How to Keep Mosquitoes and Other Pests Away

• Stay clear of areas that attract pests. Stinging insects favor bushes, rotting fruit, and decaying logs or stumps. Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Bees and wasps also like garbage. So, keep your garbage outside in covered cans.
• Consume sweet-smelling foods and drinks inside, when possible. These attract insects. For the same reason, skip sweet-smelling colognes, soaps, and lotions when you’ll be outside.
• Avoid the patterns and textures insects favor. These include floral prints, bright clothing, and shiny jewelry.
• Use a mosquito repellant. The longest-lasting repellents contain the chemical DEET. For children, stick to a 10% solution and never apply it to a child’s face, hands, or irritated skin. Avoid putting DEET on an infant. Instead, place your baby in a carriage, and cover it with mosquito netting.
• Light candles at night. People who lit citronella candles had 42% fewer bites than those who stayed in the dark. However, even regular candles reduced bites by 23%.
• Design your garden to be less attractive to bees. They seem to especially like yellow and white flowers. But they find reds less attractive than other colors.
• If a wasp or bee threatens, move away slowly and quietly. Avoid waving your arms, swatting, or running.