In honor of World Mosquito Day, let’s take a moment to ask a serious question about mosquitoes. Why can’t we just kill them all?!
Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or you just enjoy sitting on your porch once in a while, you know the misery that mosquitoes can bring. Some people are lucky and seem to naturally repel mosquitoes, but others draw them like a moth to a flame. Except instead of moths to flames, it’s bloodthirsty mosquitoes coming for any piece of exposed skin.
If you’ve ever spent the night in a room or a tent with a mosquito, you know how bad they can be. Waking up to the sound of that high-pitched humming in your ear is no fun! Over the years, dodging mosquitoes has become an art form. If you spend a lot of time outdoors in the summer, you’ve probably developed a few bug-proof systems of your own.
Some bug systems are purchased. Some are improvised. They all have the same goal…
Avoid the bite!
Are mosquitoes dangerous?
The simple answer is: yes. Mosquitoes can definitely be dangerous. Beyond the annoyance and itching, mosquitoes can carry numerous diseases like malaria, yellow fever, the Zika virus, and many others. Throughout the centuries, mosquitoes have indirectly caused the death of countless people.
It’s worth noting that not all mosquitoes actually bite people and transmit diseases. A lot of folks already know that it’s just the females who bite people and that the males don’t do us any harm. However, that’s just one of many factors that play into which mosquitoes actually bite us.
Fun Fact: There are over 3,000 species of mosquitoes, but only a few dozen species pose a threat to humans. Check out this article from Forbes for more detailed info.
So when we talk about how annoying, or even deadly, mosquitoes are, let’s first realize that we’re talking about a few specific species. If we eliminated all 3,000+ species of mosquitoes, we could seriously harm the environment and mess up the food chain all over the world. Rather than destroying food chains and messing things up, let’s focus on controlling the mosquitoes that are problematic.
The Top 5 Mosquito Control Methods
World Mosquito Day was founded in 1897 as a way to raise awareness about how harmful mosquitoes can be and how important it is to prevent their spread. While we shouldn’t try to kill all mosquito species in the whole world, we should do our part to prevent the spread of diseases through common mosquitoes.
1. Prevent mosquito breeding
Mosquito larvae live in standing water, then they mature and fly away to do their damage. If you ensure that you don’t have standing water around your property, you’ll help prevent the larvae from getting the chance to grow.
Change the water in kiddie pools regularly
Change your bird-bath water regularly
Empty your gutters so that water doesn’t collect in the debris
Fill in holes in your yard that collect rainwater
2. Use bug zappers
They might seem a little mean, but they get the job done. Killing adult mosquitoes before they can bite people helps stop the spread of diseases like malaria and the West Nile Virus.
3. Use bug spray
Bug sprays and other insect repellent products that are useful in a few ways. Bug sprays with DEET can be used on the skin, but read the warning labels first. Anything with a high level of DEET can be damaging and might be meant only for clothing. There are also several natural repellants on the market that you can try.
If you are gathering in an outdoor space, consider buying a Citronella candle or torch. Much like the other bug sprays, they aren’t 100% effective, but they do help drive mosquitoes away.
4. Keep doors and windows closed
Try not to let mosquitoes into your house. They are the worst house guests! Though they’re not likely to breed in your house, they will do their best to bite the people and animals who live there.
Your best bet is to keep your doors and windows shut. Or, if you have screens on your windows and doors, double-check that the screens are in good condition and are secured well.
5. Take care of the lawn
This goes hand-in-hand with removing standing water. Keep your yard groomed and free of debris that could gather water. Mosquitoes love to breed in shady, damp areas. If you have a spot in your yard that is going to stay shady and damp, consider using a lawn spray for that area. Just double-check all of the warnings before using it if you have children or pets that play in the yard.
Now that you know a little more about mosquitoes, hopefully you are less inclined to kill all of them. Still kill the dangerous ones though -- you’ll be doing a service for humanity!
Since we’re unlikely to kill all of the dangerous mosquitoes anytime soon, take precautions to prevent bug bites when you go outside. If you have kids, teach them the importance of mosquito control and get them involved in the process. When kids feel like they are part of the process, they remember the instructions more and take them to heart.
If you are in the New Orleans area and you think that your kiddos would enjoy more nature-based education, check out LOOP NOLA’s wetlands ecology programming. Designed for 3rd-8th graders, each activity brings science to life in fun and exciting ways!
