What is the Best Mosquito Killer?

home garden

When you are wondering what the best mosquito killer is, you need to consider the product's effectiveness, as well as the possible health consequences from using it. In addition to being unpleasant, mosquito bites carry with them the risk of being infected with the West Nile virus. Many people who are infected with West Nile virus are symptom-free, but may experience symptoms that are similar to the flu (headache, body aches, and fever). In the case of people who have weakened immune symptoms, being infected with West Nile virus may lead to encephalitis, meningitis, or a polio-like condition called acute flaccid paralysis.

One of the best mosquito killers you can invest in is to prevent them from breeding on your property in the first place. Make a point of emptying containers containing standing water around your home on a regular basis, and you will reduce the chances of mosquitoes breeding near your home.

This option for finding the best mosquito killer will not eliminate the risk of being exposed to mosquito bites, though. Using a mosquito larvicide will kill them before they can reach adulthood. Look for products that contain Bti (bacillus thuringiensis israelensis), which is a soil bacterium. Bti is not considered harmful to humans or pets when it is used according to the manufacturer's directions.

Even when you use these options in your search for the best mosquito killer, you will still need to deal with some adult mosquitoes in your home and yard. Only the adult females bite, and a way to deal with them permanently is to buy a mosquito trap. An effective trap uses a combination of Octenol (which is a similar compound to human perspiration) and ultraviolet light. The trap attracts mosquitoes and kills them. Octenol could be considered a contender for the best mosquito killer, since it is safe to use around adults, children, and pets, and some mosquito traps containing this substance have been approved for use inside the home.

There may not be one best mosquito killer on the market, but if you use a combination of methods to keep these pests at bay, you will reduce your risk of getting bitten during warmer months. Since the methods mentioned here will not eliminate the problem entirely, do use an effective mosquito repellent when you venture outside.

Related wiseGEEK articles

Category

wiseGEEK features

Subscribe to wiseGEEK


FREE: Subscribe to wiseGEEK

 
    learn more

our strict privacy policy ensures that your email address will be safe



Written by Jodee Redmond


copyright © 2003 - 2009
conjecture corporation