Weber/Box Elder County--If you have ventured outside lately you cannot help but notice the unusually aggressive mosquito population that has taken over Utah yards. An extra warm and wet spring has made Utah yards beautiful but it has an ugly side effect; mosquitoes that are aggressive and in abundance! Mosquito Abatement in both Weber and Box Elder Counties are doing their best to spray and keep those blood sucking pests down. On their websites, it is recommended to wear bug repellent with either DEET or Picardin to protect yourself from the biters that may cause West Nile Virus.
If you live in Box Elder County you can call Mosquito Abatement at
(435) 723-3700. It may take them a few days but they are trying to reach everyone as quickly as they can. Calling to let them know you have a problem in your area helps them to know that you would like them to come to your area as quickly as possible. If you live in Weber County, go to the website www.webermosquito.com to fill out a form and request service. Their website encourages you to contact them especially if you have an outdoor event coming up.
In the meantime, there are things you can do at home to help reduce the mosquito population around your place. So, take the bite out of summer with these mosquito reducing tips:
· Remove Stagnant Water
· Trim shrubs
· Put the Bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis in birdbaths and ponds you don’t want drying out. You can get them in many sprays purchased at your home improvement store.
· Plant mosquito deterring plants. Some common herbs and plants -- including marigolds, catnip, basil and garlic -- naturally deter mosquitoes and drive them out of your landscape.
· Build your own Mosquito catcher with the instructions below:
Items needed:
1 cup of water
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 gram of yeast
1 empty 2-liter bottle
HOW:
1. Cut the plastic bottle in half.
2. Mix brown sugar with hot water. Let cool. When cold, pour in the bottom half of the bottle.
3. Add the yeast. No need to mix. It creates carbon dioxide, which attracts mosquitoes.
4. Place the funnel part, upside down, into the other half of the bottle, taping them together if desired.
5. Wrap the bottle with something black, leaving the top uncovered, and place it outside in an area away from your normal gathering area. (Mosquitoes are also drawn to the color black.)
