1 • Wednesday, June 19, 2019 - Shopper’s Guide
Black Diamond Music LLC
Serving the communities in Stephenson County
VOL. 81 • NO. 25
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2019
Controlling mosquitoes on your property UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EXTENSION HORTICULTURE EDUCATOR
Mosquitoes are already out in force this season. How can we protect ourselves and our families and still enjoy the outdoors? “Humans are mosquito magnets,” says University of Illinois Extension educator Chris Enroth. “Not only are forgotten plastic kiddie pools in the backyard good for mosquito breeding, we also attract mosquitoes simply by being living, breathing mammals.” Personal protection What makes one person more attractive to mosquitoes than others? Enroth says mosquitoes can’t resist the following: Carbon dioxide: “Yes, every time you exhale, you draw those pesky little blood-suckers closer,” Enroth says. Lactic acid: Humans produce lactic acid on our skin. Some produce more than others. High skin temperature Colognes and perfumes Dark-colored clothing Warm days with low winds. “Mosquitoes are pretty lousy fliers, so cool days with high winds (over 10 mph) reduce their activity. Placing a fan facing an outdoor seating area will keep them at bay,” Enroth says. Studies have also indicated that some people are just more desirable than others. Due to the complexity of factors that can play into this, researchers are unsure why exactly this is. The Illinois Department of Public Health recommends DEET as the most effective chemical to use to combat mosquitoes. Look for sprays with DEET at 40% or higher for an effective, long-lasting repellants Be sure to re-apply every 4-6 hours. DEET confuses the mosquito and blocks the females’ ability to detect carbon dioxide, heat, moisture, and human sweat. Avoidance is only part of the strategy. Controlling mosquito populations though habitat reduction and
backyard treatments is another strategy to minimize bites.
Breeding sites “Only female mosquitoes bite,” Enroth says. This is because they need a blood meal (protein) for reproduction. Once she has fed, the female will search out a favorable site to lay her eggs. Anything that holds stagnant water is her target. Preventing her offspring from developing into adult mosquitoes is the most effective control. Enroth suggests the following strategies to eliminate breeding sites: Remove any object on your property that may hold water. For example, tin cans, toys, flower pot saucers, stagnant pools, and the notorious old tire in the backyard. Change water in birdbaths weekly Stock garden ponds with top-feeding minnows Make sure covers are tight and free of holes over grills, cisterns, rain barrels, or anywhere water is stored Clean your gutters. This is often the unseen area for mosquito development. Enroth recommends cleaning out gutters in the fall and spring. If you can’t remove the standing water, Enroth recommends treating it with Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis). Bti only targets the larva of mosquitoes and a few species of fly. Controlling adult mosquitoes “Avoid using bug zappers to control flying adults,” Enroth says. “About 90% of insects killed with bug zappers are not mosquitoes. In fact several are beneficial insects like the brown lacewing.” Mosquito foggers work for only a short period of time and are well-suited to being used prior to an outdoor event. Community-wide control programs work best. “Everyone has a role to play in minimizing mosquito population,” Enroth says. To prevent getting bitten by female mosquitoes and to minimize the spread of West Nile Virus, Illinoisians should follow the recommenda-
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By Chris Enroth
COURTESY PHOTO Shopper’s Guide
Controlling mosquito populations though habitat reduction and backyard treatments is a strategy to minimize bites.
tions above for reducing habitat and personal protection. Source/news writer: Chris Enroth, 309-837-3939, cenroth@illinois.edu If you have questions about mos-
quitoes or other garden related questions give us a call at the Master Gardener helpline at (815) 2354125. A Master Gardener is avaible at the University of Illinois Exten-
sion Stephenson County on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 11 a.m. The helpline can also be reached by completing an on-line form at go.illinois.edu/mghelpline .
Safe Sitter Essentials® Class is June 29 – adding CPR in July Students in grades 6 – 8 can learn the babysitting basics – including first aid and rescue skills – at an upcoming FHN class. Safe Sitter® Essentials teaches child care skills, safety skills, and first aid and rescue skills as well as life and business skills. The instructor-led class features games and role-playing exercises, and students will use manikins to practice rescue skills. Registration is open for the next class,
set for 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29 at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport. The full-day course is $45, which includes a Safe Sitter Essentials Student Handbook and completion card. Financial assistance is available for eligible students; call 815-599-6707 for more information and to determine eligibility. Students may bring a sack lunch or purchase lunch at Café FHN.
Beginning in July, Safe Sitter classes will include CPR training. The next classes are scheduled for Monday, July 22 and Saturday, August 10. They will include basic CPR skill practice, but are not a CPR certification class. The Safe Sitter Essentials with CPR class will cost $50 and last an hour longer than the regular class. For more information or to register for any of the Safe Sitter Essentials classes, visit www.fhn.org/safesitter.
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