Ants, Mosquitoes and Wasps: What Irritates Us on the Country Estate and How to Deal with It

Drain wet areas of the plot

Ditches, puddles and even barrels are favorite spots for mosquitoes. Where it's dry and hot, they don't appear. They mainly live in forests and near water bodies, but even a small container with rainwater is enough to spoil your rest. Therefore, if you're planning to buy or rent a house, evaluate its distance from water bodies and location relative to runoff: the lower the plot, the more mosquitoes there will be on it.

If they're already present

Repellents and fumigators will help. The first ones can be in the form of sprays, gels, creams and bracelets, while the latter emit a substance when lit that repels insects. The most effective are electric ones. Plug them into an outlet overnight.

The effectiveness of ultrasonic and ultraviolet repellers is not proven. It's not worth spending money on them. Better buy antihistamine gel: it will ease the suffering after bites.

Modernize the Country Estate Toilet

Food scraps, garbage and fertilizers attract swarms of flies. So if you have an outdoor toilet, you should bury it and move it farther from the house, or better yet, consider a septic tank. Evaluate whether you need a compost pit on the plot. Decide what you want more: compost or peace of mind. Flies carry viral, parasitic, bacterial and intestinal diseases, so getting rid of them is not just a comfort issue.

If they're already present

Sticky tape and electric traps will help. Note that the first ones contain poison and may be potentially toxic, so keep them out of reach of children and pets and handle them in gloves. A more eco-friendly option is an aromalamp with clove, eucalyptus and anise oils. The same oils can also be dripped onto the lampshade, near the stove and on windowsills.

Inspect the attic and everything under the roof

If there are many wasps on the plot, you need to find and destroy their nest: soak it in a bucket or special solution for a day. Wasps are dangerous: if someone is allergic, they can die from swelling. Keep antihistamine medications and prednisolone ampoules within reach. If you found a nest and decided to destroy it, do so wearing thick leather gloves, sturdy clothing, protective mask and goggles. But it's better to call a professional pest control service.

Don't Kill Spiders

The belief that killing spiders brings bad luck is not without sense. These insects are completely harmless. They feed on other insects: therefore, if spiders have appeared in your home, it means that moths are living somewhere in the wardrobe, bedbugs in the mattress or maggots in the garden. The web can be removed with a damp cloth wrapped around a broom handle, and for other insects as prevention, put up deterrents.

Don't Step on Ants — It's Pointless

Burning anthills is also not advisable, especially dangerous. However, you need to get rid of them: ants damage flower beds and fruit trees and carry bacteria on their legs.

What to Do If They're Already Present

1. Use chemical agents for insect control: aerosols and pencils.

2. Scare them away with light traps.

3. Set up traps with toxic baits. Sold in special departments with repellents.

Checklist for Prevention

Keep garbage containers and compost piles as far away from the house and resting areas as possible.

Install mosquito netting on windows. In any building, seal all cracks and gaps in the floor, walls, and ceiling.

Monitor proper irrigation to avoid waterlogged areas on the country estate plot.

Pools, wells and other water containers should be covered thoroughly where possible to prevent mosquitoes from laying their larvae there.

Regularly clean rooms with damp cloths, including hidden and hard-to-reach places.

Clear up all crumbs and signs of food presence. Store food and sweets in tightly sealed containers and bags.

Regularly take out the trash, tie up the bag with food scraps at night.

Plant several small herb gardens next to the house and pavilion with mint, lavender or basil. Hawthorn and snapdragons also have a deterrent effect.