HOW TO ENJOY SUMMER-2021 AND ELIMINATE THOSE NASTY BACKYARD MOSQUITOES
Pest Control Services
“I’m Canadian and tough. Mosquitoes are just part of summer!” I hear this comment every season and it makes me laugh. In reality, mosquitoes are annoying and there are plenty of risks associated with Mosquito bites.
Mosquitoes are vectors of numerous diseases including malaria, yellow fever, dengue, encephalitis, Chikungunya, West Nile virus and Zika. Zika being the newest mosquito-borne disease of growing concern.
KNOW YOUR ENEMY - MOSQUITO BASICS
1. Mosquitoes are small insects that bite. Because their bites can also cause itchiness and irritation, many people try to avoid them.
2. Some mosquitoes will lay their eggs on the surface of the water and will grow in still or very slow-moving water. They lay between 100 and 400 eggs at one time!
3. The eggs hatch in 1 or 2 days into larvae, which look like small worms. The life cycle from egg to adult can take less than 10 days if the temperature is right. The ideal temperature is between 22° and 27°C.
4. Did you know: Only female mosquitoes feed on animal or human blood. They need blood in order to produce eggs. Nasty!
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR FAMILY AND YOURSELF FROM MOSQUITO BITES?
In most parts of Canada, mosquitoes are common from May to September. Mosquitoes can bite at any time of the day, but they tend to be more active between dusk and dawn. For More visit GreenLeaf Pest Control
Tools to help you stay safe and protect your family
Use a fly swatter to kill mosquitoes in the home.
Use an approved insect repellent with a PCP registration number on the label.
ALWAYS read and follow all label directions.
Wear loose clothes made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from your skin. Such as nylon or polyester.
(Mr. KnowBugs Pro Tip!): My favourite tool is a high-velocity fan. I always have a few around my patio furniture and BBQ. The fast-moving air pushing the mosquitoes away!
Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors, use netting to protect infants when outdoors.
Wear long pants and sleeves as well as shoes and socks. You should do this if you’re going to be outside when mosquitoes are most active.
Fix or replace old and torn screens in doors, windows and vents. Inspect all other possible access points into your home and fix them as needed.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR YARD FROM MOSQUITOES BITE?
ELIMINATE TOP BREEDING SITES. Mosquitoes will breed in almost anything that can hold water, from a large, neglected swimming pool to something as small as a bottle cap, so take your time and examine the premises thoroughly. Watch Mr. KnowBugs walk through a typical yard.
Common mosquito breeding sites include:
- Tires
- Plastic bags and tarps
- Buckets,
- pet dishes,
- birdbaths,
- bottles and cans,
- children’s toys,
- flower pots and drain saucers,
- wheelbarrows,
- kiddie pools or unopened pools for that matter.
Not so obvious mosquito breeding spots:
Check out any in-ground value boxes for sprinkler and irrigation systems
(Mr. KnowBugs Pro Tip!): Check corrugated plastic drainpipes used to divert water away from downspouts. The accordion/flex rivets tend to collect water.
Clogged gutters and tree holes are often overlooked breeding sites.
Chances are during your inspection you might get bitten by mosquitoes. Stop and take a look around you: Why are they biting you there…..why are they attracted to that spot? Often there is a breeding site nearby!
COMMONLY USED INSECT REPELLENT BASICS:
(Information cited from Health Canada)
There are a lot of products, sprays and gimmicks when it comes to mosquito control. My advice is to do your research, ask yourself:
- Is it registered for use in Canada?
- Does it have scientific, peer-reviewed research that proves it works and is safe?
- If it’s too good to be true…..it’s probably a scam.
The ingredients commonly found in insect repellents include:
DEET
Insect repellents containing DEET can be used safely when applied as directed and in the right concentration, depending on age.
The right concentration of DEET for:
- adults and children older than 12 years old is up to 30%
- children aged 2 to 12 years is up to 10%
- you can apply the product up to 3 times daily
- children aged 6 months to 2 years old is up to 10%
- you should not apply the product more than once a day.
- For children younger than 12 years old, do not use a DEET product on a daily basis for more than a month.
- For infants younger than 6 months old, do not use an insect repellent containing DEET. Instead, use a mosquito net when babies are outdoors in a crib or stroller.
ICARIDIN
Icaridin, also known as picaridin products repel mosquitoes and ticks. These products should not be used on infants younger than 6 months old.
Some other common products that you might have heard about:
- permethrin
- soybean oil
- citronella oil
- metofluthrin
- p-Menthane-3,8-diol
- a mixture that is a combination of essential oils:
- lemon
- camphor
- pine needle
- It is important to always read the entire product label carefully before use and follow all directions.
Take back your yard with a multifaceted triple threat mosquito management program:
GreenLeaf Pest Control has a proprietary triple threat program that is specially designed to create a barrier around your property, allowing you to safely enjoy your time outside with friends and family, reducing the annoyance of mosquitoes.
Our highly trained and licensed technicians will treat the following areas of your property where mosquitoes hideout, including:
Shrubbery and ground cover areas
Hedges and landscape plant materials
Under decks and stairways
We offer two programs: natural or synthetic control products are applied to your yard and surrounding landscape, creating a barrier to repel, control and eliminate mosquitoes. It’s a proven way to enjoy the comforts of your property, without having to deal with uninvited guests. To find out more about mosquito control, mosquito service, mosquito bite prevention, please contact us.
About the Author:
Daniel Mackie, the Quality Assurance Director atGreenleaf Pest Control, is a King City and Caledon pest control expert. Daniel is well-known as an industry go-to guy, an innovator of safe, effective pest control solutions, and is a regular guest on HGTV. Mackie, along with business partner Sandy Costa, were the first pest control professionals in Canada to use detection dogs and thermal remediation for the successful eradication of bed bugs. In his free time, he is an avid gardener and beekeeper.
About the Creator
glpestcontrol
Protect yourself and your family from unwanted pests. For over a decade GreenLeaf Pest Control has provided safe & reliable pest control services in Toronto, Bradford & GTA. Contact us today (416) 998-9473
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How to Read Anyone Instantly
We are constantly bombarded with information the first time we meet someone new. Determining their personality can be challenging. For this reason, it's critical to comprehend HOW we communicate. Experts claim that body language accounts for 55% of our communication, voice tone accounts for 38%, and actual words account for only 7%. This implies that in addition to what a person's appearance might imply, we must consider these three things when we first meet someone. Therefore, start at the head and observe the following cues to get a sense of someone's personality when you first meet them! 1. Eye Contact Eyes are the window to the soul, so they say. Understanding the context will help you determine the type of eye contact someone is making with you. An indication of a romantic interest could be, for instance, that someone is genuinely fixated on you. Conversely, when you meet someone's gaze and they are unable to return the glance, it indicates that they are either shy or conceal something from you. Nevertheless, if the person you're speaking with has you squirming, especially if they're motionless and not blinking, there's undoubtedly a problem, and they might probably be lying. 2. Eyebrows If you want to see how comfortable a person is, take a look at their eyebrows! There are three main emotions that make your eyebrows go up: surprise, worry, and fear. 3. Try raising your eyebrows When you and a friend are conversing informally and at ease, try raising your eyebrows. It's challenging, isn't it? When someone you're speaking with raises their eyebrows and the subject isn't one that should logically inspire shock, anxiety, or fear, it's a good indication that they're not feeling very comfortable. 4. Grin The eyes cannot lie, but the mouth can when it comes to smiling. Sincere smiles cause the skin around the eyes to wrinkle, giving the appearance of crow's feet. The next time you wish to determine whether someone is truly smiling, check for wrinkles at the corners of their eyes. People frequently use their smiles to mask their true thoughts and feelings. That grin is concealing something if they aren't there! 5. What They Say It's likely that someone you meet for the first time is a pretty decent person themselves if all they can talk about is how amazing their partner is or how much they love their coworkers. Research indicates that individuals who perceive others to be kind, courteous, affectionate, and well-mannered are more likely to exhibit these qualities themselves. Nevertheless, the opposite is also true. It is more likely that someone who backstabs and accuses others of being cunning and manipulative also possesses these qualities. It's also conceivable that they have a background of personality disorders or depression. 6. Paralanguage Nonverbal cues like voice intonation, pitch, and tone of voice are examples of paralanguage. It basically means that you should be aware of the manner in which someone speaks. Someone is probably disinterested and detached from your idea, for instance, if they are responding to you in a monotone. Another excellent example is the use of sarcasm. When someone uses sarcasm, their intended meaning is completely different from what their words indicate. As a result, pay attention to the emphasis they place on words and their delivery. It offers you a clear indication of what their genuine objectives are. 7. Side Glance Those who are friendly and eager to meet you will face you and make eye contact. Conversely, if someone you've just met looks sideways right away, it's a subliminal body language cue that they're trying to get away. 8. Frequent Nodding When someone nods, it usually means they agree with you. However, excessive nodding might be a sign of nervousness about being accepted. If someone nods a lot during you're speaking to them, it's a sign that you don't trust them to follow your directions or that they are concerned about your opinion of them. However, repeated nodding may also be unintentional signals to the other person to move on, similar to when someone touches their car keys or keeps looking at their watch. 9. Chin And Jaw People usually rub their chins when they are trying to decide. They could be gazing sideways, upwards, or downwards. That is undoubtedly an indication that they are thinking deeply. An expression of stress is a clenched jaw. This conveys a significant degree of discomfort, regardless of what the individual is saying. They might be talking about something that's worrying them, or their attention might be elsewhere and they're just concentrating on the topic. 10. Posture You can learn a lot about someone's level of confidence from the way they present themselves. An individual may be confident and feel good about themselves if, for instance, they are walking straight ahead, shoulders back, and with their head held high. On the other hand, a completely different impression is created if someone is walking with a hunched over posture and their back to the viewer. It may not always indicate low self-esteem, but that's the impression it conveys. 11. Rubbing Hands It's said that the hands reflect the thoughts of the head. Rubbing one's hands together usually indicates that the person is feeling good about something. People typically act in this way when they are enthusiastic and full of hope for something positive to happen in the future. 12. Handshake One's handshake can reveal a lot about a person. Soft and floppy, they're probably a pushover or a submissive person. They seem overbearing and excessively harsh and stifling. Another crucial factor is the duration. Too short could suggest a conflict, but too long would be strange. It's conceivable that they are not interested in developing a close relationship with you. However, it could also mean that they don’t have much time. 13. Leaning In, Or Away It's obvious that someone is interested in what you have to say if they lean in toward you. You might be surprised to hear that it also serves as a show of respect. During a conversation, it is a sign that someone wants to confide in you when they move in closer and lean in. You get a sense of worth and reliability from it. Leaning back, on the other hand, indicates that the person is either bored with the discussion or is uneasy for some other reason. 14. Holding The Baby All right, so this one may seem odd at first, but it's useful information. Observe which arm the person holding the baby uses if you are meeting someone for the first time and they are a new mother. Empowered mothers typically hold their infants in their left arm, according to research. Moms in stress or depression typically hold their infants in their right arm. 15. Crossed Arms And Legs When you were conversing with someone, have you ever seen them cross their arms or legs? It's not a good sign if you're trying to sell someone on a new idea or if you're on a first date. Physical barriers such as crossed arms and legs indicate that the other person is not receptive to your words. Their body language conveys more information than just a smile and friendly conversation. Crossed arms or legs are a psychological cue that someone is emotionally, mentally, and physically cut off from what's in front of them. In the same vein, a person's foot orientation can also reveal a lot. When someone likes you, they will be facing you with both feet. Nonetheless, if their feet move in the direction of the door, it indicates they’ve had enough and wish to go. 16. Shoes A person's shoes can reveal a lot about who they are as a person. Research indicates that although we all seem to have opinions about people's shoes, they are generally accurate. Anxious persons will wear brand-new or immaculate footwear. - Friendly personalities will don sensible footwear - Calm individuals are drawn to uncomfortable footwear Moreover, combative individuals don ankle boots. Look at your own shoes, please. Do they and your personality type mesh well? 17. Overall Appearance A person's appearance and way of dressing can reveal a lot about them. A person may exhibit attention to detail if they have their clothes ironed, their hair styled, and they appear well-groomed. A person with "bed head" or a more relaxed wardrobe may be messy or creative. And then consider the possibility that someone who appears messy and smelly is just incredibly lazy. 18. Copying Body Language This is probably something you haven't noticed if you have never tried to read people. When someone imitates your body language, though, it indicates that they are drawn to you and want to harmonize with you. So be wary of this in the future. It indicates that both parties are paying attention to you and that the conversation is progressing smoothly. Unconsciously, since nobody goes around deliberately copying others, this is done. On the other hand, we often follow their lead when we feel at ease around them. When it comes to interpreting the cues that people give off, some of us are fairly adept. In contrast, some people are so awful that they require the other person to come clean and express their thoughts. Although it's not simple, being able to read people is an incredibly valuable skill. As each person is unique, it is impossible to accurately interpret someone's words and actions all the time. That being said, hopefully, these pointers will help you improve your people reading skills. Please share your thoughts with us! What is the first thing you typically notice about someone when you first meet them? Tell us in the space provided for comments..
By Lilian Chukwudumebi Okafor6 days ago in Lifehack
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