Don’t Bother Me Mosquito!
Posted on August 14th, 2008 - 10:30 AMAbout the author: Lina Younes has been working for EPA since 2002 and chairs EPA’s Multilingual Communications Task Force. Prior to joining EPA, she was the Washington bureau chief for two Puerto Rican newspapers and she has worked for several government agencies.
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Working in the garden and enjoying the outdoors has many rewards. However, outdoor activities may come with some negatives—mosquito bites. Personally, I seem to be a mosquito magnet. No, I’m not talking about those modern contraptions that claim they’ll eliminate mosquitoes. Quite the contrary—whenever I go outside the mosquitoes seem to feast on me. I’ve tried using some natural remedies such as eating garlic, using musk oil, but they haven’t been very effective in my case. I have used insect repellents safely, but they have not been able to keep those pesky mosquitoes away for long. I wonder if some people are more prone to mosquito bites than others. My father works in the garden all day—no bites—nada. I walk outside to get the newspaper and come back with a bite or two. Not fair.
In the meantime, there are things we can do to control mosquitoes around the home. First of all, remove their habitat (where they live and breed). What does this mean? Eliminate standing water from rain gutters, old tires, buckets, etc. When we think of stagnant water as a breeding ground, we normally think of the big puddles. We rarely think of the little cracks in the pavement that will collect water after the rain. Do you know that a mosquito can lay its eggs in just a teaspoon of standing water?
There are several steps you can take deter biting insects. Make sure your home window screens are repaired. Wear long sleeves and long pants whenever possible. Stay indoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. If necessary, use repellent safely.
When using insect repellents or any pesticide product, read the label first! Organic repellents have been successful measures for some people. One single action will not eliminate these pests from the face of the earth. Nonetheless, some of these tips may help you enjoy the outdoors more while protecting yourself and your family from mosquito bites. Have a nice summer.
¡No me moleste mosquito!
Sobre la autor: Lina M. F. Younes ha trabajado en la EPA desde el 2002 y está a cargo del Grupo de Trabajo sobre Comunicaciones Multilingües. Como periodista, dirigió la oficina en Washington de dos periódicos puertorriqueños y ha laborado en varias agencias gubernamentales.
Trabajando en el jardín y disfrutando del aire libre tiene muchas recompensas. Sin embargo, algunas de las actividades exteriores pueden tener aspectos negativos, como las picaduras de mosquitos. Personalmente, soy un imán para los mosquitos. No estoy hablando de ningún invento moderno que se adjudica el poder de eliminar los mosquitos. Al contrario. Siempre que salgo parece que los mosquitos me comen viva. He tratado remedios naturales como comer ajo, usa aceite de almizcle, pero no han sido muy eficaces en mi caso. He usado repelentes de insectos de manera segura, pero no parecen haber apartado estos molestosos insectos por mucho tiempo. Me pregunto si algunas personas son más propensas a las picaduras de mosquitos que otros. Por ejemplo, mi padre puede pasar todo el día en el jardín—ni una picadura—nada. Yo salgo un momento a buscar el periódico y regreso a la casa con un par de picaduras. No es justo.
Mientras tanto, hay cosas que podemos hacer para controlar los mosquitos alrededor del hogar. En primer lugar, elimine su hábitat (donde ellos viven y se crían). ¿Qué significa? Elimine donde se pueda apozar el agua en los desagües, las llantas viejas, los cubos, etc. Cuando pensamos en lugares que pueden servir de criaderos, normalmente pensamos en grandes charcos. Rara es la vez que pensamos en las pequeñas grietas en el asfalto donde se puede acumular el agua después de llover. ¿Sabía que un mosquito puede poner huevos en tan sólo una cucharadita de agua apozada?
Hay varios pasos que puede tomar para evitar las picaduras de insectos. Asegúrese que las mallas sobre las ventanas estén en buenas condiciones. Use mangas y pantalones largos cuando sea posible. Evite salir al amanecer y el anochecer cuando los mosquitos están más activos. Si es necesario, use repelente de manera segura.
Cuando use repelentes de insecto o cualquier producto de pesticida, siempre ¡lea la etiqueta primero! Los repelentes orgánicos han sido eficaces para algunas personas. Ninguna acción singular eliminará estas plagas de la faz de la tierra. No obstante, he aquí algunos consejos que le ayudarán a disfrutar de actividades al aire libre mientras se protege a usted y a su familia de las picaduras de mosquito. Que tengan un verano feliz.
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Question of the Week
August 14th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
If a teaspoon of water is enough for mosquto eggs to hatch in, then there’s no hope of controling them in my area; our home is located on the edge of a wetlands area in the deep south. Those little flying nuisances are active and biting for a large portion of the year, and because of the wetlands, I try very hard to avoid chemical pesticides. Given the climate, it’s sometimes imperative to be active outside in the early mornings or evenings, while it’s cool enough to do yard work, so I rely on herbal preparations; I’ve had good success using rosemary-scented soap that I make myself, but when the population is especially dense, I use an herbal insect repellant from Burt’s Bees.
And yes, I’m convinced that some people get bitten a lot more than others; my husband seldom gets a bite, while I get swarmed. Either that or perhaps he’s not as sensitive to the bites and just doesn’t feel them for long.
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August 15th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I have lived in Bergen County, New Jersey, for 19 years, and this had been, without a doubt, the worst mosquito summer yet. It’s also been one of the wettest summers. Maybe not in terms of volume, but the rainfall in my particular area has been remarkably regular. From an environmental perspective, this has been excellent. Brooks are running late in the season, when they are typically dry or nearly so. Vegetation is lush. (I look forward to a long and splendid autumn.) There have been no dire warnings of drinking water shortages. And, mosquitoes are abundant. Mosquitoes love me as well. I’ve been averaging about two bites a day. I’ve noticed that physiologically, I seem to adjust—the inflammation and itchiness decline over time. I understand the disease potential and the extreme sensitivity of some individuals. And I believe protection is of the utmost importance. But I wouldn’t sacrifice the rain to be rid of the mosquitoes. Nature is and always will be a mixed blessing.
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September 1st, 2008 at 8:35 am
ME TOO!
So bad I called Mosquito Magnet folks and asked them if they wanted a blood sample for research.
Forget garlic. Use a DEET spray, spray your garden clothes too, becuase those little bastardos bite right through. Repels tics too. Wash off later.
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