Kick Mosquitoes Out of Your School
The last thing teachers need in their classrooms are pesky and distracting mosquitoes ... 🦟
But don’t fret, we have the tips & tricks you need to kick mosquitoes out.
Like everything in the education system, eliminating mosquitoes is a team effort.
Here's what you can do right now to block the bite & keep schools safe:
What Teachers Can Do
1) Eliminate any stagnant water in plants, plant trays, or other items that catch and hold water. Don't forget about tropical plants like bromeliads and lucky bamboo! These plants sit in water or hold water in their leaves and are perfect nurseries for baby mosquitoes.
2) Add screens to classroom doors and windows. You can also use fans directed at doors to create strong wind that mosquitoes can’t fly against.
3) Direct fans towards doors to create strong wind that mosquitoes can’t fly against. And don’t waste your money on traps or devices that claim to work, mosquitoes are attracted to only a few things:
- Our CO2 (what we breathe out)
- The warmth of our skin
- Stagnant water to lay their eggs after they use the protein from our blood to create them
1) Wear repellent wherever mosquitoes are present.
Even though there are multiple mosquito species, you can protect yourself from all bites with repellent applied to exposed skin.
2) Book an EcoHealth program with us.
We have hands-on and NGSS-aligned programs that are available for FREE to all Pre-K through 12th grade students within the San Gabriel Valley.
What Parents Can Do
Dress students in loose and long sleeved clothing to reduce skin exposure to bites.
Consult with pediatrician about which active repellent ingredient is right for your child and send your child to school wearing repellent.
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What Maintenance Can Do
Eliminating mosquitoes in the water is easier than getting rid of mosquitoes flying around the room.
Mosquitoes grow in stagnant water, which is why school grounds need to be maintained every 7 days. Tip out stagnant water from unlikely sources like plant saucers, trash cans without lids, and other containers or plants that can retain water. If possible, throw away or put away these sources where they can’t get wet.
Remember that drains, roof gutters, and even bottle caps can breed mosquitoes.
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Get rid of dense vegetation like ivy, hedges, or bushes that provide mosquitoes shady and cool places to beat the heat. Since mosquitoes are weak fliers, you can trim any dense vegetation to allow ample airflow to pass through.
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Since dense vegetation attracts mosquitoes due to the cool atmosphere it produces, California native plant gardens are great alternatives for a bite-free zone. CA native plants create a beautiful environment that requires less water, blocks out pests, and brings biodiversity to students’ doorstep.
How Vector Control Can Help
If you’ve followed our advice and are still getting bites, you can submit an anonymous tip and a Vector Control Technician will assist you in solving your mosquito problems.
Get everyone on the same page by coordinating a staff presentation to learn about the threats of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne disease.
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🖋 Written by Ally Gaspar, Outreach Assistant