Fight back against the mosquito menace

By Claire Alongi,
BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

The sun is out, the days are longer, flowers are blooming…and mosquitoes are breeding. The coming of spring brings with it mosquito season. Luckily, there are a few easy tips and tricks people can use to fend off the small, blood-sucking menaces.

According to Luz Robles, the public relations officer for the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District, mosquito season comes with warmer weather. However, going by months, it generally runs from April to October.

Robles explained that mosquitoes are attracted to people by scent. That means everything from the air you exhale to the shampoo you wear is a beacon for the tiny pests. For some reason, mosquitoes are attracted to certain people more than others.

Mosquito magnets or not, the best way for people to protect themselves during these months is to follow the “Seven Ds”: draining standing water, avoiding being out at dawn and dusk, dressing in long sleeves and pants, defending oneself with repellents, making sure all screen doors are free of holes and calling the mosquito vector controller in the district.

When it comes to choosing mosquito repellent, Robles said “the best repellent is one that you’ll actually use.”

As for draining, if one is near a large body of water or has a water feature that can’t be drained, there is another option.

“[Mosquito fish] are small, guppy-like fish and they are excellent at controlling mosquitoes naturally,” Robles said. The tiny fish can eat 200-300 mosquito larvae per day.

Even though protecting against mosquitoes might not be the first thing on most people’s minds, Robles emphasized the importance of taking it seriously. Although residents of Yolo County don’t need to worry about Zika Virus, West Nile Virus does exist in the area. No human cases have been reported so far this year, but according to Robles, one in 100 cases of the virus can lead to serious neurological damage.

Fortunately, the “Seven Ds” aren’t hard to follow, even for high school students. “Anybody can look in their yard and tip over a bucket,” Robles said.