Advertisement

How to keep mosquitoes away

mosquito
mosquito

This weekend marks the unofficial start to summer, and that means Canadians are about to start spending a lot of time outdoors. Unfortunately, a reality of outdoor Canadian life is blackflies and mosquitoes, and the annoying bites they leave on us.

Canadians hate bugs so much, in fact, that a recent survey by Vision Critical found that more than half of Canadians (53 per cent) have stayed indoors to avoid being bitten during the summer season, losing almost two days in total of relaxing outdoor time.

Which is why we spoke with outdoor enthusiast and avid angler Mariko Izumi, host of WFN's (World Fishing Network) Hookin' Up with Mariko Izumi and OFF! spokesperson, to get her tips to help Canadians stay bug-free this summer without spraying a thing.

Avoid mosquito-prone spots

"First of all you want to avoid standing water, which is a huge breeding ground for mosquitoes," says Izumi. Common culprits include things like bird baths and even the cover on your pool, which can collect puddles of rainwater. Make sure you're emptying any containers regularly.

Watch what you wear

Another way to keep the bugs away is to wear lighter-coloured clothing when you're spending time outside. "This is already kind of natural anyways because we want to stay cool," says Izumi, "We know that black clothes will generate the heat but that also attracts mosquitoes."

[See also: Natural remedies for garden pests]

Don't use strong fragrances

Items with strong scents, such as perfume, cologne and even scented shampoos and conditioners are all magnets for mosquitoes. "In the summertime it's usually a good idea to lay off or at least use a little bit less of that," says Izumi.

Mosquitoes are also attracted to sugary and sweet-smelling things, so Izumi says to remember to cover your food or any drinks when you're outside.

Tend to your garden

Since mosquitoes are often attracted to shady places, it's a good idea to keep up on any lawn maintenance. "If you let your foliage and your grass grow really long then you're going to have more mosquitoes around," says Izumi, "So definitely maintaining your lawn throughout the summer months is a good idea."

If you do spray

Izumi says that since she's constantly outdoors or on the water in the early morning and late evening hours when mosquito activity peaks, she will use an insect repellent to keep the bites away.

"Honestly since I was a little baby I've stuck with the OFF! products, my family has used them our whole lives. So if I'm somewhere where I'm really active or I'm just in an environment where there's sure to be a lot of mosquitoes than I use the Deep Woods OFF! and spray it all over."

Like sunscreen, insect repellent needs to be reapplied in order to remain effective. The bugsmart.ca website can tell you how long each product should last and when you should be reapplying.

The infographic below shows where the buggiest regions in Canada are and other facts about mosquito protection.

More from Shine on Yahoo! Canada

Tips for starting a vegetable garden
Expert tips for a weed-free lawn
Gardening mistakes to avoid

Mosquitoes in Canada infographic 2012
Mosquitoes in Canada infographic 2012