Top Mosquito Control Products

There are a tonne of mosquito control products on the market today. How do you know which is best for you? Below you'll find a description of some of the more common mosquito control products and reviews of their effectiveness.

• DEET - DEET is a form of insect repellant. There are many different forms of mosquito repellant available on the market. Some other examples of repellants include citronella oil, clove oil, geranium oil, peppermint oil, lemongrass and eucalyptus oil. Natural oils usually don't work as well if you plan to wear other products on top of them like sunscreen or lotion. They also tend to work for shorter periods of time, usually up to an hour or so. Some people find their skin is sensitive to the natural oils and thus must rely on a product with artificial repellants like deet.

• Nets or Traps - These newer products help trap and kill mosquitoes in your immediate area. Mosquitoes are attracted by carbon dioxide. That's the very stuff we breathe out when exhaling. The larger the animal the more carbon dioxide they expel. A mosquito trap uses attractant that includes a substance called octenol and carbon dioxide to lure mosquitoes. The attractant actually makes mosquitoes more attracted to carbon dioxide then they normally would be. When they come into the vicinity of a trap, they are basically vacuumed in and die. While at times you will need to empty the trap, these are by far one of the more effective tools for luring away mosquitoes. Most magnet traps are not inexpensive. A basic model will run you at least $300 or so. You can spend up to $1,000 or more however on a high quality product. Many people consider them a worthwhile investment however; particularly given the peace of mind they offer knowing that one's family is safe from mosquitoes. These products work year round to help repel mosquitoes and other insects.

• Mosquito Netting - Netting is a good idea if you plan to travel to an area that has a high population of mosquitoes. You can buy netting for your backyard as well to keep certain areas free from mosquitoes. There are some things you'll need to consider when buying netting. First you'll need to get netting with a mesh size small enough to keep out mosquitoes. This is roughly 1.2mm. Some people may prefer a smaller netting however of .6mm to keep out mosquitoes and other insects.

• Larvicide's - These are a good idea if you have standing bodies of water anywhere around your home. Larvicide's help kill mosquito larva that grows in standing water. If you have a bird fountain or other area containing water you should consider a larvicide's to help control the mosquito population.

• Electric fly swatters - These innovative new products attract and then self swat a mosquito when it lands on the swatter. Not a bad idea for someone that likes to swat or watch mosquitoes get smashed.

• Fogging machines - These machines attract large quantities of mosquitoes and then kill them by creating foggy areas where mosquitoes reside. Most fog machines can kill mosquitoes within a .5acre radius.

Deciding The Best Product For You
The type of insect repellant you'll need depends largely on your lifestyles and the environment you live in. If you tend to live in a colder climate and don't spend a lot of time outdoors, you probably don't need much in the way of mosquito repellants. If however you live on the outskirts of a tropical rainforest you'll probably need one of each of the products listed above.

Seriously, most people find a combination of products work well. It's nice to have some repellant around the house for short walks or trips outdoors. Larvicide's work well for covering standing bodies of water in your yard or the surrounding area. If you like to spend a lot of time barbecuing you might also invest in some citronella and possibly an electrical zapper to help minimize the number of mosquitoes that venture into your area. Your best bet is also to check in with neighbours and see what methods they use effectively to consistently reduce the number of mosquitoes infecting their yards and homes.

Published with permission (FCDMInc)