Mosquitoes are not only annoying, they can be quite harmful.
If you like to spend time out on your deck during the summer months, chances are you've been bothered by mosquitoes and possibly bees too. While swarms of bees are not very common, they can become a problem while you're on your deck if they have established a permanent home in the surrounding area. Mosquitoes are almost always present during the summer, and you should treat them immediately, as they carry diseases such as west Nile virus, and heartworms that can be harmful to you and your pets. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Treating Mosquitoes
1. Remove all standing water from your deck area. Empty any plant pots or trays that contain water, as well as watering cans, ashtrays, trash can lids and any other containers. Mosquitoes will lay their eggs in any place they find standing water, so get rid of it.
2. Clean out the rain gutters directly above your deck. The moist conditions of rain water and decomposing leaves and sticks make for an ideal breeding environment for mosquitoes. Remove any debris and stagnant water you find in the gutters.
3. Install outdoor fans around your deck. Even slight wind gusts make it very difficult for mosquitoes to fly and land on their targets. Use an oscillating fan if you have one, that way you can move a wider arc of air.
4. Keep the grass and weeds trimmed very low around your deck. Mosquitoes will congregate in high grass and weeds, because there is usually moisture trapped at the base of the plants. Mowing and weed-eating around the deck will provide the mosquitoes with fewer hiding spots.
5. Spray your deck area with a Permethrin based insecticide. Apply the permethrin to any deck furniture, corners and crevices where the deck meets the house, and any other spots where you notice heavy mosquito activity.
Treating Bees
6. Try to find the bees' nest. Bees are rarely a problem around decks and homes unless there is a nest very close by. Observe the bees and see if they land on any part of your house that is connected to your deck. The nest will usually be located inside a wall, so look for cracks or holes that the bees are using as an entrance to the nest.
7. Wait until the cooler months of late fall or winter to treat the bees' nest if you can. Many of the bees will die off during the cooler temperatures, and the remaining bees will be sluggish and less likely to sting you.
8. Squirt Ficam dust into the bees' nest entrance. Ficam dust is the only product registered to exterminate bees from dwellings. Apply a generous amount of Ficam dust into the wall, then go inside to avoid any bees. You may need to apply the Ficam dust more than once to kill all of the bees.
9. Call a local beekeeper or exterminator to remove the bees if you still see bee activity. They may have to cut part of your wall open to get to the nest, but they can relocate the remaining bees to get them out of your hair.
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