Mosquito bites can feel like an unavoidable summertime nuisance. But the pesky insects can leave more than just itchy bumps. Mosquitoes can transmit diseases, including West Nile and Zika virus.
Tips to Control the Mosquito Population
A mosquito larva needs standing water to develop, and can breed in a container as small as a bottle-cap. One of the best ways to reduce the population in your yard is by eliminating standing water, Fairfax County says. Some areas to check include roof gutters, downspout extensions, planting containers, bird baths, ornamental ponds, tarps on woodpiles, and drainage ditches.
You can also treat standing water with larvicides and spray your yard, but the county cautions to use chemicals carefully and according to label instructions.
Mosquito Bite Prevention
Eliminating breeding grounds will help, but it can still be difficult to avoid mosquitoes altogether. Fairfax County offers these tips to help avoid bites:
- Wear insect repellent.
- Avoid peak mosquito times if possible by staying indoors at dawn and early evening.
- Wear long, loose, and light-colored clothing when outdoors.
- Install, repair, or replace screens on windows and doors to help keep them from coming inside your home.
Fairfax County’s Prevention Plan
Fairfax County maintains that its health department has a robust mosquito management program. It includes monitoring, standing water elimination, and killing larvae. The county sets traps on a weekly basis during peak season to collect adult mosquitoes and test them for West Nile and Zika.
County-maintained stormwater dry ponds are also routinely inspected for breeding during the months of April through October. These sites are treated with larvicides to kill immature mosquitoes before they become flying adults. The health department will only spray insecticides in rare cases to target mosquitoes which transmit disease to humans.
Free Yard Inspection
Fairfax County residents can also request a free yard inspection. A health department staff member will help identify potential mosquito breeding sites in your yard and provide prevention tips.
Feature image courtesy KUBE/stock.adobe.com
