is electrified. The insects are zapped with static electricity and eliminated. A wide variety of electric mosquito control items are available at www.mosquito-zappers.com. There is one downfall when using a mosquito / bug zapper. The zapper not only eliminates the mosquitoes but all other flying insects that go through the grid. That means the bugs that eat mosquitoes are also eliminated. Research shows that 90% of the bugs that are eliminated are not mosquitoes.
Another item that may be used for effective mosquito control is mosquito netting. The netting is used to cover an area so the mosquitos may not infiltrate the area. At www.travelhealthhelp.com you will find many shapes and sizes of mosquito netting for different areas you wish to cover. When watching the movies, mosquito netting is used to put over beds or porches. In Iowa, some of the places mosquito netting could be used include such places as over a baby crib, port-a-crib or stroller will help protect the infant without using some type of mosquito repellant. When purchasing a mosquito net, make sure the netting is small enough to catch the mosquito’s but large enough to let circulation through.
Mosquito magnets have not been on the market for many years. A good selection may be found on www.mosquitomagnet.com and www.mosquito-zapper.com. They are the most expensive of effective mosquito control devices but yield the best results. The mosquito magnets are electric. They work by releasing a combination of carbon dioxide, moisture and heat. These three items emulate mosquito prey; hence, attract mosquitoes and not other flying insects. As the mosquitoes come close to the mosquito magnet, they are sucked into a chamber where they are heated and eliminated. Note there is no research that I can find that backs the fact that these are the best items out there for effective mosquito control.
Finding the most effective mosquito control device for your situation will be based on your planned activities and how much you would like to spend. Each effective control device has its benefits and its downfalls. As the mosquito population increases, more devices and applications will be found to help with controlling the mosquito population.
