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Effective Natural Mosquito Repellents

Mosquitoes can be a really big problem in some areas. The females generally feed the blood of other animals .They are flying insects. Luckily there are many natural mosquito repellent products. so if you do have a mosquito problem, you should be able to eliminate it quickly.

Where are Mosquitoes found and what Different Types Are There?

Mosquitoes live and can be found, in most areas of the United States. Overall there are around 3,000 different species of mosquitoes and of them, 150 of them live in America.

Depending on the species of mosquito, they usually prefer to live and breed in moist areas and sometimes in stagnant water. The type of water which they prefer varies from species to species. Some prefer to live near leaves and grass while others live in swamps or marshes. They can travel up to one and a half miles an hour while most do not venture far from breeding sites, others will travel up to ten miles for food.

Some common species of mosquitoes include:
  • Yellow Fever Mosquito
  • Asian Tiger Mosquito
  • Inland Floodwater Mosquito
  • House Mosquito
  • Southern House Mosquito
Yellow Fever Mosquito
This kind of mosquito is usually found in South East America excluding most of Florida. Their favourite breeding grounds include gutters, flower pots and discarded tyres. They carry different diseases and they feed throughout the day and the night. Their abdomens are usually in red color.
Asian Tiger Mosquito
This mosquito is found in over 26 different states and is a very popular mosquito in America. Tthey are mainly black with white markings. They can be found in a number of locations including flower pots, discarded tyres and natural environments including Bamboo and inside plant leaves. They also carry several diseases and they are aggressive during the day. They rest in the shade but if they see something to feed they will go into direct sunlight unlike most other species of mosquito.
Inland Floodwater Mosquito
These mosquitoes are found throughout the US and they mainly prefer breeding places with stagnant water such as temporary rain filled pools and pools formed by floods. They feed throughout the day and at the night they carry fewer diseases than Asian Tiger Mosquito and Yellow Fever Mosquito. They are mainly black or grey in color and they are less common than the Asian Tiger mosquito.
House and Southern House Mosquitoes
The house mosquito is in yellow color and like most other mosquitoes, it can be found in garden plant pots, discarded tyres and in gutters. They live in northern US mainly and they generally tend to only bite birds.

The Southern House Mosquito is a dirty species and they prefer to live in places such as cesspits and sewers. This means there is a good risk of them passing on diseases. They mainly feed around dawn to dusk time and they are found mainly in the southern US. In appearance they have a large red abdomen and are a little bigger than the ordinary House Mosquito.

What Diseases are caused by Mosquitoes?

There are a number of diseases that mosquitoes can pass on to humans and animals. These include:
  • West Nile Virus
  • Yellow Fever
  • Dengue Fever
  • Malaria
  • St. Louis Encephalitis
All mosquitoes carry different diseases so it is important to try and identify which mosquito you have been bitten by.

The West Nile Virus is one of the most common forms of disease that almost all mosquitoes carry. Almost all states in the United States have reported cases of the disease. It is a form of Encephalitis which is generally an inflammation of the brain caused by viral or bacterial infections. In rare cases it can kill, if the right treatment is not received. Generally symptoms start to show anywhere from 3 -12 days after receiving a mosquito bite. Symptoms include fever, swollen lymph glands and vomiting.

St Louis Encephalitis has become a serious health problem within the United States. Overall there are around 200 reports of the disease each year which makes it one of the most common mosquito diseases within the country. If an elderly person gets bitten and infected with the virus, it is 30% likely that they will die from it.

Dengue Fever is mainly a tropical disease but it has been reported in Hawaii. Around one million people contract the disease each year but it cannot be passed from person to person. The Aedes mosquito mainly carries this disease and it is most active in the morning and after day break. If you are bitten and infected with this disease symptoms usually start developing between 4-7 days and they include muscle pain, fever and painful headaches. In some cases the disease can progress into Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever which is a serious illness and it causes abnormal bleeding and low blood pressure.

Malaria is a big killer disease carried by mosquitoes and it kills roughly one million people a year. There are usually around 1,200 cases in the United States each year; however most of those people are infected abroad. Anopheline mosquitoes usually carry this disease and they are most active at night. Symptoms usually show between 8-12 days after being bitten and usually include repeated vomiting, shivering an in extreme cases even a coma.

It is always worth using some kind of mosquito control products to repel them at all times.

How Can Mosquitoes Be Controlled?

It is always worth preventing mosquitoes before they actually have chance to become a problem. Some good tips include:
  • If you have any outdoor features such as bird baths or fountains, make sure you change the water at least once a week
  • In houses that have a flat roof, make sure you don't have any stagnant after it has rained.
  • Don't allow stagnant water to build up anywhere in or around the home.
  • Make sure gutters are cleaned and any debris is removed
  • Check rain barrels for any signs of mosquito larvae
  • If you have an ornamental pool stock it with fish such as minnows and goldfish
  • Keep swimming pools chlorinated and if not in use make sure they are empty.
  • Keep bushes and any hedges in your garden trimmed so that they don't produce shade.
  • Keep your grass short by mowing it at least once a week
  • Make sure all entry points such as doors and windows are screened and free of holes
If you do have a problem with mosquitoes already then there are different mosquito control systems and mosquito pest control products.

The best time to control mosquitoes is when they aren't fully grown. You can buy dunk products which can be placed in places such as bird baths and they work by killing the mosquito larvae. Professional pest control companies can also help you to eliminate the problem.

Precautions to Take While Using Mosquito Repellents

It is always important to read the label of any mosquito pest control product. For sprays it is important to spray generously onto exposed skin but make sure that you do not spray it under clothes. You should avoid spraying your eyes and mouth and avoid breathing in the mist.

Make sure you are getting the right amount of protection that you need. Generally DEET products usually protect for longer time periods and they provide protection in most circumstances.

If you sweat a lot or get wet you will need to reapply the mosquito repellent to be on the safe side.

Overall mosquitoes can be a nasty problem within the home but as long as you follow the above tips, you should be able to avoid getting bitten. If you are bitten it is advisable to contact your doctor as soon as possible. It is always best to carry some form of protection whether that is a natural mosquito repellent or a chemical one.

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