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Preventing and Treating Mosquito Bites

Learn how to protect yourself from mosquito bites and how to treat them should they occur.

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Updated:

June 26, 2024

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A close-up of a mosquito biting a person. Image credit: Photo by Lauren Bishop, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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If you live in Pennsylvania and work or play outside for any length of time, you are likely very aware of the dreaded mosquito bite. One minute you are minding your own business in the garden or on the trail; then, in an instant, you are bitten and feel the inevitable itch from the insect’s stealth attack. While you may not be able to completely remove the threat of mosquito bites, there are ways to significantly lessen your risk.

What are mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes can be found throughout the United States, including in Pennsylvania. Immature (young) mosquitoes, which are called larvae and pupae, are aquatic (meaning they live in water). Adult mosquitoes can fly, and adult female mosquitoes will bite people and animals to feed on their blood. As you likely have experienced, mosquito bites leave itchy welts on the skin, and can sometimes lead to diseases (such as West Nile virus) in both people and animals.

How can you get rid of mosquitoes?

The first step to preventing mosquito bites around your house or farm is to control or completely remove their habitat. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, n.d.-c) lays out several ways to do this:

Reducing mosquito habitat—Because younger mosquitos live in water, getting rid of areas where water can accumulate may reduce the number of mosquitoes on your property. Areas around the farm and home that can gather water include buckets, tarps, tires, flowerpots, and clogged gutters. If possible, remove these items or cover, clean, or reposition them so they cannot hold water.
Changing standing water—In areas where water cannot be eliminated (such as in rain barrels, bird baths, or water troughs), change out the water every week. Keeping these water sources clean further helps to eliminate habitats where mosquitoes can live.
Treating permanent water—Bodies of water that cannot be eliminated or changed out (such as ponds and irrigation ditches) can be treated with a pesticide to control mosquito larvae. According to the EPA (n.d.-a), the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (BTI) is one pesticide that can be applied to standing water to kill mosquito larvae. BTI comes in many forms, such as sprays and dunks, and it is not toxic to humans. Many BTI products are approved for homeowners to apply themselves. BTI is also approved for use in organic farming. As with all pesticides, always follow label instructions when applying it. Using BTI may not be necessary for all bodies of water. For example, keeping swimming pools clean and chlorinated can prevent mosquitoes from developing.
Keeping screens free of holes—Just as important as eliminating mosquito habitat is making sure that mosquitoes stay outside. Luckily, door and window screens do a great job of keeping mosquitoes out of your home. To stop mosquitoes from getting inside, make sure your doors and windows have screens that are hole-free.

How can you prevent mosquito bites?

In addition to getting rid of mosquitoes, there are several steps you can take to prevent mosquito bites when spending time outdoors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, n.d.-b) encourages taking certain steps to prevent mosquito bites.

The first step is to wear loose-fitting long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors in areas with mosquitoes to limit mosquitoes' access to your skin.

Another option is to treat clothing with permethrin, an insecticide that kills mosquitoes that touch it. Permethrin is not applied directly to skin, but rather is used to pre-treat clothing before you wear it. Treated clothing stays effective even after multiple washes. Always follow insecticide label instructions when treating clothing with permethrin.

You can also use an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains an active ingredient such as DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or IR3535. Insect repellents that have been registered with the EPA have been tested and are both safe to use and effective at preventing mosquito bites. If applying both sunscreen and a repellent, apply sunscreen first, then apply the repellent on top of the sunscreen. As with permethrin, use repellent according to directions. More information on types of insect repellents can be found on the EPA’s website (n.d.-b).

What should you do if you get a mosquito bite?

Getting bitten by a mosquito is never pleasant, but there are steps you can take to alleviate the effects. The CDC (n.d.-a) provides guidance on what to do if you have been bitten by a mosquito. First, clean the area with soap and water, then apply an ice pack for 10 minutes to reduce itchiness and swelling. To reduce the itchiness, you can apply anti-itch or antihistamine creams, using each as the label instructs you to.

Mosquitoes and mosquito bites can be annoying and can potentially lead to disease. Thankfully, there are many steps you can take around your house or farm to stop mosquitoes before they can bite. By taking these steps, you and your family can enjoy the outdoors while staying mosquito-bite free all year long.