Summertime and the Bugs are Bitin'

Mosquitoes are amazingly adaptable creatures, reproducing in virtually any little deposit of water, both natural and man-made. They are plentiful with all the rain Pasco has received recently. Although mosquitoes can be annoying, they can pose a serious health threat to gardeners.

If you have been getting biten by mosquitoes when working late in your garden or enjoying an evening outdoors, look around for little pockets of standing water. Leaf-clogged gutters and plant containers can hold water. Even a bucket, spare tire or abandoned swimming pool can be the necessary reservoir to serve as a mosquito nursery.  

Whenever possible, empty those containers of standing water. Put containers away or turn them upside down so they don’t harbor these pesky insects.

Standing water in the community such as a retention pond may need a different solution. Consider adding an environmentally friendly product to reduce mosquito populations. Commercially sold under many brands (such as Dunks or Plunks), naturally occurring bacteria kill juveniles when consumed. Of course, fish and other invertebrates work well too, but many of our retention ponds are only wet seasonally, so fish may not be the most reliable natural remedy.

In your garden, make sure all those breeding sites are emptied, covered, or treated to avoid itchy bites and potential spread of disease. More information about mosquitoes is on University of Florida’s website, SolutionsForYourLife.com.