CINCINNATI -- A pool, hot tub and retention pond sound like the ingredients for any homeowner's summertime dream, but it's equally appealing for mosquitoes. Gino Colangelo learned that the hard way.
"Our mosquito problem has progressed into (something) that I would consider, at one point in time, was a chronic problem," he said.
Senior Sure Thing Pest Control technician Corbin Scherzinger said his business is expecting to receive more calls about mosquito problems such as Colangelo's throughout the summer, especially after one Ohioan died of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus in 2017.
Want to prevent your mosquituation from getting that intense? We thought so, you big bag of water, you. Scherzinger shared a few quick tips for keeping the little guys away.
- Turn on an outdoor fan. "Mosquitoes are very weak flyers, so a small breeze will just keep them way from you," he said.
- Eliminate standing water. That doesn't mean your pool; more often, according to Scherzinger, it's the water that collects on backyard fixtures such as pool covers and swings after precipitation. These puddles are ideal places for mother mosquitoes to lay eggs, so keeping outdoor surfaces dry is important.
- Clean up fallen leaves and rotting plants your yard. "Mosquitoes love CO2, so as these leaves decompose, they're producing a CO2 that attracts the mosquitoes onto breeding in there," Scherzinger said.
- Finally, protect your loved ones. Encourage human family members to use a bug spray with at least 20 percent DEET, and ensure your outdoor pets are taking medication to prevent fleas, ticks and heartworm.
