This time of year, mosquitoes seem to be everywhere. They are in your home, your yard, and even in your car when you are driving to work in the morning. You can’t have a picnic without them showing up. You can’t even sleep in your bed at night without waking to a couple of new bites. They are pests, through and through. So you may be wondering how to defend your property against mosquitoes.
Despite the global hatred for those flying blood suckers, like all creatures, mosquitoes have a purpose. They are a food source for many animals on our planet.
Mosquito larvae and adults are an important part of the food chain for animals. Because mosquitoes lay eggs in water, their larvae become food for aquatic animals like fish and frogs. Adult mosquitoes are a nutritious food source for bats, spiders, dragonflies, and birds.
A food source for some, and a major pest for others, a mosquito’s role on the bottom of the food chain makes them essential for wildlife survival, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take steps to CONTROL them.
The #1 thing you can do to stop mosquitoes …
stop them before they can become a problem
Most people believe summer is the start of mosquito season, but it actually begins as soon as the spring temperatures reach 50 degrees or warmer. That is when their mating begins and their eggs hatch. As the summer temperatures rise, so does mosquito breeding. More eggs equal more mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes develop from egg to adult in 10 to 14 days (depending on the temperature). Females lay hundreds of eggs, which hatch within 48 hours, and adults begin breeding within 2 days of taking flight. The result in mosquito populations that increase quickly in favorable conditions.
Before too long, you have a mosquito control issue rather than a mosquito free summer.
Sigma gets rid of mosquitoes
The most effective way to get rid of mosquitoes is to arrange specialized treatments that get rid of mosquitoes during ALL their life stages. Sigma Pest Control knows how much you enjoy your mosquito free summer, and our fully trained, licensed pest control professionals will see to it that you get the best mosquito control program available.
Common mosquito prevention tips
It is never too late to control mosquitoes, even if it’s the middle of summer. Just because you didn’t get the jump on them before summer arrived, doesn’t mean you should just sit back and let nature takes its course.
If you have a mosquito problem, Sigma Pest Control suggest you start on a mosquito control plan right away. And for those of you that think you’ve started too late, there are things you can do that greatly reduce the risk of mosquitoes around your property. Here are some easy to follow prevention tips:
Swimming Pools
Mosquitoes lay their eggs water (any amount of water), including swimming pools. If you have a pool, even one you don’t regularly use, be sure that you are keeping up with the water treatment schedule and that all filters are working properly, make sure you keep the water circulating correctly. Even small kiddie pools are a target so replace the water frequently.
Ponds & Water Features
Ponds, bird baths, fountains, and other types of water features provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Trim any weeds that may spring up around the edges and consider adding minnows to the water because they feed on mosquito larvae and can help control their population.
Remove Standing Water
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in and around standing water. Eliminating sources of stagnant water around your property is one of the most effective measures of helping to prevent mosquitoes in your yard. Common areas for standing water include buckets, old tires, bird baths, trash can lids and tarps that may allow water to accumulate.
Drain Water & Fill Low Areas
After a hard rain, make sure the water is draining away from the house and that it doesn’t accumulate or backup to form puddles. Fill those low-lying areas with dirt and make sure you have proper drainage. Around downspouts is another popular place for water to accumulate. Make sure the water doesn’t collect in those areas.
Clean Out Gutters
Gutters can easily get clogged with leaves. Those clogged areas become sources of pooling rain water and moisture. Keep your gutters free of leaves so these tiny pockets of water don’t swan your next mosquito infestation. Remember, mosquitoes can lay their eggs in as little as one inch of stagnant water.
Project Yourself
Following these do-it-yourself mosquito prevention tips can be helpful in preventing mosquitoes from breeding and spreading, but when you are outdoors you should also take steps to prevent mosquito bites.
- Avoid being outside during dawn and dusk, when many species of mosquitoes are most active.
- Wear long pants, sleeved shirts, and even gloves when working in the yard.
- Apply a mosquito repellent.
Mosquito control for the entire season
It’s never too late to implement a mosquito control plan. Even if it is the middle of summer, Sigma Pest Control can treat the area around your home to kill and ward off existing mosquitoes, while at the same time prepare a barrier against next year’s mosquito infestation.
With our Mosquito and Tick Program, we will perform service to your yard every month, April through October ($89/month). Mosquitoes are not very strong flyers, and need to land and harbor every 10 feet, or so. What we do is eliminate the ability for mosquitoes (and ticks) to grow and reproduce in those areas.
Call 540-94-SIGMA and get started on taking back your yard this summer!
