Do you dream of sitting out in your backyard, enjoying the weather or a beautiful sunset, without fear that mosquitoes are lurking about and waiting to bite? You’re not alone!
Mosquitoes are a common pest found in nearly every part of the world. In fact, more than 3,000 species of mosquito have been identified around the globe.
Mosquitoes can be a major nuisance, ruining outdoor relaxation and gatherings, and generally making gardening and other yard tasks miserable. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce the number of mosquitoes in your yard, in addition to contacting a pest control professional to help.
Tips for Mosquito Prevention
Your outdoor spaces should be enjoyed without the annoying buzz of mosquitoes. A few common tips for mosquito prevention include:
- At least once a week, remove, cover or throw out any items that can hold standing water. Look for tires, buckets, planters, toy pools, birdbaths, etc.
- Ensure you also tightly cover water storage containers with wire mesh, which has holes too small for adult mosquitoes to access.
- Don’t forget about smaller containers like cans and jars–even those need lids or mesh covering with holes small enough to keep adult mosquitoes out.
- Clean and repair your rain gutters and drain pipes regularly to prevent standing water from accumulating.
- Tree holes or stumps should be filled if they’re collecting rainwater.
- Use larvicides in larger bodies of standing water and, if you have a pool, make sure you’re maintaining it.
- Use mosquito repellents or mosquito nets around seating areas.
- Use fans when possible. Mosquitoes aren’t strong fliers and the breeze can help keep them away.
- Until your mosquito problems have been resolved, wear long sleeves and pants outdoors to avoid exposed skin as much as possible. However, keep in mind that mosquitoes can bite through some clothing items.
The best way to repel mosquitoes is to contact a professional pest control service. Professionals have effective solutions that can target mosquitoes throughout their cycle. While it is physically impossible to eliminate all the mosquitoes in an area, professionals have the most effective treatments and strategies for reducing mosquito populations.
Do Bug Zappers Work?
While bug zappers are alluring, the truth is that they’re not really all that effective in controlling mosquitoes. Before investing in one of these devices, let’s examine why they don’t work and what you can do instead.
Bug Zappers Attract Non-Targeted Insects
Bug zappers aren’t effective for mosquito control because the insects the device attracts are often not even mosquitoes. A bug zapper will target any flying insect attracted to light. This includes other pollinators, typically in much higher percentages than it does mosquitoes.
Even worse, when it comes to these zappers, mosquitoes aren’t actually even attracted to light. Mosquitoes rely heavily on their sense of smell to attract them to specific odors. But, contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes can’t smell blood. They are attracted to the carbon dioxide our bodies emit when we exhale.
Bug Zappers Have Inadequate Coverage
Another reason why bug zappers aren’t effective for mosquito control is because of the limited coverage area that each device offers. A single zapper typically covers no more than a few hundred square feet. That means if your yard is larger than that or if there are multiple areas around your home where mosquitoes congregate, then a single unit isn’t going to cut it.
You would need multiple units to cover all the possible areas where these pests hang out. Rather than relying on one of these devices as a long-term solution for keeping mosquitoes out of your yard, focus on preventive measures.
Have screens installed over doors and windows to keep mosquitoes out of your home and yard. Wear mosquito repellent and long sleeves and pants.
A professional pest control plan that includes regular monitoring and treatments is helpful for keeping mosquito populations low.
Where Do Mosquitoes Go During the Day?
Homeowners frequently notice mosquito activity more in the morning and at night time. This is a survival tactic by many species of mosquitoes; they don’t like hot, dry weather and prefer the humidity that morning and nighttime often have. However, keep in mind some species of mosquitoes are active during the day, so you may still get bitten.
Many mosquitoes will rest during the day in areas that hold in more moisture. Since they’re most active about two hours after sunset, it’s important to know how to deter them, so you can enjoy your outdoor spaces at night.
One of the best ways to keep mosquitoes away is by keeping them from being able to hide during the day.
Mosquitoes come out at night, so it may not be as clear where they go during the daylight hours. There are a few places these little pests like to hide when the sun is out. These pests tend to hide in the shade during the day. Female mosquitoes, the ones who bite, will hide in dark, damp areas around your property, such as sheds, under eaves or in wood or other piles. They also like hiding under outdoor furniture or decks to avoid direct sunlight.
Male mosquitoes prefer to hang outside in shady spots or tall grasses away from direct sunlight or breezes. Keeping lawns and garden areas mowed and trimmed will give them fewer places to hide and wait for the sun to go down.
How Mosquitoes Reproduce
All mosquitoes need water to survive and reproduce. That’s why they seek wet environments for protection during the day, including puddles of water or ponds near your house. Many species of mosquito also lay their eggs in these puddles and pools. This is why removing any standing water on your property is so important.
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in raft-like structures that float on the surface of stagnant water. They then grow from eggs to larvae to adults. The egg, larva and pupa are all aquatic life stages, before the pupa forms into a flying adult.
It’s important to understand where mosquitoes go during the day since it can help you make your property less attractive to them. This can protect you from getting bitten and keeps your yard the inviting, relaxing area it should be.
With simple precautions and an understanding of where they like to hide during the day, you can feel more confident knowing that you are better protected against bothersome mosquitoes.
Mosquito bites are, at best, annoying and, at their worst, can spread diseases. To keep mosquito populations low on your property, it’s always best to contact a professional pest control service for assistance.
Pest control professionals can help assess the area for risk factors such as stagnant water or decaying organic matter, treat breeding sites and help you form a plan to ward off mosquitoes.
ABC Can Reduce Mosquito Populations on Your Property
Don’t let pesky mosquitoes ruin your time outdoors. For a multi-tiered approach to mosquito control, contact ABC Home & Commercial Services. We will create a pest treatment plan that best suits your yard and needs.
