Many individuals have been led to believe that the Florida state bird is the Northern Mockingbird, but it is in fact the mosquito. Despite what the tourist industry would have you believe, Florida is a giant swamp and has been home to millions of mosquitoes for only God knows how long.
This article comes about in a timely manner considering the Florida Department of Health just declared a state of emergency due to an “outbreak” of Malaria. While I honestly don’t consider 4 single cases to be an outbreak, this is a great opportunity for you to know how to deal with and prevent mosquitos.
- Flip over all buckets and other items that can hold standing water in them.
- Make sure that all rain barrels are firmly closed up and use mosquito dunks if needed.
- Set up at least one bug zapper, two if you can afford it and put them on timers.
- If you work outside in the morning or evening, your clothing should be a netted hat, thin long sleeve shirt, khaki pants, socks that cover your ankles, gardening gloves, and sneakers. If you leave skin exposed, they will bite you.
- Install bat houses throughout your property away from areas where humans may frequently be active.
- Create an atmosphere that encourages birds to visit your property, such as setting up a bird bath or bird feeder since certain species eat mosquitoes as well.
- Heal the environment on your property and take actions to bring in insects that are a food source for dragonflies.
- Use citronella candles and torches around seating areas.
- Create an enticing environment for frogs and toads, such as providing them upside down broken pottery to hide under.
- While many individuals may encourage you to use DEET bug spray, there’s still concerning research on the chemical and you may want to select a more natural option.
- If you have any awnings, make sure you use a broom to shove upwards to remove any standing water caught in them.
- If you have gutters on your home, spend a few hours cleaning them out and using a water hose to run water through them.
- Spiders catch mosquitos in their webs so if they are outside your home, leave their nests alone and let them do their thing.
- Clear away any debris from around your home as it can provide a hiding place for mosquitos.
There are some youtubers who recommend putting out mosquito attractant buckets which employ either minnows or creating a stagnant water bucket with mosquito dunks in them. I have not yet tried these methods but will be experimenting with it soon and can give an update afterwards.
While there are numerous articles on plants that deter mosquitoes, I couldn’t find any real proof that they deter mosquitoes any more than other varieties. However, strong scented plants may mask your human smell so it’s up to you if you want to try them out. I’ve listed the most commonly recommended plants below.
- Lavender
- Mint
- Rosemary
- Citronella
- Lemongrass
- Beautyberry
- Bee Balm
- Catnip
- Marigolds
- Lantana
- Fennel
- Eucalyptus
- Basil
- Thyme
- Sage
- Garlic
If you do plant a few of these, follow up with me on facebook after a few months and let me know how your experience went. Happy homesteading!
Suburban & Rural Homesteading Today 