How to Prevent Mosquitoes

Wouldn't it be great if you could actually prevent mosquitoes rather than getting rid of them once they have already arrived? Well, you can!

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Rabon Block
• Rake
• Bird Houses
• Bat Houses

1. Mosquitoes mate in the fall. The males die but the females then seek over night accommodation's in places such as under leaf piles, under loose bark and in cracks of old buildings.
   
   Knowing this, clean up your dead leaves!
2. Clean up any brushy areas that may present themselves as safe harbor for wintering females. **Not bushes as they are beneficial to mosquito predators such as small birds.
3. Purchase a rabon block. These are mineral lick blocks sold for livestock. Rabon is a form of pesticide that is safe for the livestock to consume. It's purpose is to keep flies from being attracted to feces when the animal defecates. But not only does it repel flies, it also repels mosquitoes!
4. BEFORE MOSQUITO SEASON: If you have a large pond, as I do (mine is several hundred feet long and up to 30' deep), you may need to cut the block in half and put half into each end of your pond. For smaller water sources, use chunks off your block.
5. Clean up any possible sources of standing water such as old tires, etc. Anything that can hold water.
6. Encourage, or when possible; purchase mosquito predators such as;
   
   Mosquitofish
   Guppies (I released a good deal of these into my pond)
   Dragonflies
   Birds, particularly waterfowl who eat the larvae from the water
   Bats - yes bats!
7. Put up bird and bat houses and if you have the place for them cattails and bulrushes are good plants to encourage dragonflies.

Tips & Warnings

• Be nice to bats. They are living bug zappers! They can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes PER HOUR. The day one of my family members goes after a bat with a tennis racket, is the day I hide their calamine lotion!
• You can use mosquito dunks instead of rabon block pieces but it will cost you more money.
• Mosquitoes carry diseases and can cause your pet to contract heartworm. Be sure to test and use preventatives for heartworm on a regular basis for your cat or dog.