Mosquito Season Kickoff: Get Rid of Them While You Can!
It’s official – mosquito season is here. With each passing day the buzzing grows louder at dusk as mosquitoes come out to feast. People quickly abandon their outdoor pursuits and run for cover indoors rather than risking a bite.
They may be tiny and annoying, but mosquitoes are the most dangerous insects on the planet. Mosquitoes transmit a laundry list of diseases, some of which are deadly for people and pets. The Zika virus outbreak is just the latest in a long list of mosquito-borne epidemics.
As the weather warms up and the humidity rises, the conditions will be perfect for mosquitoes to multiply. Now is the time to control mosquitoes before they lay claim to your property.
Eliminate Standing Water
We’ve given this advice before, but water control is critical for getting rid of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes need standing water to lay eggs and keep the population going. After it rains, or even if the sprinkler system isn’t set up correctly, puddles can form, and that’s all it takes for mosquitoes to lay eggs.
Give your yard a good once over to look for any potential problem areas like:
- Leaky faucets
- Broken gutters
- Low spots on the lawn
- Planter pots and dishes
- Broken sprinkler heads
- Tires and other debris
- Bird bathes and feeders
- Dog bowls
- Grill covers
Basically any spot where water can pool is a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Keep Water Features Flowing
Getting rid of all the puddles and standing water won’t do much good if you have outdoor water features that aren’t flowing. To keep mosquitoes in check you have to:
- Make sure the pump is adequately sized and easily accessible in case it needs to be replaced – because it’s going to go out eventually.
- Keep the water feature cleaned and maintained. If you use a filter with your pond or fountain, clean it at least once a month.
- Keep the vegetation cleared out as much as possible. Vegetation in the water will give mosquito eggs and larvae places to hide from predators.
- Treat the water with Bacillus thuringensis, or Bt, to prevent eggs.
Cut Off Their Food Supply
Like all insects, mosquitoes are going to congregate where there’s a good food supply. In addition to eliminating all standing water, you also need to take away their food source.
That means staying indoors when mosquitoes are most active. The exact time will vary depending on the species, but the majority of mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. If you do go outside wear bug sprayto prevent mosquitoes from biting. You’ll also need to protect pets so they don’t become a walking buffet.
Groom the Garden and Lawn
Mosquitoes will take advantage of the vegetation whenever they can, especially around water sources. Keeping your lawn and garden groomed will help minimize a mosquito problem. Mow the lawn regularly so it stays about two inches long and consider using a granular lawn treatment to control mosquitoes.
Pest control companies also offer additional treatments that can correct existing mosquito problems. If you live in Central Alabama and have noticed mosquitoes buzzing around your property give Vulcan Termite and Pest Control Inc. a call! Our professional pest control technicians will do a thorough assessment before creating a custom pest control treatment plan to eliminate the mosquitoes.
Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/pest-safety/mosquito-season-kickoff-get-rid-can/