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

Drain wet areas of the plot

Ditches, puddles and even barrels are favorite places 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 ruin your rest. Therefore, if you are planning to buy or rent a house, assess its distance from water bodies and its position relative to runoff: the lower the plot, the more mosquitoes there will be on it.

If they are already present

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

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

Modernize the Dacha Toilet

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

If they are already present

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

Inspect the attic and everything under the roof

If there are many wasps on the plot, you need to find and destroy their nest: boil 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 at hand. If you find a nest and decide to destroy it, do so wearing thick leather gloves, tight clothing, protective mask and goggles. But it's better to call a special 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: thus, if you have spiders in your home, it means there is clothes moth in the wardrobe, bed bugs in the mattress or maggots in the garden. You can remove webs with a damp cloth wrapped around a broom handle, and for other insects as preventive measures, set up repellents.

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 ruin flower beds and fruit trees and carry bacteria on their legs.

What to Do If They Are Already Present

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

2. Repel with light traps.

3. Set traps with toxic baits. Sold in special sections with repellents.

Checklist for Prevention

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

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

Monitor proper irrigation systems so that there are no waterlogged areas on the dacha plot.

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

Regularly clean rooms with a damp cloth, including hard-to-reach and hidden spots.

Clear away all crumbs and traces of food. 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 beds near the house and pavilion with mint, lavender or basil. Cherry laurel and pansies also have a repelling effect.