How to Avoid Summer Mosquitoes

Summer is here! Warm humid evenings bring backyard BBQs and laughter and conversation, but if you are like me, it also brings swarms of mosquitoes which feast on me, leaving everyone else alone.

Trying everything from science to superstition to scare off mosquitoes, I still haven’t found a way to stay bite-free. And because I am allergic to mosquito bites, the pain and itch linger for days.
Here are some tips that do seem to work:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants. Mosquitoes can bite through thin clothing, so it’s best to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when you’re outdoors, especially during dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Use insect repellent. Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent to exposed skin and clothing. Reapply the repellent as directed on the label.
• Stay indoors at dusk and dawn. Mosquitoes are most active during dusk and dawn, so it’s best to stay indoors during these times. If you must be outdoors during these times, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and use insect repellent.
• Drain standing water. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so it’s important to drain any standing water around your home, such as in flowerpots, birdbaths, and gutters.
• Use a bug zapper. Backyard bug zappers lure mosquitoes with frequencies of sound and light, then kill them good and dead with an electrical charge.
• Take antihistamines before going outdoors. Antihistamines will help with swelling and allergic reactions to bug bites. Putting an ice pack on the bite can also keep swelling down and the allergy-causing mosquito saliva to not migrate through the bloodstream.

Try these tips to avoid mosquitoes and not be stuck indoors during the summer months.