They are not the gentle creatures we can admire as we relax and enjoy nature. They are bloodthirsty—and they just seem to be everywhere. The mosquitoes are definitely out in full force this year, and they could stick around until October.
According to pest control companies, there could be as many as 85 species of mosquitoes in Texas. They can even breed right there in your house. If they’re bugging you, here are some things you can do.
• It only takes a tiny bit of water in a dog bowl or under your air conditioner to end up with more mosquitoes. Look for any place in your yard or driveway that has standing water and try to eliminate those. Gutters and flowerpots can attract these mosquitoes, too. Heavy rain can boost the number of these bloodsuckers, so we may be seeing a slight increase due to the recent storms.
• Avoid wearing fragrant perfumes and aftershaves. Even sweat can bring the swarm your way. An outdoor fan can help keep you cool while keeping the mosquitoes from getting too close. You can also avoid sitting outside at dinnertime. Dusk and dawn are usually their key feeding times.
• Of course, you can also get some good bug spray. Since mosquitoes can carry diseases, it is especially important to protect our kids. They may not realize that running around barefoot in tall grass can come with all kinds of unpleasant surprises. Lemongrass is a natural deterrent to both snakes and mosquitoes.