(YOU’LL BE SURPRISED WHAT KEEPS THEM AWAY)
They can smell you from 25 meters. Their zig zag flying prowess is hard to keep track of. With tiny, barely visible frames, they hover, beady eyes fixated on exposed human skin. They’re relentless – they can’t wait to land, bite, and drink human blood.
MOSQUITOES
Even the name sounds scary.
I can’t tell you how often I’m exposed to these pests. From hiking along forest trails, to the confines of my back porch – it doesn’t matter where – they show up, ready to feast on my outdoor fun.
I’ve used countless citronella candles – never worked well, if at all. The mosquito wrist bands pretty much kept them away from, well…my wrists. And those light-up bug zappers? Mosquitoes don’t really care about light, so what good are they? Next to staying indoors (and who wants that?), there are 2 ways, in-particular, to keep these bugs off your skin when outside.
FIRST, A FEW STRANGE FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. Mosquitoes are on the list of the deadliest animals on earth. No kidding, they made the top 10! They kill more people than any animal. They’re responsible for at least 725,000 deaths a year.
2. These bugs are found in every region on the planet, except Antarctica.
3. They are attracted to our body heat and the CO2 we exhale. They find us by observing movement.
4. The World Health Organization notes more than half of the human population is currently at risk from mosquito-borne diseases.
5. One mosquito can carry more than one disease.
6. If you’ve been bitten by a mosquito, it was a female. They need a blood meal before they can lay eggs.
THE 2 SIMPLE WAYS TO KEEP THESE BUGS AWAY!
The first effective way to keep mosquitoes from bugging you…? Drum roll please…BUG SPRAY. Surprised? One reason it’s popular is because it is conveniently portable. You can take the spray with you anywhere outdoors. With a few squirts of the repellent, your chances of keeping mosquitoes away improve greatly.
But more important is the reason WHY it works so well – It must contain a specific ingredient.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists only four chemicals known to repel mosquitoes. They are DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus and IR3535. If you’re using a mosquito repellent that doesn’t have one of these ingredients, it’s probably no good.
Personally, I have great results using products with DEET and I’m glad to hear its deemed safe by the EPA…even for children.
In all the years of my outdoor adventures I’ve tested various bug repellents and I’ve narrowed down my list to two particular brands. The first one is called OFF! It’s an Amazon bestseller for good reason. See all the reviews on their page HERE.
But the one I use most is Cutter by Skinsations. This spray is friendly to my skin and smells good too. But most of all, and I can personally vouch, it really keeps the mosquitoes away (and other bugs too)!
Not interested in spraying your body with chemicals?
LET MOTHER NATURE HELP YOU
No kidding. The second easiest way to keep those nasty bugs from preying on you is by spending your time within moving air. Because mosquitoes weigh next to nothing, they have trouble flying in even the slightest of breezes. They’re weak flyers. That’s why they always seem to surround you when the air is stagnant and wet with humidity. So if you choose to be outdoors, make sure there’s an easy breeze in the air!
NO OUTDOOR BREEZE? Use one of these…
a FAN
If the air is still and not moving…setup up a few fans and those bugs won’t fly near you.
The tiny mosquito bug weighs in at a whopping 2.5 milligrams and can only fly 1 to 1 ½ miles per hour. They won’t come close if you’ve got air blowin’ around.
So go ahead and relax, drink a few cold ones on your porch, deck or patio. As long as you’ve got the air circulating, the bugs will be a no show. Simple as that.
HERE’S ONE LAST TIP – and IT’S IMPORTANT
Beyond the bug spray and the fans, if you still experience mosquitoes around your homestead, and I mean lots of them, you may want to consider finding the source…that is, where the mosquitoes actually breed.
THE EPA RECOMMENDS THIS…
Outdoors, keep track of (clean often) anything that holds water like gutters, pet bowls, flower-pot saucers, bird baths etc. Mosquitoes love standing water. It’s where they lay their eggs.
More…
Does your property have a pond, swamp, marsh or small body of water? Be aware, the water and surrounding plants are the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.
HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO (another gift from Mother Nature)
USE Bti dunks.
Bti is a bacterium that occurs naturally in soil and has been used in mosquito control for more than 30 years. It safely kills mosquito larvae long before they mature and are old enough to bite you!
AND HERE’S THE BEST PART
According to the people in the know (the CDC), Bti is NOT toxic to humans, and it won’t harm pets and other animals, aquatic life or other insects. It’s almost too good to be true.
Protect yourself and your family. Finally enjoy that time on your deck, patio, porch and backyard…bug-free. Get Bti dunks HERE.
Be SMART and PROACTIVE. There’s no reason to put up with these nasty, dangerous bugs.
Science, along with a little common sense can help keep your outdoor time safe and enjoyable. Remember these tips the next time you’re annoyed and swatting those ravenous, disease-carrying, blood suckers.
Enjoy the outdoors…bug-free.
Be Safe,
BZ
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