Essential Steps for Protecting Your Property Against Mosquitoes

This year there is yet another reason to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs on your property. The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness that isn’t life threatening but has been associated with severe birth defects if a pregnant woman is infected.

Global and national health organizations are urging everyone to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites and prevent infestations as much as possible. In hot, humid areas of the country like Alabama, the need for mosquito control is even higher. Here are the essential steps every homeowner should take to protect against mosquitoes this spring.

Remove Any and All Standing Water

Mosquitoes need standing water to lay their eggs. Eliminate standing water and you’ll make a lot of headway in preventing a mosquito infestation. Scour your yard for any and all areas of moisture. Common places for water buildup include:

• Gutters
• Beneath drains
• Under water faucets
• Drain outlets of air conditioners
• Around the foundation
• Dips in the yard
• Potted plants and saucers
• Buckets
• Tree stumps
• Around tree roots

After the next rain, take a look around the property to see where water collects.

Use Larvicide in Ponds

If you have a pond, your property is a prime target for mosquitoes. It’s like a natural habitat without as many predators. Multi-faceted management is necessary to keep ponds from becoming a breeding site. An all-natural approach is to minimize the vegetation that is in the water and add mosquito fish to your pond. You can also use a larvicide with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) or insect growth regulator (IGR) to kill mosquito larvae before them become pesky adults. 

Make Sure Ponds and Water Features Are Constantly Flowing

The peaceful water features in your yard can turn into a nightmare if the water stops flowing. Keep an eye on your water features, and if they stop working either get the problem fixed ASAP or remove the water. Mosquitoes are fast-breeding insects, and the eggs can hatch in just 24 hours.

Clear Out Debris and Clutter

Aside from water, the next best thing for mosquitoes is a lot of debris and clutter to hang out in. Water can collect in debris like old tires and buckets, and the clutter also gives mosquitoes additional hiding spots. Give your yard a good spring cleaning, and create a yard maintenance plan so that clutter doesn’t crop back up.

Keep the Grass Mowed

Mosquitoes like to hide out in tall vegetation, which is just one more reason why areas like Alabama are a prime breeding ground. Keep your grass mowed as short as possible to limit a lot of the space where mosquitoes can congregate.

Make Sure All Screens Are Secure

Even the tiniest tear in a window or patio screen can give mosquitos a way inside. Regularly check around each screen for holes, tears, and bends in the frame. Temporarily patch any holes you see with duct tape until you can get the screen replaced.

Use Yellow Outdoor Lights

Insects, like humans, can only detect parts of the color spectrum. Brainy scientists have discovered that yellow hues are more difficult for insects to see, and therefore are less likely to attract bugs. You can now findyellow bulbs for outdoor light fixtures that will help keep mosquitoes and other pests away from your porch.

Use Fans Outdoors

If you plan to hang out on the porch or a deck, fans can prevent mosquitoes from becoming a nuisance. It will also discourage mosquitoes from settling down in your yard because they won’t be able to feed off of you and your family members.

Get Help From the Professionals

Professional mosquito treatments are another effective way to make sure that mosquitoes are controlled. Because Alabama is a mosquito breeding ground, Vulcan Termite and Pest Control Inc. has added a specialty service specifically for mosquitoes. It consists of identifying and correcting the spots that are most conducive for mosquitoes, breaking the life cycle to halt progression, and treating the area to suppress mature mosquitoes. It’s an integrated approach that handles the issue from eggs to adults.

Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/seasonalpests/essential-steps-for-protecting-your-property-against-mosquitoes/