Wetlands are important ecosystems and they should be protected. In Henderson County we are lucky to have lots of wetlands such as the one surrounding Jackson Park. However, these wetlands have been highly manipulated in the past and they do not flow as well as they should. Now our wetlands harbor mosquitoes and outdoor activities can be affected negatively. It is also true that mosquitoes can be bad in other areas of our county. As individuals we must protect ourselves and loved ones from mosquitoes.

Mosquito Bite Prevention

• Commercial Mosquito Traps There are commercially available mosquito traps available. Although these are effective at catching mosquitoes they are expensive. Some reports claim they are not effective at controlling mosquitoes and may actually attract mosquitoes. These are mosquito trapping machines emit CO2 which is attractive to mosquitoes. I have watched videos where they catch thousand of mosquitoes.
• Preventing standing water where mosquitoes can breed is the best thing homeowners can do. Keep gutters clean and keep rain barrels covered with screen. Seek out any standing water in your yard and empty it. Add mosquito dunks that contain BT to ponds and other bodies of standing water.
• Avoid Mosquitoes You can avoid peak hours for mosquitoes. These insects inhabit the crepuscular hours just after sunrise and just before sunset. Avoiding these hours outdoors when mosquitoes are active can prevent bites. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors. It is recommended you wear light-colored clothes when spending time outdoors. Long sleeves and pants are recommended. They are also attracted to body heat, CO2 in breath and human smells.
• The use a strong oscillating fan when sitting outdoors can reduce bites. Mosquitoes are weak fliers and the fan will blow them away. Also, breath and odors are dispersed making you harder to see. A good fan including a ceiling fan is very effective at keeping mosquitoes away from patios and porches.
• Create a homemade mosquito trap. Add a handful of leaves to about three gallons of water in a five gallon bucket. Add insecticidal mosquito dunks that contain the environmentally friendly insecticide BT. The female mosquitoes will be attracted to the water to lay eggs and eventually the larvae will die.
• Repellant Devices There are mosquito repellent devices such as Thermacell by Off. This machine emits a chemical that masks the chemicals that we emit that attract mosquitoes. You can also use items that burn such as citronella candles and torches as well as mosquito coils to repel mosquitoes and mask human presence.
• Insecticidal Repellents Finally, use a repellant bug spray on your person such as Deep Woods Off or the Skin-so-Soft products. It is a good idea to keep a container handy when traveling. These repellents can be sprayed on the skin or on long pants and long sleeve clothing to avoid skin contact. Repellants are very  effective at reducing bites from mosquitoes. Read the label carefully before using any insect repellant and use the product according to the labelled instructions.