How To Manage Mosquitoes In Your Backyard

Don’t let these unwanted guests bring down your Labor Day get-togethers.
Cheryl De Leon,
4 Mosquitos

Food and drink? Check. Tables and seats? Check. Decorations and games? Check. You’ve crossed off everything you need for a memorable Labor Day bash, but perhaps you’ve overlooked one summer essential: mosquito repellent.

If you’ve spent any time outdoors this season, particularly during a late muggy afternoon, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered a mosquito or two. They’re a nuisance: Swatting at them is annoying, and dealing with itchy bites is infuriating. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they’ve been making hundreds of Americans sick. At least eight Bergen County residents have been sickened with mosquito-transmitted dengue, which can cause nausea and vomiting, but it’s believed those residents became ill while traveling to other countries.

Though the likelihood of contracting a disease from a mosquito is low in Bergen, we’re still susceptible to the itchy bites. To help control the mosquito population locally, the Bergen County Department of Public Works has been treating areas with pesticides throughout the summer. (Since July, 26 spray treatments via truck have been completed.) Spraying will continue through Oct. 31 on an as-needed basis.

County-wide spraying, unfortunately, won’t eliminate the nuisance entirely. To reduce the mosquito population (there are 63 species in NJ!) in your backyard, the county’s mosquito control division and CDC share the following tips:   

  • Eliminate standing water on the property (including gutters, plant containers, children’s toys, rain barrels and natural depressions in the yard), as many mosquito species lay eggs on water surfaces. Pet bowls and bird baths should be emptied and refilled at least once a week.
  • Make sure windows and door screens are properly fitted and holes are patched to prevent mosquitoes from entering the home.
  • Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeve pants and shirts.
  • Use EPA-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol (PMD), 2-undecanone. Always follow product instructions before applying.
  • Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting.

For more tips, tricks and local features, check out the new September issue of BERGEN!

Categories: Bergen Health & Life