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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Sep 8, 2021 | Mosquito
It can be tough to eliminate all the mosquitoes around your property, but it is possible to prevent an infestation of these pests. While mosquitoes are a major nuisance, they can also pose health risks to humans, dogs, cats, and horses by transmitting diseases. It’s important to place preventative measures throughout your yard to reduce both their activity and their risk of spreading diseases.
Mosquitoes are looking for standing water to breed in. The first step to preventing mosquitoes is getting rid of any standing water throughout your yard.
- Keep your gutters clear of debris to prevent clogging.
- Empty birdbaths daily and refill them with new water.
- Check your AC drip pans for standing water.
- Turnover and remove water from anything that can collect, including pots, tarps, toys, old tires, and pet bowls.
Mosquitoes prefer to hide in tall grass and damp woodpiles. Keeping your yard well maintained and clear of clutter can also help prevent mosquitoes from your property.
- Cover or fill hollow tree stumps that can fill with water.
- Make sure to cover wood piles or store them in containers with lids.
- Keep your grass mowed short and frequently trim shrubbery and tree limbs.
- Keep your pool maintained or cover when you’re not using it for long periods of time.
Taking these steps can help to prevent high mosquito activity; though, at times it might be best to call your local pest control company to help with future infestations. A trained service professional can provide you with a customized prevention and treatment plan to help eliminate these pests throughout your property.
Jul 23, 2021 | Going Green, Mosquito
Mosquito season peaks in the summer months when the heat, humidity, and summer rain showers combine to create ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Besides those itchy red welts mosquito bites leave behind, they are also known to be vectors for serious diseases like Zika virus and West Nile virus. While traditional mosquito control programs are quite effective at eliminating mosquitoes, there are also green mosquito control options available, as well.
Green mosquito control is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional treatments that utilize plants, flowers and other natural ingredients to provide products that are safe for you, your family, and your pets. Green mosquito products are only applied where they are needed rather than over the entire yard so other beneficial pests aren’t eliminated along with the mosquitoes.
The first step in a green mosquito treatment system is an inspection of your entire yard to identify both nesting sites and resting places that mosquitoes are using. Once these areas have been identified, targeted applications of both larvicide and adulticide are used to help control all populations of mosquitoes. Once this is done, source reduction and elimination is performed by removing any areas of standing water on your property that can be used as a breeding ground. One benefit to mosquito treatments is a service guarantee that ensures a technician will come out between treatments for any issues that arise.
In addition to a scheduled mosquito treatment, homeowners can also take steps to prevent mosquitoes around their homes.
- Mow your lawn regularly.
- Cut away tall weeds around your property.
- Remove any containers with standing water.
- Make sure your property drains properly to avoid flooding and standing water.
If you have a problem with mosquitoes or any other pests, contact your local pest control company for a free analysis.
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Mar 17, 2021 | Mosquito
It’s safe to say that mosquitoes are a major nuisance pest during the spring and summer months. These pests can quickly ruin a backyard barbeque with their incessant swarming and biting of your guests! Before peak mosquito season hits and their activity increases, prep your yard early to prevent mosquitoes.
Eliminate Breeding Sites
The elimination of breeding sites is essential to preventing mosquitoes. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. If there has been a recent thunderstorm, it’s likely that objects in your yard are holding water. Items that can hold water include toys, buckets, outdoor pet bowls, and tire swings are all perfect places for mosquitoes to breed. Other objects meant to hold water, such as fountains or birdbaths, can also attract mosquitoes. Removing these objects or making sure to empty them of water will help eliminate the chance of mosquito infestations during the warmer months.
Clean Up Clutter
Leaves and debris after a thunderstorm can cause clogged gutters, resulting in the perfect place to breed mosquitoes. Ensure that your home’s gutters are clear of debris, especially after it’s been raining. Consider installing gutter guards that save you time, reduces the risk of injuries, and helps prevent mosquitoes and other pests. Mosquitoes also like to hide in tall grass and shrubbery. It’s crucial to maintain your grass and shrubs, keeping both trimmed and the grass cut short.
Call the Pros
Mosquito control and prevention can sometimes feel like a never-ending battle. A professional pest control company can provide homeowners with a customized prevention and treatment plan to help eliminate these pests. Being proactive and starting mosquito treatments now will help in controlling mosquitoes during peak season!
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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