There are approximately 1.4 billion insects for every person—that’s an awful lot of pests to battle when trying to enjoy the outdoors. Fortunately, there are things you can do to deter bugs away from your party. Here are 10 practical solutions, along with reasons to consider insurance for your next important event.
10 Ways to Keep Pests Away from Your Outdoor Event
1. Eliminate standing water. Drain any sources of still water by cleaning out gutters, filling in puddles, and emptying items, such as a bird bath or kiddie pool. Standing water not only attracts mosquitos—it helps them multiply.
2. Move trash and recycling cans. Move all disposal bins to the outskirts of the prime entertainment area and make sure they have lids.
3. Hang bird and bat houses. Birds and bats feast on insects so make your yard more inviting by installing homes for them to live in. A single bat can eat more than 4,000 insects in just one night!
4. Cover all food. Protect the dishes on your buffet table with lids or mesh food tents and keep them covered as much as possible throughout the event.
5. Mow and trim the lawn. Keep landscaping tidy by trimming down grass, brush, and weeds that mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks like to hide in.
6. Choose bug-repellent plants. Lavender, marigolds, chrysanthemums, and lemongrass help repel insects like mosquitoes and aphids, so try to mix some in with your landscaping.
7. Install and run fans. Install ceiling fans and run them on medium or high speed to keep flies and mosquitoes away. If you don’t have anywhere to mount ceiling fans, use standing fans aimed toward food and seating areas.
8. Use LED bulbs. Bugs are more attracted to incandescent bulbs, so swapping them for LED lights will reduce nightly pests.
9. Spray natural repellents. Make a solution containing essential oils like cedarwood and sesame and apply it to your yard on a regular basis.
10. Burn citronella. Rather than bulbs, light up your next outdoor party with citronella candles and torches to help deter mosquitoes and other pesky insects.
Whether you’re planning a backyard party or a celebration at a designated venue, protect your special day with event insurance. A Westwood event policy includes coverage for the following:
- Extreme weather
- Accident/illness of the event host or immediate family member
- Property damage
- Bodily injury
- Optional cancellation coverage
- Optional host liquor liability
- Vendor bankruptcy
Special occasions should be full of happiness, not stress. Contact a Westwood agent about insurance for your next event so you can protect your financial investments and focus on having fun.
Please Note: This article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not represent any specific insurance policy and does not modify any provisions, limitations, or exclusions of any current policy.
