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Keeping mosquitoes at bay

Posted at 9:13 AM, May 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-18 11:04:41-04

 It's an equation that can create havoc in the yard; warm temperatures and standing water.

That can add up to a swarm of mosquitoes outside your door.

FOX 47's Cryss Walker spoke with some experts to find out what you can do to protect yourself from the pests.

Their itchy and irritating bites can leave you scratching and looking for relief.

“Mosquitoes can bring in a very small amount of water, less than an inch”, said Orkin Entomologist Dr. Mark Beavers.

“So from that rain last night, you've got water, dump it out.”

Besides using chemicals like pesticides what can you do to keep the mosquitoes off of you?

“It's called a citronella plant also known as a mosquito plant”, said Lisa Bashline, a manager at VanAtta’s Greenhouse and Flower Shop in Haslett.

“It’s a member of the geranium family but it doesn't really get any flowers and it has an oil in it that mosquitoes don't like so it repels them.”

The organic repellents don't stop there.

“Same with marigolds, lemongrass rosemary, basil, all those things need to be planted, the more the better”, Bashline continued.

If don't have a green thumb, you can always stick to this simple tip.

“Use repellent that's been approved by the EPA”, said Dr. Beavers.

“That particularly includes products that have deet, or IR3535 or picaridin. So when you go to the store just read the label make sure you have the right materials that are in that product.”

Orkin says you can also cut the grass, and get rid of leaves outside your house to help keep the mosquitoes at bay.