More homeowners seek mosquito relief as coronavirus keeps families locked at home this summer

While the mosquito season in Australia starts in earnest in September, it is the summer months when people start to bring out the citronella candles and bug spray to protect against the irritating and sometimes dangerous insects.

This year as health officials are issuing their annual warnings about Ross River virus, Dengue virus and Murray Valley encephalitis - diseases spread by mosquitoes, the coronavirus pandemic is keeping many families at home and spending more time outside.

Some are finding that coils, candles and bug spray are not enough to keep the mosquitoes and other bugs away.

Some simple precautious can help keep mosquitoes to a minimum and we recommend treating outdoor areas around a house with pesticides every 90 days or so in order to keep the bugs at bay.

Mosquitoes normally bite during dawn and dusk and they rest on the underside of vegetation, so that’s where we would recommend applying the product, as well as the exterior of walls where they may be waiting to attach themselves to a host.

Mosquitoes require standing water to breed and develop, so remove any standing water in buckets or plant pots that may be lying around in gardens or yards to limit the number of mosquitoes.

Beyond the nuisance of an itchy bite or uncomfortable outdoor experience, mosquitoes can also carry serious diseases.

While spraying on bug repellent and wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors is an effective way to prevent mosquito bites, it’s not realistic for very hot summer days.

You can find effective mosquito clothing protection here or if you're spending more time indoors this summer and need to prevent mosquitoes attacking you then you should invest in a robust mosquito net or mosquito zapper.