Worried About Zika In Toms River? Here's How To Keep Mosquitoes At Bay

It's that time of year -- when your desire to enjoy a pleasant evening around the fire can be at odds with the annoyance of being bitten by mosquitoes.

There has been a lot of attention on mosquito-borne illnesses in recent months with the spread of the Zika virus. According to the New Jersey Department of Health, there are 16 confirmed cases of the virus in the state -- none in Ocean County. All of the cases in New Jersey occurred in people who contracted the disease while traveling in known Zika transmission areas, according to the Department of Health.

So while the risk of contracting the Zika virus from a mosquito in Ocean County is relatively low, that doesn't make the bites from the pesky insect any less annoying.

Want to keep them away from your yard so you can enjoy that evening around the firepit? Here are some tips for mosquito-proofing your yard, provided by the Department of Health.

ELIMINATE STANDING WATER
Standing water is where mosquitoes breed, and it takes just seven days for larvae to become adult mosquitoes. 

• Empty buckets and turn them over
• Drill drainage holes in the bottoms of garbage cans and bins, keep covered and dispose of recycling weekly
• Keep tarps tight and refit them if water collects
• Keep gutters clean and properly pitched so water drains completely after it rains
• Fix leaky hose spigots
• Make sure to check under decks and porches for containers that may hold water
• Make sure fill holes on portable basketball hoops are capped
• Empty or change the water in kiddie pools every 5-7 days. Store indoors or turned over when not in use.
• Drill small drainage holes in the bottom of sand boxes
• Keep wagons, riding toys or other big plastic toys turned over or inside when not in use
• Drain off water, dry out, and store inflatable toys indoors when not in use
• Check planters, wheelbarrows and other gardening items
• Cover tops of rain barrels with tightly fitted screen. (Use nylon window screen and secure with a bungee cord or other tight elastic.) Mosquitoes will use the overflow hole to get in and lay their eggs; either plug hole or treat with a Bti* product
• Change bird bath water at least once a week
• Decorative Ponds Get fish, or use Bti* to treat for mosquito larvae

*Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) is a low impact pesticide. It is available at many hardware stores, pond supply stores and online. Bti effectively targets mosquito larvae. It can be purchased as a granule, briquette, or liquid. Be sure to choose a product that is registered with the US EPA, labeled to use for mosquito larva. Closely follow the directions on the label. You may only use these products on your property.

PROTECT YOURSELF

• Use insect repellent. Look for the following active ingredients: DEET, Picardin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-methane-diol.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants or use insect repellent. For extra protection, treat clothing with permethrin.

ADD PLANTS

Certain plants contain mosquito-repellent properties. Natural Living Ideas suggests these:

• Citronella is a beautiful perennial clumping grass that emits a strong aroma.
• Lemon balm, a member of the mint family also known as horsemint and beebalm, is a very easy plant for beginning gardeners to grow even if you don’t have a green thumb! 
• Catnip, the favorite of felines everywhere, was found in a 2010 study to be 10 times more effective than DEET, the ingredient commonly found in bug repellents
• Marigolds, a hardy annual, contain Pyrethrum, an ingredient found in many insect repellents, and they have a unique aroma which bugs find repulsive. 
• Basil isn't simply yummy to eat -- it repels mosquitoes and is one of the easiest herbs to keep alive
• Lavender is a gorgeous purple flowering plant with a soothing, calming scent that bugs simply hate
• Peppermint is fragrant and a smell and taste most bugs despise.
• Rosemary is not just a fragrant herb for your kitchen; it is a natural mosquito repellent with beautiful flowers that attracts butterflies.

(Mosquito; Centers for Disease Control photo)