Preventing Bites
Eliminate standing water
Most people are accidental mosquito ranchers. “Surely not me!” you’re probably saying. Take a look in your backyard and see if you can spot any containers holding water - some examples are pictured on this page. Chances are you’ll find at least a few if you look hard enough. Don’t feel too bad - everyone has containers scattered about, and most people don’t think twice about them. Mosquito control thinks about them a lot, though! One of the most important things you can do to prevent mosquito bites around your home is to get rid of containers holding water. Many mosquito species lay their eggs in containers holding standing water around the house, and in as little as a week the eggs can turn into blood-hungry adult mosquitoes. Don’t run a mosquito ranch! Check your yard at least weekly to make sure standing water isn’t turning your stuff into why you’re itchy when you step out the door!
Wear a repellent
Most people have tried an insect repellent spray at least once or twice. If you used one and found that you didn’t like how it made your skin feel, you might be interested in knowing there are many EPA-approved repellents with different skin-feels, scents, and durations out there. Didn’t like how oily the repellent containing DEET made you feel? Try one containing picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or other scientifically vetted and EPA-approved repellents.
A word of warning about essential oils and other repellent “hacks” you might read about online. They might work, but unless there’s scientific evidence to back it up, use them at your own risk. Without evidence showing which species of mosquito they work against, for how long, and what adverse skin reactions they may cause to the people using them, please be careful. If you had a bad experience with an EPA-approved repellent in the past, consider using this questionnaire to find one that might be better suited to your body, while still having scientific evidence proving it actually works.
Call your local mosquito control district
Many counties, cities, and even a few states have some form of organized, government affiliated mosquito control. Mosquitoes have shaped human history thanks to the diseases they spread, and our communities often devote resources to their abatement and control. If you live on Camano Island, you might already be paying for our services through your semi-annual taxes (check our district map here). Live in a mosquito district? Make use of their services! We employ entomologists and mosquito control experts to make sure our residents live as mosquito-free as possible.
