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Mosquitoes are not just annoying – some mosquitoes can carry serious diseases. Remember, it’s best to try to prevent mosquitoes from getting into your home in the first place! Follow this simple checklist to stop mosquitoes breeding on your property and from getting inside your home. Maintain fly screens on windows, doors, vents and chimneys.

(Screens should be no coarser than 12 x 12 meshes per 25mm, or 1.2mm. Use an even coarser mesh if you wish to keep out other smaller biting insects, like sandflies.) Insect sprays and repellents can be used both inside and outside the house to kill mosquitoes.

It is important to use these products according to the manufacturer directions

Use ‘knockdown’ fly spray against visible mosquitoes in your home. Use plug-in mosquito vaporisers or diffusers with repellent-treatment pads in enclosed external areas like verandas and decks. These should be switched off as soon as the area is no longer in use.

Use an effective mosquito repellent, containing either picaridin or diethyltoluamide (DEET) on all exposed skin.

Use mosquito coils in outdoor areas

These should be supervised at all times

If mosquitoes are particularly bad, consider using a long-acting surface spray in areas where mosquitoes like to rest. Target these areas by spraying shaded dense trees and bushes near your home.

Avoid spraying these products near fishponds

Remember to read instructions about safe use of any insect sprays. You are likely to be bitten by mosquitoes that breed in your own yard and garden! Mosquitoes can breed even in the tiniest amounts of water. Remove stagnant water so mosquitoes can’t breed.

Clean up your yard and remove anything that can hold water, such as unused pots and containers or tyres. Cover or overturn trailers, wheelbarrows, boats, tools and children’s toys to avoid water pooling. Regularly clean gutters and drains so water runs freely.

Fix leaking taps

Change water held in pet drinking bowls, bird baths and vases at least once a week, and more regularly in very warm weather. Put sand around the base of pot plants to absorb pooling water. Keep swimming pools well maintained and chlorinated or securely covered if not in use.

Do not let water pool in empty swimming pools. Keep fishponds tidy with minimal vegetation around the edges. Keep lawns and gardens trimmed back to reduce the areas where mosquitoes rest.

Water tanks must be completely sealed

Check lids, covers and inlet pipes for any gaps. Fit removable screen mesh to the outlet end of overflow and to all inlet pipes. Make sure any water-collecting containers have secure lids or screens.

Remove containers if not in use

Maintain fly screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home Use insect sprays and repellents around the home Limit mosquitoes from

  • breeding in your yard garden Check maintain rainwater tanks
  • water storage vessels Where to get help Your GP (doctor) Your pharmacist Nurse-on-Call (616) 555-0024 (24 hours
  • days) – for confidential health advice from a registered nurse Department of Health
  • Communicable Disease Prevention
  • Control Unit (616) 555-0400 Your local council – for information about mosquito control programs in your area

Key Points

  • Maintain fly screens on windows, doors, vents and chimneys
  • important to use these products according to the manufacturer directions
  • Keep swimming pools well maintained and chlorinated or securely covered if not in use