Announcements

Mosquitos lay eggs in as little as 1/4" of standing water. The most important thing you can do to prevent mosquitos on your property is to find and eliminate all sources of standing water. Mosquitoes will breed in anything that can hold water, including many common items which are easily overlooked:

Old tires

Toys

Plastic or canvas tarps, pool covers

Plant trays or saucers

Buckets

Tin cans, garbage can lids and plastic covers

Pet food and water dishes

Boats- store small boats like canoes or rowboats upside down

Bird baths, wading pools and fountains,. I f you have any of these, be sure to change the water at least once a week.

Garden tools and sprinkler attachments, hose storage wheels

Ornamental ponds- keep water circulating, if possible stock with fish that prey on mosquito larvae. Bacteria tablets which target mosquito larvae (commonly known as "mosquito dunks") can also be used, and are very effective.

Clogged rain gutters- a popular mosquito breeding ground!

Also, replace outside lights (backyard only here in Crystal Pointe) with yellow "bug lights", use citronella candles or coils, and consider using carbon monoxide mosquito traps.* If you have a swimming pool or hot tub, keep the water circulating and properly treated with chlorine.

Certain plants tend to repel mosquitos- these include geraniums, basil, oregano, catnip, and citrus or lemon-scented plants like lemon balm and lemon grass.

Make sure door and window screens are in good repair. Examine them for holes where mosquitos could enter. Patch or replace screening as needed.

Don’t leave doors open longer than necessary.

Don’t leave unscreened windows open.

No matter how careful you are, if you live where there are mosquitos chances are you’ll be bitten eventually and suffer the unpleasant consequences-redness, swelling and that miserable itching that lasts for days! Fortunately, there are a number of things you can try, home remedies and over-the-counter products, to tame the itch and help heal mosquito bites.

Never scratch a mosquito bite- it will make it worse!

Wash the bite with soap and water as soon as possible. Rubbing soap directly onto the bite may help reduce the itching.

Baking soda and water- make a paste and apply it to the bites.

Hold an ice cube or ice pack on the bite.

Rubbing alcohol often relieves the itch and swelling (before you scratch)

Calamine lotion

Topical Anesthetics intended to relieve bug bites

1% hydrocortisone cream- this may not be appropriate for everyone, read the label directions and warnings carefully.

Herbal remedies which may contain Tea Tree Oil or Lavendar Oil - again, read the label carefully and follow directions.

�@

We adults know (or quickly discover) that scratching a mosquito bite is one of the worst things to do. Try telling that to your kids! If it itches they're going to scratch at it, not only further irritating the bite but increasing the risk of infection. If you don't have any itch-relief remedies on hand (see above) what you can do is teach your children to slap the bite instead of scratching it. Slapping the mosquito bite area won't irritate it and the sting will take their mind off the itch for a little while - hopefully long enough to stop the viscious itching-scratching cycle until you can apply something more effective.