Mar 16, 2023 | Mosquito
Laurens Mosquito Control: Green Mosquito Options
Living in the south, especially Laurens, South Carolina, is known to come with many pests once the weather begins to warm up. The extra humidity is heaven to pests, especially mosquitoes. Besides leaving behind itchy, red welts when they bite humans, they can also pose a serious health risk.
One of the best methods in preventing mosquitoes is by investing in a mosquito control program with your local green pest control company. There are many programs to choose from, but the eco-friendly choice is a green mosquito control option.
Benefits to Green Mosquito Program:
- Eco-Friendly
- Derived from flowers and botanicals
- Applied strategically around property
- Effectively reduces both larva and adult mosquitoes
While a green mosquito program is effective at keeping mosquitoes away, it’s also important to eliminate any other mosquito attractants near your property. One thing you can begin doing is eliminating standing water around the property. Mosquitoes can lay eggs in as little as .5” of standing water, so ridding your property of that is a big help. Some ways to reduce standing water are by keeping your gutters clean, repairing poor drainage sites, and replacing bird bath water daily.
If you notice more mosquitoes than usual, it might be time to call your local pest control company. Their mosquito experts will be able to assist you with getting an eco-friendly mosquito program set up.
Mar 14, 2023 | Mosquito
Peak mosquito season for Alabama is just around the corner, making now the perfect time to get prepared! Besides being a nuisance, mosquitoes can transmit serious diseases to both humans and pets. Check out our top do-it-yourself mosquito prevention tips you can place now before mosquito season gets out of hand.
Remove Standing Water
Eliminating breeding sites or source reduction can help keep pesky mosquitoes from your yard. Inspect your yard and look for any low-lying areas that are prone to flooding or pooling water, fill them in with dirt, or place mulch in them. Likewise, look around for any items containing water after it’s rained, including plastic sheeting, old tires, trashcan lids, kiddie pools, birdbaths, and more. These all serve as an ideal mosquito breeding grounds. Likewise, make sure to fix any leaking spigots leading to puddles around the perimeter of your home.
Clean Your Gutters
Mosquitoes don’t need a large amount of water to breed. These pests can lay their eggs in just a small amount, such as a bottle cap of water. When your gutters become cluttered with fallen leaves, pine straw, and other debris, they can create the perfect place for a mosquito breeding ground. Make sure to clear your gutters so that water can easily flow, and you can reduce the places mosquitoes will lay their eggs.
Keep a Well-Kept Yard
Mosquitoes tend to hide in tall grass, shrubbery, and damp woodpiles. It’s important to keep your grass mowed short and cut back your shrubs on a regular basis. Likewise, remove piles of leaves and debris from your yard, as these can give a mosquito a place to hide and breed. If you’re storing wood piles, cover them and place them in containers with lids at least 20 feet from your home.
Use Mosquito-Repelling Plants
There are certain flowers and plants that make great natural mosquito repellents. Certain oils from these plants can help repel mosquitoes and be a great addition to your garden! Consider planting citronella, lavender, marigolds, rosemary, thyme, and basil in your yard to help repel mosquitoes away.
Consider Professional Mosquito Services
Fighting mosquitoes can seem like a never-ending battle, even after you’ve placed preventative measures around your home. Sometimes, it’s best to leave it up to the professionals when dealing with mosquitoes. Consider reaching out to your local pest control company for more information on professional mosquito elimination services. These services will typically offer you traditional and green mosquito control options that target adult and larvae mosquitoes, provide source reduction, and recommend elimination techniques.
Apr 8, 2022 | Mosquito
As the weather warms, mosquitoes are quick to ruin your outdoor fun. The climate in the southeastern United States is ideal for mosquitoes to thrive. In this area of the country, there is a long, warm rainy season, copious amounts of rain, and high humidity, all leading to ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed. Mosquitoes prefer to lay eggs in standing or slow moving water. They also seek shelter and protection from tall grass, shrubbery, and low hanging branches.
Depending on where you live in the southeast, mosquito season typically runs from March to October. Mosquito eggs will hatch when temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This is when mosquito season officially begins. When it comes to mosquitoes, prevention is key. It is important to have a plan in place before the season starts. There are several things you can do to prevent mosquitoes from taking over your property. Here are a few mosquito prevention tips you can use this season.
- Limit standing water on your property.
- Keep your yard clear of toys, tools, and gardening equipment.
- Clear out any debris like old tires, flower pots, etc.
- Clean gutters to prevent pooling water or consider installing gutter guards.
- Fill in any depressions or holes on your property that can hold water.
- Keep pools, ponds, and bird baths clean every few days.
- Seal any cracks and holes in the house.
- Patch or repair tears or holes in screens.
- Mow your lawn regularly.
Professional Mosquito Treatments
If mosquitoes are a big problem in your area, you may want to consider professional mosquito control treatments. It is best to spray these treatments when mosquitoes are active and humans and pets aren’t. This means it is usually best to spray in the morning or late afternoon when temperatures are cooler and the sun is not at its peak.
With mosquito treatments, a professional will come and inspect your property to identify any resting and breeding areas to help eliminate these pests. It is recommended that treatments be applied monthly during peak mosquito season. Green mosquito control is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional mosquito treatments. Green mosquito control utilizes products derived from flowers and bacteria rather than harsh chemicals. These products are only applied to areas where they are needed, limiting exposure to plants and other animals. Mosquito treatments work to reduce both adult populations and mosquito larvae.
If you have a problem with mosquitoes, contact your local pest control company for a free quote.
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Jul 13, 2021 | Going Green, Mosquito
Mosquitoes thrive off heat and humidity! With summer officially here, mosquito season is in full swing, making your chances of getting bit by one of these pests very high. Mosquitoes are small and annoying and their bites can pose a serious health threat to both humans and animals. Every homeowner wants to protect their family and pets from these pests and what better way to do so with a green alternative via the In2Care Mosquito Trap!
How In2Care Works
In2Care is a perfect solution to help prevent and eliminate mosquitoes throughout your home and property. This trap is unique as it lures in mosquitoes with a special green treatment inside the trap. Once mosquitoes enter the trap, the treatment transfers to the mosquito’s legs, where it is then spread to other breeding sites, like standing water or flower saucers. The spread of the treatment eliminates adult mosquitoes but also prevents the larva mosquitoes from developing further.
The In2Care Benefits
This trap is perfect for every residential home looking for a new, alternative green mosquito control method. Instead of spraying product around your yard, the trap is placed in a shaded, vegetated area where mosquitoes are likely to breed. The green treatment used to eliminate mosquitoes does not target beneficial pests and remains environmentally and pet friendly. In2Care provides your property:
- A no spray, discrete system.
- Elimination of all mosquito life stages – from larva to adult.
- Strategic placement around the home so the trap is always working.
Instead of constantly battling mosquitoes this summer, consider a new way in In2Care to rid mosquitoes and take back your yard!
If you’re interested in the In2Care System or would like more information, call 866-480-0947.
Mar 12, 2021 | Going Green, Mosquito
Mosquito season is right around the corner! Heat and humidity during these months combine to provide an ideal environment for mosquitoes to thrive. The season usually starts in the spring and peaks over the summer. Besides leaving behind itchy, red welts, these nuisance pests are dangerous to humans by vectoring serious diseases like Zika virus, West Nile virus, and chikungunya. Fortunately, there are several green pest control options you can utilize as an eco-friendly alternative to control mosquitoes. Here are 3 steps you can take for green mosquito control.
Identify Nesting and Resting Sites
The first step to controlling mosquitoes is identifying and eliminating what attracts them in the first place. Mosquitoes will come around in search of two things: nesting sites and resting sites.
Where do mosquitoes breed? Every species of mosquito lays its eggs in water. While the type of water source may vary between species, it only takes a minute amount of water for mosquitoes to hatch and develop. Get rid of any potential breeding sites by:
- Cleaning up debris around your home. Moisture can accumulate under piles of leaves, boards, mulch, rocks, and other outdoor items.
- Walking around your yard and identify any items that can hold water – pots, cans, bird baths, lids, toys, and planters. Empty them or store them upside down when not in use.
- Inspecting your gutters for clogs and keep them cleaned out. Watch out for sagging gutters or low spots where the water can accumulate.
- Repairing any poor drainage sites in your yard as these can lead to standing water. Consider leveling your yard or installing a french drain.
Once mature, adult mosquitoes will often rest in shady areas that are protected from the wind. Some common resting sites include trees, shrubs, potted plants, patios, and front entryways.
Protect Yourself From Bites
Any time you can protect yourself from mosquito bites you should. Prevent mosquito bites by:
- Blowing them away. Any breeze above 1 mph will make it difficult for mosquitoes to fly. If you have to spend time outdoors, consider using fans, whether battery powered, plug in or ceiling. Try to keep the air flow from the fans pointed at the lower half of your body as mosquitoes tend to fly closer to the ground to avoid said wind.
- Avoiding peak mosquito hours. Mosquitoes tend to feed at dawn and dusk as the wind typically dissipates around these times. Try to stay indoors during these times, especially during the warmer months.
- Applying insect repellent before going outdoors. When applying repellent, spray it onto your hands and rub it onto your skin rather than spraying it directly onto the skin. Repellents with DEET block the mosquitoes’ CO2 receptors, making them especially effective.
- If you are opposed to DEET, there are other natural mosquito repellents you can use instead.
- Picaridin is CDC approved and the most broadly used repellent outside the United States.
- IR 3535 is CDC approved and also repels deer ticks.
- 2-undecanone is CDC approved and is found naturally in cloves.
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus is CDC approved and has been proven in studies to repel as well as DEET.
- Avon Skin so Soft was shown in a 2015 study to repel mosquitoes for up to 2 hours.
- Permethrin fabric spray can be used on clothes, shoes, tents, and netting.
- Essential oils containing eucalyptus, rosemary, cloves, basil, and peppermint have also been shown to repel mosquitoes and are even used in many commercial products.
- Covering up when outdoors. Wear tightly woven, light colored clothing. The synthetic fibers in athletic wear are especially good at repelling mosquitoes. Dark colors stand out to mosquitoes, while lighter colors are less attractive.
- Considering the use of plants that repel mosquitoes around your home such as citronella, lavender, lemongrass, marigolds, and basil.
Applying Green Mosquito Treatments
Yards and climates vary across the region so the effectiveness and longevity of mosquito treatments will vary from home to home. Regardless of where you live or what kind of home you have, a green mosquito control program can be effective at helping control mosquito populations. Green mosquito control utilizes eco-friendly products that are just as effective as traditional products.
A complete green reduction program includes monthly mosquito treatments during mosquito season. Green treatments use products that are derived from flowers and botanicals and area only applied to the areas where they are needed instead of over the entire yard. They are effective at reducing both adult and larvae populations.
The green mosquito reduction program includes an inspection to identify resting and nesting sites; larvacide and adulticides to target all aspects of the population; source reduction and elimination by removing any areas of standing water; and a service guarantee where they will come back between treatments if needed, usually at no cost.
If you have a problem with mosquitoes or any other pests, contact a professional pest control company who can provide you with a thorough inspection and the most up to date traditional pest control and green treatment options available for you.
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