Dining al fresco – what do you do about the insects?
If you have not been living under a rock, then you know what dining al fresco means. Al fresco dining is synonym with dining outside in the fresh air. But why would someone want to eat outdoors in the first place? The reason why people love dining al fresco so much is that they enjoy a one-of—a-kind experience. To be more precise, individuals get to enjoy a lively and pleasant atmosphere. They basically delight in in a casual yet party-like atmosphere. You do not have to go to a restaurant to enjoy dining al fresco. You have a patio, the weather is nice, not to mention that you have recently purchased furniture for the garden. Dine in the great outdoors together with your family. Eating outdoors is a great thing to do, but insects will no doubt disturb your evening. Bugs are all over the place and these annoying insects will make everyone feel uncomfortable. Keeping your garden pest-free is what you need to do.
Insects you don’t want around your dinner tableAll kinds of nuisances roam around the garden, yet you are more likely to come across these ones:
- Flies
- Mosquitoes
- Gnats
- Lady beetles
- Spined soldier bugs
- Spiders
Nothing can ruin your al fresco dining experience like these critters. Finding a bug in your food or drinks will no doubt ruin your appetite. You can get over the buzzing sound, but you will not be able to ignore the bites. Insect stings cause pain and even allergic reactions. Would it not be great to have a bug-free dining experience?
How to deal with bugsInsects have their place in the higher order of things, but this does not mean that you have to tolerate them. You have the right to enjoy a meal outdoors without having to deal with buzzing or bites. So, what do you do about the pesky insects? If you really want to keep your outdoor dinner bug-free, try the following solutions:
- Get an electric bug zapper. The great thing about electric insect killers is the fact that they lure all kinds of insects and eradicate them completely. After just one night, you will see a dramatic reduction in the number of bugs in the garden. This type of insect control system is incredibly effective, contrary to what most people say. You need to get your hands on an outdoor bug zapper. Before making a purchase, make sure to read
- Keep the food and drinks sealed. If you do not want insects to land on your food, store it in trays or dishes. Equally important is to wrap what you are eating in an aluminum foil. The beverages too should be sealed. Bugs are attracted by the sugar contained in the drinks and they will not resist the temptation of taking a sip.
- Burn Citronella candles. Citronella candles are known to reduce the insect population. What they do is mask odors that bugs find appealing, like lactic acid and carbon dioxide. These candles repel bugs and the great thing is that they are not toxic. Make sure not to buy candles that are only scented. They are not the same as those containing citronella oil. The main difference is that the latter do not work.
- Consider eating during the day. Sur, you were excited about eating outdoors as the night sets in, but sometimes you are better off hosting your dinner before nightfall. This way, you and pesky blood-sucking insects will not intersect because bugs are more active at dusk. There is no problem if your little get together linger onto the evening. You have your electric bug zapper and the Citronella candles.
There is not a single romantic person that does not like dining al fresco. Avoiding eating and dining outside is not something that you should do. On the contrary, you should enjoy dining in the great outdoors. There are some things you need to keep in mind when it comes to dining al fresco. You cannot leave crumbs and spilled liquids behind. Not only do they make you look messy, but also crumbs and liquids are insect magnets. Even the tiniest morsel can attract bugs. Throw out garbage and keep the garden clean.
Another thing to remember is that you need to prepare in advance. Planning ahead of time will help you prepare for unexpected situations. Prepare the food and the garbage bags. Most importantly, don’t forget about getting an insect repellent lotion. Mosquitos, on the one hand, find kids to be very appealing. It is not thus surprising that little ones get bitten more often than adults. Bug zappers cannot kill every pest out there, so do not take your chances. Insects pass on dangerous diseases and the last thing you want is to have your child admitted to the hospital.