Mosquitoes Will Be ‘Worse Than Ever’ This Summer In CNY
Finally, we have some beautiful weather, but now we're in for a battle with mosquitoes.
Conditions are perfect for an uptick in mosquitoes in CNY. A very wet spring has left a breeding paradise as Karlene Franasiak, from Mosquito Joe tells Spectrum news.
“They need a bottle cap full of water to lay hundreds of eggs, and when you look at all of the rain we've had this year, that's a lot of bottle caps...The other factor is heat spikes. It speeds up and accelerates their growth process.”
To reduce the number of mosquitoes in your yard, you should eliminate standing water, and change birdbaths and outdoor water bowls at least once a week. Franasiak via Spectrum suggests frequently spraying down piles of wood or outdoor furniture as well.
According to the CDC, mosquitoes bite during the day and night, live indoors and outdoors and search for warm places as temperatures begin to drop. Some will hibernate in enclosed spaces, like garages, sheds, and under (or inside) homes to survive cold temperatures. Except for the southernmost states in North America, mosquito season starts in the summer and continues into fall.
Mosquito bites aren't just annoying and itchy; they can also make you sick from viruses, so we need to prevent them, and the most effective way is with insect repellant.
When used as directed, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women says the CDC. Use an EPA-registered insect repellentExternal with one of the following active ingredients:
- DEET
- Picaridin
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
- Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
- 2-undecanone
You should also wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and make sure to use screens with open windows and doors.
If you have a DIY or natural mosquito repellent you would like to share then please do!!! We might try it and share it with our listeners.