Whether or not you're in a low-lying area, mosquitoes have likely invaded your outdoor living space. I happen to be one of those people whose body chemistry makes me irresistible to the little blighters. The cause is the carbon dioxide we exude through breathing as well as through our skin. Mosquitoes can sense a meal from a long way off and are also attracted to the warmth and humidity we give off.
Some people swear by the less repellant repellants made from natural botanicals, but they don't work for me. I could smother myself with citronella and the mosquitoes would still find me. The best way to reduce the numbers of mosquitoes in your environment is to interrupt their breeding cycle.
According to North Carolina State University Department of Entomology, all mosquitoes have one common requirement - they need water to complete their life cycle. Some lay individual eggs on the sides of tree holes or discarded containers, or in depressions in the ground that will hold water. The scary part is that their eggs can lay dormant for several years, hatching when their "nest" is flooded by rainfall. Several flooding and drying cycles are usually required for all of the eggs to hatch that are laid by a particular female mosquito.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that even in areas where the virus is circulating, very few mosquitoes are infected with the virus. Even if the mosquito is infected, less than one percent of those bitten and infected will become severely ill.
In general, mosquito repellent works by masking the chemical cues that welcome mosquitoes to dine. One of the most effective repellents is one of the oldest around. DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) was first developed for use by the U.S. Army in 1946, and it became available to the public in 1957. All of the EPA-registered active ingredients have demonstrated repellency, with some offering more long lasting protection than others.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus was found to provide longer lasting protection than other plant-based repellents. Permethrin, a repellent made from chrysanthemum flowers is another long-lasting repellent, but must not be used directly on the skin. In general, the more active ingredient a repellent contains, the longer its effectiveness. For example, "OFF! Deep Woods" repellent, which contains about 24 percent DEET, was found to offer protection for an average of five hours.
The CDC offers these tips for reducing the number of mosquitoes in outdoor areas.
· At least once or twice a week, empty water from flower pots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels and cans.
· Check for clogged rain gutters and clean them out.
· Remove discarded tires and other items that could collect water.
· Be sure to check for containers or trash in places that may be hard to see, such as under bushes or under your home.
For more information, visit the CDC Web site on West Nile Virus: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm.
The opinions are solely those of the writer.
