Insect and mosquito control is very important to me, because I live on Cape Cod, Massachusetts which is a high-risk area for both tick-carried Lyme Disease and mosquito-carried encephalitis. Both of these diseases can be life threatening and carry the risk of life-long disability. So I consider it very important to limit the insect and mosquito population in my yard.

My home and yard is a large wooded area that leads to a marsh and weltands. These are prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes. As soon as the weather warms above 50 degrees in the Spring, mosquitoes and other insects become a problem until we experience our first frost, usually sometime in October

Part of the reason that I live on Cape Cod is that I love nature and being outdoors. So to offset the health risks I have decided to use a DEET insect repellent on my exposed skin when I am outside. DEET is considered to be the most effective repellent for both ticks and mosquitoes. However, there have been some reports of seizures because of DEET. Therefore there are people who choose to use natural insect repellents.

Recognizing the potential risks of DEET, the U.S. EPA reviewed the use of DEET. While DEET was found safe and effective for adults and children, guidelines were issued concerning its use. You should always follow the directions on the product. DEET insect repellent should never be applied to broken skin or to a skin rash. Use as little as possible on exposed skin and use none on skin that is covered by clothing. To apply to your face, spray on your hands and then use your hands to apply to your face. Never spray DEET on your face. As soon as you are done being outside, wash the DEET insect repellent off with soap and water.

If you are using a DEET insect repellent and experience an allergic reaction, of course stop using it and call your doctor.

There are special insect repellents that you can use to treat your clothing that contain Permethrin. In fact, it doesn't just repel insects, it kills them when they land on your clothing. Adding permethrin treated clothing to a DEET spray on your exposed skin, is considered the gold standard for protecting against tick and mosquito diseases, along with a few other insect-related diseases.

There are two ways to treat your clothing with permethrin. Always follow the instructions that come with the product.

The first way to treat your clothing is to soak it for two hours in a permethrin solution. Then hang it up to dry. No, don't put it in your dryer!

The second way is to thoroughly spray your clothing - being especially attentive to shirt cuffs, pant cuffs, and socks - until it is properly saturated. This should be done outside or in a very well ventilated area. And allow it to dry.

These treatments should last through about six washings. Leo and I wear permethrin teated clothing to go hiking in the woods or paddling along the marshlands. I also wear this clothing for periods of extended gardening and brush clearing.

We've also tried to set up a barrier between our living space and the marshlands. With a series of Flowtron Insect Killers. These have bright lights in cages that attract flying insects. When the insects fly toward the light they hit an electrified grid. We chose a model that has a non-clog grid and no collection pan. That way the insects fall to the ground and the wind blows them away.

I like this method because it does not use any sprays or insecticides. However, it may harm benefticial insects and honey bees. So I try never to use it when the honey bees are in the area.

Away from the house and the source of electricity, I've invested in about a dozen mosquito traps. They use a pheromone to attract female mosquitoes. The mosquito goes into the trap and can't get out and eventually drowns in the water. I've set these on the perimeter between our meadow and the wetlands.

I've found that if I put these out in the early Spring, and maintain them properly, it does cut down on the mosquito density.

In the immediate patio area I use a more natural approach with insect repellent candles. There's a lot of food being served there and I don't want to risk any contamination. I also have friends who have chosen to only use organic and non-DEET insect repellents, so I make sure that we either use the Flowtron Insect Killers near the patio, which use no insecticides or we go organic. I also don't like to have DEET on my hands before I cook or when I'm serving food.

Most of the insect repellent candles use citronella. But geraniol or geranium oil is gaining in popularity. The newest ingredient is Andiroba, from the Brazilian Amazon. It works by making the mosquitos lose their appetite so they don't want to bite. If you have small children, nosy cats, or boisterous dogs, you can also find flameless insect repellent candles. You'll have the choice of using it as a candle, a diffuser, or both.