CASS COUNTY, N.D. (Valley News Live) – If you feel like it’s been a tough year for mosquitoes, you’re not imagining it.
Cass County Vector Control’s Ben Prather hasn’t seen anything like it in his almost 20 years.
“We’re seeing some of the worst mosquitoes we’ve seen in decades,” Prather said. “Yesterday’s trap counts were the highest in at least 17 years.”
They’re doing what they can to help. That includes killing eggs before they hatch. We’ve had three aerial sprays and a ground spray with more to come.
If you feel like you could use a little extra protection, we’ve got some products for you to try.
Prather’s favorite is the Off Outdoor Fogger.
“Shrubs and shaded areas are always hot spots for mosquitoes, especially during the day. These are good areas to spray,” Prather said. “Spray around the foundation of your home. This will have a bit of a residual presence. Meaning, it will stick on the plants for a little while. This can also be used to fog the air.”
It’s the same stuff that comes out of the trucks and aircrafts.
It’s about $10 and can be a game changer if you’re struggling in your backyard. Off and Cutter Backyard Bug Control work, too.
The brand isn’t as important as the ingredients. You need to look for synthetic pyrethroids, such as permethrin or tetramethrin.
When it comes to bug spray, the gold standard is always DEET.
Those are also about $10. You can even find repellant for your clothes and camping gear.
“We stick to the science. There are a lot of things out there,” Prather added. “People mix up lavender and mint and put it in some vinegar to spray around. We don’t have any scientific data to back that up.”
Experts add, don’t waste your money on Citronella candles and mosquito coils.
However, thermacells have been proven to be a good deterrent.
List of products:
OFF Outdoor Fogger
OFF and Cutter Backyard Bug Control
OFF Deep Woods Insect Repellant (with DEET)
Thermacell Insect Repellant
Permethrin Clothing Repellant
