An exterminator checks water-filled tires for mosquito larvae in Florida.
Most of us have experienced the whiny buzz of a mosquito near an ear, a wretched noise from a wretched creature. Aside from the itchy bites they leave behind on the skin, these insects can be deadly. According to "National Geographic," mosquitoes kill millions of people worldwide every year by spreading diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, West Nile virus and encephalitis. Learning more about these vicious bloodsuckers can help you keep them out of your house. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Patch even the smallest holes in window screens. Mosquitoes can get through tiny spaces for the blood they need to produce strong eggs. Fill any gaps along the edges of the windows, too. If possible, keep all windows closed from late afternoon until morning. Mosquitoes usually come out to feast at night.
2. Check the yard and house for standing water. Mosquitoes need only tiny amounts of water to lay their eggs and spawn hundreds more of their kind. Check recycling bins, children's toys, bird baths, old tires, rain gutters that may be clogged and any other place that might hold standing water. Mow the lawn and pull weeds at least once a week, as mosquitoes can hide in tall grass.
3. Keep catnip, horsemint, marigold, ageratum and citronella plants in the garden and around the home. These repel mosquitoes but won't eliminate them. According to a 2001 ScienceDaily article, the catnip plant is 10 times more effective in repelling mosquitoes than DEET.
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