While fall brings some much-needed relief from Georgia’s hot and humid summers, mosquitoes can thrive during the warm days and cooler evenings of autumn, especially when they have plenty of breeding sites (i.e., sources of stagnant water) to choose from.

Since mosquitoes are capable of transmitting diseases such as the West Nile Virus and encephalitis, it is extremely important to eliminate their breeding sites and take measures to protect yourself from their bites.  Here are some tips to protect yourself and reduce mosquito populations on your property:

Protect yourself:

• Wear light-colored long-sleeved shirts, pants, and socks
• Use EPA registered insect repellants containing DEET, IR 3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, picaridin, p-Menthane-3,8-diol, or 2-undecanone. Read product labels carefully and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.  Do not let children apply their own insect repellant.
• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or purchase pre-treated items.
• Make sure open doors and windows have tight fitting screens that are in good repair
• Reduce your time outdoors when mosquitoes are most active

Eliminating breeding sites:

• Dispose of cans, tires, bottles, jars, buckets, drums, pots, and any other outdoor containers that may collect water
• Clean clogged gutters and make sure the water exiting from downspouts does not pond
• Change the water in bird baths twice a week
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor spas, and hot tubs. If they are not in use, keep them empty and covered (make sure water does not collect on the cover)
• Repair leaky pipes and reposition air conditioner condensation hoses so that water doesn’t pond
• Eliminate weeds, tall grass, and other vegetation that provide mosquito resting places
• Screen or cover rain barrels
• Store wheelbarrows, buckets, tubs, and barrels upside down so that water cannot accumulate inside them
• Use larvicide when standing water cannot be removed
• Remind neighbors to eliminate mosquito breeding sites on their property

Though pesticides are used to control adult mosquitoes, they are not the most effective way to reduce their population.  In Georgia, mosquitoes can be active at just about any time of the day. Pesticide spraying will only affect the mosquitoes that are out when the pesticide is applied, leaving the inactive adult population unharmed. By eliminating or larvicidng breeding sites, mosquitoes can be greatly reduced since their larvae are highly concentrated and restricted to their standing water habitat.

Since mosquito control can be difficult due to vacant and unmaintained properties, as well as ponded water, the Cobb and Douglas Public Health, Center for Environmental Health is available to assist in remedying these problems.  If residents are having problems with mosquitoes, they can contact our Cobb County office at 770-435-7815 or our Douglas County Office at 770-920-7311.

By working together, we can all make a positive impact on controlling mosquitoes in Cobb and Douglas County.