5 Ways to Protect Yourself from Mosquitoes

Every time spring comes back around they arrive, flying, biting, and making you itch. Not only can mosquitoes drain the fun out of warm weather, they can also carry diseases like malaria, yellow fever, and West Nile virus, just to name a few. You can reduce the amount of bites you incur this year by following a few simple tips.

Use Insect Repellant

We’ll start with the obvious – get some quality insect repellant. Most stores offer a variety of different kinds. The most effective types are those that contain 30% to 50% DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide). Insect repellants with less than 30% will require you to reapply the solution more frequently.

Keep Your Skin Covered

Another great way to avoid getting bittenis to cover your skin with a long sleeve shirt and pants. Make sure you choose loose fitted clothing, not only to keep you from getting too hot, but also to keep mosquitoes from biting through your cloths. If your clothing is too tight, a mosquito may be able to sink their teeth through. Try shopping at an outdoors store for some comfortable options.

Stay Clear of Standing Water

You can usually find mosquitoes hanging out around water because that’s where they lay their eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the bugs go through an aquatic larva and pupa stage before developing into adults. If you want to keep these pesky bugs away, you need to eliminate all standing water from your yard. This means getting rid of old tires, buckets, bird baths, and anything else that can store water.

Mow Your Lawn Regularly

Mosquitoes hate a tidy lawn. They prefer hanging out around  overgrown vegetation, so try your best to mow your lawn regularly. Getting into the habit of keeping a well-groomed yard will go a long way to reducing the amount of bugs around your home.

Avoid Running Around Too Much

As strange as it sounds, you attract mosquitoes just by breathing. The carbon dioxide emitted when you exhale alerts mosquitoes that a living human or animal is nearby, so the more exhausted you are the more likely mosquitoes will seek you out. Does this mean you shouldn’t exercise outside? Certainly not. But if you want to run around outside, make sure to do so in areas with less bugs.

Spring is a wonderful time of year to get out of your house and enjoy the outdoors, but the threat of getting bitten can make the season less appealing. Use these tips to prevent bug bites, so you can have a great time outside without returning home itchy.