HOW TO HOST A PEST-FREE OUTDOOR PARTY

Warmer months and longer days are perfect for those relaxed backyard barbies with friends and family, but they also require knowing how to get rid of mosquitoes outside to ensure everyone's comfort.

But warmer months also bring with them an increase in the number of unwanted pests. Don’t let these uninvited bugs ruin your fun. By following a few simple steps for insect control you can ensure there are no unwelcome guests at your outdoor gathering.

Before your guests arrive, sprinkle ant sand in between the pavers and along path edges to kill ants. Applying a treatment of Mortein Barrier Outdoor will also deter cockroaches.

Mosquitoes love a good backyard barbecue, so luckily there are a number of options available to keep them at bay. One option is to light a few mosquito coils that will repel them for up to eight hours. Another way to stop a mozzie invasion is with the Mortein Mosquito lantern. The dapper lantern protects a 5 metre squared area using a mosquito repellent that is released from the specially designed pad, which is heated by the candle. Yet another option is the Mortein Citronella Candle, which has a burn time of up to 25 hours.

With all the food at a barbecue, flies could have a field day, so be sure to keep all your food covered. Using an automatic insect control system is also an effective way to control flies.

Handy hints:

• Seal food in containers whenever possible and wipe tabletops frequently.

• Take utensils and dishware indoors shortly after the meal.

• Rinse all beverage bottles and cans, and dispose of them in tightly closed garbage containers.