Mosquito Season Is Getting Longer and Deadlier. Here’s How to Avoid Getting Sick.
On August 27, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services reported that a resident died after being bit by a mosquito infected with the Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus. This marks the first human EEE death in the United States this year, according to NBC News. Even though EEE is rare, 30 percent of human cases result in death, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Other cases may lead to lasting neurological complications.
Massachusetts and Vermont have also reported “Triple E” virus cases this month. To combat the growing viral threat, some Massachusetts towns urged people to avoid going past 6 p.m., as mosquitoes tend to be more active later in the evening until dawn; parks and recreational areas are shutting down earlier, too.
Because of warming global temperatures, mosquitoes won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, mosquito season is extending—especially in the northeastern states, as temps have increased much more rapidly on the East Coast than in other parts of the country. (You can enter your city in this handy tool to see how much longer mosquito season is in your area.)
While you’re probably aware that spritzing on bug spray is a good idea before heading into mosquito-infested areas like ponds or marshes, sometimes that’s just not enough. It’s also possible that you’re not applying that spray properly.
No vaccines exist for EEE and other mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile. That’s why we spoke to six scientists who study insects for their advice on how to get rid of mosquitoes and lower the odds of getting zapped.
1. Put Bug Spray Everywhere—Even in Your Armpits
Elmer Gray, an entomologist and researcher at the University of Georgia Public Health Extension, who lives in a rural area, says it’s essential to put bug spray all over your body—including your armpits—because these pests are experts at poking the spots you miss.
“When I’m working in the woods in the summer, I tuck my pants into my socks, tuck my shirt in, and spray my feet, legs, waist, and armpits with either a higher concentration of DEET—25 percent or greater—or a permethrin-based repellent, which is the only kind you can safely use on your clothes.” These precautions can also protect against tick bites, says Gray.
“If I’m just going to be someplace where I expect a few mosquitoes, I’ll use one of the EPA-approved repellents with a lower concentration of an active ingredient,” Gray says. Those include repellents made with lemon eucalyptus, citronella, and catnip oil, like Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent or Badger Bug Spray.
After shielding your armpits, apply bug spray on your hands to smooth a layer over your face; just try not to get any of it in your eyes and mouth, and use it minimally on your ears.
2. Stay on Top of the Screens in Your Home and Tent
Screens on the windows and doors of the house are the best way to keep biting insects outside, says Geoffrey Attardo, an associate professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of California, Davis, living in North Davis, a small town surrounded by agricultural development. “We have a screened-in porch at our house, so we can sit outside without worrying about mosquitoes,” he says.
If you don’t have screens in your windows, Attardo recommends keeping your windows shut if possible. Bug head nets are also a portable solution, as are bug nets around your bed.
“If mosquitoes are getting into your house, it’s best to kill the mosquitoes using a fly swatter,” Attardo says. Then, “identify where they are coming in from, and use screens in that area.”
3. Plant Flora That Is Native to Your Area
Landscaping can enhance your outdoor space, but using plants that aren’t native to your area may require extra care and water to help them thrive in an unfamiliar environment. Since mosquitoes love standing water, this can cause more trouble than it’s worth, Attardo says.
“In our yard, we have replaced the lawn with native plants that do not require watering,” he says. “This allows us to save water and prevent the inadvertent creation of mosquito breeding sites via sprinklers.”
The National Wildlife Federation has a native plant finder where you can look up plant species native to your hometown. You could also consult with someone at your local plant store for tips.
But native plants do more than indirectly keep mosquitoes at bay. “Native plants also foster native insect and animal species, which increases biodiversity and strengthens local ecosystems,” Attardo says. “Increased biodiversity is a good way to control mosquitoes, as a biodiverse yard attracts predators of mosquitoes such as dragonflies, damselflies, lizards, birds, and bats.”
4. Create a Mosquito-Repelling Shield Around Yourself
While you can deter bugs with sprays, you can also create a shield of sorts around yourself with the right tools.
Gray recommends using spatial repellent systems, like ThermaCell and OFF Lanterns, which diffuse a small amount of insecticide into the air, creating an invisible shield around them—and you. Most of these are battery-operated or plug-in and make little to no noise when they operate.
Flipping on a fan can be helpful, too. (Yes, really.) “Using small fans at outdoor gatherings can deter mosquitoes from landing and biting,” says Jim Fredericks, an entomologist and senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association. “They’re not strong flyers.”
5. Trim Your Bushes Regularly
Mosquitoes thrive in overgrown plants, as well as wet conditions. That’s why Ian Williams, an entomologist for Orkin in Georgia who specializes in urban entomology, says it’s necessary to maintain your outdoor space. “I keep my shrubs and plants pruned to reduce the resting spots available for mosquitoes and other pests,” he says.
Williams also uses gutter guards to protect his gutters from debris and routinely cleans them to keep out organic material buildup and standing water, where mosquitoes can breed.
Eva Buckner, an entomologist and state extension specialist at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, also takes measures to protect her yard. Buckner applies a larvicide, an insecticide that kills immature mosquitoes or larvae, that contains the naturally occurring Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (Bti) to a water fountain in her yard every month. (FYI: Exposure to Bti is not considered harmful to humans and pets.)
6. Limit Standing Water Around Your Home
Mosquitoes can breed in even small amounts of stagnant water, making it important to eliminate any that may be around your property.
“I drilled a couple of small holes in the bottom of the trash cans that I use for collecting yard debris to prevent water from rain and irrigation collecting in them,” Buckner says. She also lays screens atop her rain barrels to keep adult mosquitoes from laying eggs in them.
“I try to limit the number of items I leave out in my yard that can potentially fill with water and be used as mosquito larval habitats,” Buckner says. She makes a point to pick up fallen palm fronds, the leaves of a palm tree, which can collect amounts of water small enough for mosquitoes to breed in.
7. If You Can, Avoid Traveling to Areas Where Mosquitoes Are Thriving
Mosquito populations are different everywhere you go, but they particularly thrive in humid, warm areas. “Knowing the pleasures of mosquitoes, I try not to travel to areas with bad mosquito populations,” Gray says. “If I were traveling internationally today, particularly to the more tropical areas, I’d take every possible protection.”
Gray is particularly wary of dengue, which can cause a sudden high fever and rash and is most common in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands, per the CDC.
If you travel to one of those areas, Gray recommends not sitting outside in unprotected areas at dusk, wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, pants, and long sleeves, and using an EPA-approved repellent. “If I was going to be exposed for over two hours, I’d be sure to use one of the higher concentration products,” he says. “Mosquito-borne diseases are a real risk in developing countries, and people need to take precautions.”
Korin Miller is a health writer based in the northeast. She already toted bug spray around with her everywhere for her kids, but after reporting for this story, she now plans to spray her and her kids’ armpits in the future. Given that her back porch can morph into a mosquito fest in the evenings, she’s considering investing in bigger fans to help keep them away so that she and her family can enjoy their backyard—worry-free.
The post Mosquito Season Is Getting Longer and Deadlier. Here’s How to Avoid Getting Sick. appeared first on Outside Online.
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