The Buzz about Mosquitoes

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  Only female mosquitoes bite—they need the protein for their eggs.
• Male mosquitoes survive by sucking on nectar and other plant juices.
• The welt that appears after a mosquito bites is an allergic reaction to the saliva that is injected into your skin to prevent your blood from clotting.
• They're attracted to dark clothing, so think white/light when you're getting dressed to spend time outdoors.
• Flowery perfumes and soaps also have come-hither effect on mosquitoes, so avoid them outside.
• Mosquitoes need standing water to hatch their eggs but can do so in as little as a bottle cap or tablespoon of water. So mosquitoes don't need ponds or drainage ditches. They can hatch in places like gutters, plant container saucers, poorly drained yards and discarded tires – meaning you probably have a mosquito nursery in your back yard. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs directly on the surface of water or on the edges of water. The eggs hatch after they have been flooded by water.
• If you do have standing water such as a pond using Mosquito Dunks can help prevent mosquito eggs from hatching. The dunks are perfect for flower pots, bird baths, animal watering troughs, ponds and rain barrels. They can last for up to 30 days.
• There are certain plants that mosquitoes can't stand the scent of; the list includes catnip, rosemary, citronella grass, lavender, cinnamon, and peppermint-all good things to keep in mind as you're landscaping your backyard.
• Mosquitoes are the primary food for many birds and bats. One bat can eat 200 mosquitoes in one night and birds eat hundreds of mosquitoes every day. Without these mosquito predators, we would really have a mosquito problem!
• Citronella candles and smoking coils repel mosquitoes, but you have to stay in the smoky plume to be protected.
• If you’re having a cookout in your backyard and need some protection from the pesky mosquitoes using Mosquito Beater by Bonide. By spreading the granules on the ground it is going to help repel mosquitoes. Natural Guard Lawn Shield Insect Repellent repels mosquitoes, flies, fleas and gnats. It is safe to use around animals, children and vegetable gardens, just hook up to your hose and spray the area you want the pesky bugs repelled from.