Fight Mosquito Bites This Memorial Day: 6 Tips from SC Johnson’s Bug Experts

1. Remove standing water. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so removing it from your home and high traffic areas outside your home can reduce their numbers. Rain gutters, buckets, bird baths or fountains with stagnant water are all possible breeding sites.

2. Avoid planning activities around peak mosquito hours. Although mosquitoes can bite any time of the day, they are most active at dawn and dusk. Schedule your outdoor activities to avoid these times when possible. 

3. Apply a pest pre-treatment to your yard. A pre-treatment product, like Raid Max® Perimeter Protection, works to protect your yard from mosquitoes and other insects. Always read product directions prior to application.

4. Apply personal repellent. Applying a personal pest repellent correctly can help protect you from mosquito bites. Before using, always read the product label and follow directions. Personal repellents come in many forms, including lotions, aerosol sprays and wipes, and may contain active ingredients such as DEET or picaridin. Personal repellents should be used on exposed skin to prevent mosquitoes from biting. Some repellents should not be used with certain fabrics such as rayon, spandex, acetate or other synthetic fabrics, so it’s important to always read the product label before applying to clothing.

5. Wear appropriate clothing. Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites by acting as a barrier between your skin and the mosquito. When weather permits, wear long sleeves, long pants and socks while outdoors. In addition, consider wearing light-colored clothing as mosquitoes can be more attracted to darker colors.

6. Have spatial repellents on hand to keep mosquitoes away. Area, or spatial repellents, are used to reduce encounters between humans and mosquitoes in a broad area, including outdoor seating or around the yard. There are many kinds of area repellents, so read the individual label carefully before selecting a product that’s right for your family.

The researchers at the SC Johnson Institute of Insect Science for Family Health are dedicated to insect science research to better understand and manage insects that may carry diseases such as malaria, dengue and Zika. Since the 1950s, SC Johnson researchers in Racine, Wisconsin have studied and advanced the sciences of insect biology, physiology, ecology, behavior and toxicology, as well as infestation management and insect-borne disease prevention. In 2013, the company expanded its research operations globally, opening the first-of-its-kind research facility in China.