Photo by Syed Ali on Unsplash
A Very Buggy Start
This year’s mosquito season is already off to an explosive start across the country. The mosquito’s active season has grown significantly with milder winters and warmer summers. So these bugs won’t bug off anytime soon. What can you do to repel mosquitoes safely and effectively? To save time and stress, we have pulled together methods and resources for avoiding mosquitoes and keeping your summer as bite-free as possible.
A Common Nuisance and Disease Spreader
Let’s get to know mosquitoes (if you aren’t already well acquainted) and the risks they can pose to us. The mosquito is a common flying insect that mostly requires a blood meal from people or animals to lay their eggs. However, they are more than just pests. Mosquitoes are extremely pervasive and diverse; many species can carry debilitating and life-threatening diseases.
How to Avoid Mosquitoes Outside
So how can one enjoy the outdoors without walking back inside an itchy, bumpy mess? What most often comes to mind is repellent and for good reason. A good bug repellent can keep you bite-free for hours when applied correctly. However, many people express concerns over the safety of using chemicals like DEET and look for natural ingredients that are less complicated to apply for outdoor expeditions.
The issue is that many natural remedies aren’t as effective as advertised. It’s no secret that, if used correctly, DEET and picaridin are safe and are the best in the market at repelling bugs. Even better, picaridin has been shown in studies to be just as effective as DEET, without the heavy texture, odor, or ability to dissolve plastics and other synthetic substances. When safety and effectiveness are the priorities, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -approved repellent with either DEET or picaridin is generally the way to go.
Avoiding Mosquitoes: Indoor Solutions
Even so, that doesn’t completely discount the rep that many natural ingredients garner as a mosquito solution. Natural oils and scents like peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender can passively drive off mosquitoes and other pesky bugs. Using these scents around the house can make a noticeable change in the amount of mosquitoes you catch indoors. It is wise to use these natural oils with proper research and caution. Many natural repellents aren’t even EPA-approved for effectiveness, and the misuse of essential oils used in many DIY repellents can cause severe poisoning. It remains highly recommended to speak with your doctor for professional advice tailored to your unique needs!
Other ways to keep mosquitoes out of your space include netting, traps, and removing or treating stagnant water to prevent the insects from breeding. The last method is especially effective, as mosquitoes can only lay eggs in still water.
Taking these precautions will help you avoid mosquitoes and finally enjoy your summer activities bite-free!
Have Health Insurance Questions?
We hope that this information on how to avoid mosquitoes is helpful to you. For more ways to keep the bugs at bay, click here!.
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