It’s time to defend the north… south, east, and west of your property against the one true enemy of the realm: mosquitoes.
You’ve survived winter and are eager to enjoy some time in your yard. The last thing you want is to be driven inside by pesky mosquitoes.
Unfortunately, mosquitoes have been on the planet for over 150 million years and don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. The resilient development of their eggs helps fuel and sustain the hardy population.
Eggs laid by mosquitoes in the fall survive winter in diapause. Once spring arrives and temperatures crest above 50 degrees, these eggs hatch into mosquito larvae. As temperatures continue to climb, mosquito reproduction increases, more eggs are laid and hatched, and the population grows. By the time summer rolls around, mosquito populations peak.
Female mosquitoes bite and consume human blood to grow fertile eggs. Aside from mosquito bites being annoying and resulting in itchy, red welts, mosquitoes can spread dangerous and even deadly diseases when they bite humans.
Swarm of Mosquitos
The Ohio Department of Health warns that mosquitoes in Ohio can transmit serious diseases such as encephalitis and malaria in humans and heartworms in dogs. Mosquito-borne diseases have the highest transmission rates in Ohio during the warmest months, May through October.
You can take personal repellent measures to deter mosquitoes, like wearing protective clothing and using an EPA-registered insect repellent, but you also can take bigger actions to make your yard a less-inviting place for mosquitoes to reside and breed.
Mosquito eggs need water or moisture to develop and hatch into larvae. The biggest precaution you can take to discourage mosquitoes from buzzing around your property is to remove all stagnant water.
Water safeguards to ward off mosquitoes
- Make sure landscaping is properly sloped away from your house to prevent water from pooling near your home
- Remove any trash cans, tins, bins, or other vessels from your property or yard that collect water
- Clean gutters and remove any clogs so water can properly drain
- Replace water in bird baths weekly
- Change water in pet dishes frequently
- Make sure water isn’t collecting in flower pots or planters
- Keep children’s pools empty and turned on their sides when not in use
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools regularly
Infographics Circles and warning Mosquitoes are spread on human skin to suck blood. People who get mosquitoes or mosquito bites. Will cause malaria disease. Mosquitoes are a dangerous carrier.
In addition to keeping standing water away from your home, you can incorporate into your landscaping plants that could deter mosquitoes. Oils in citronella grass, lemon grass, and lemon eucalyptus have been shown to keep mosquitoes at bay.
To keep mosquitoes out of your house during summer months, ensure window and door seals are tight, screens are secured, and opt to use air conditioning when possible.
Finally, in your efforts to keep your yard mosquito-free, keep an eye open for dead birds around your property. Dead birds can be a sign of West Nile Virus or other serious diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. If you discover dead birds on your property, contact local authorities so they can investigate.
If you have persistent swarms of mosquitoes or wish to ensure the highest level of safety on your property, a professional pest specialist can inspect and treat your property for mosquitoes. Call A-1 Able Pest Doc at 1-800-737-8189 to schedule an inspection of your yard today.
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