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Expert discusses ways to prevent mosquitos around home

Tom ‘TJ’ Jarzynka joins Breakfast with Bridgett

ORLANDO, Fla. – What’s all the buzz about mosquitos?

With several mosquito-borne illnesses on the rise, it’s a hot topic. The uptick in rainfall gives them more breeding ground in Central Florida

Wednesday on Breakfast With Bridgett, Tom “TJ” Jarzynka, vice president of technical and training at Massey Services gave us the latest on fighting the pests.

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Since mosquitoes only need about a week to hatch, the tiniest amounts of standing water in the yard, gutters, or foliage can harbor them.

But why does it seem like they are attracted to certain people?

“We’re here breathing, CO2, octanols in our breath, our body’s producing scent. Animals and insects out there are using antennae to guide them to us. Some people are — and everybody’s body chemistry’s a little bit different — more attractive than others. Another part is that some people are more sensitive to the bites than other people are,” Jarzynka explained.

Jarzynka recommends DEET-based repellants, but certain plant-based oils like lemon eucalyptus or citronella can also help keep them off of you. He recommends hiring a professional to get them under control if you’ve got a big mosquito problem at your property.

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