Main Content:

Controlling Mosquitoes

How to Prevent Mosquito Bites

• Wear light colored clothing with long sleeves and pants
• Repair tears in window screens
• Limit time outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active
• Do not wear perfume outdoors
• Insect repellants containing DEET are effective at reducing bites from mosquitoes (Carefully read and follow all directions on the label before use.)
• Do not use DEET on infants under two years of age, pregnant women, or children's bedding or clothing

How to Reduce Mosquito Breeding Grounds

• Properly dispose of old tires
• Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, and other water-holding containers
• Make sure roof gutters drain properly
• Change water in birdbaths, pet bowls, and wading pools at least twice a week
• Turn over plastic wading pools, buckets, etc.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools
• Drain water from pool covers

Further Study:

• Iowa Department of Public Health
  http://www.idph.state.ia.us
  
• University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory
  http://www.uhl.uiowa.edu/services/wnv/index.xml
  Mosquito-Borne Diseases
• Centers for Disease Control
  http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile
  Fight the Bite!
• National Pesticide Information Center
  http://npic.orst.edu/wnv/introduction.htm