Mosquitoes, what are they, where do they hang out, how can i treat for them?

Posted On: August 19th 2022

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Mosquitoes, what are they, where do they hang out, how can i treat for them?

Mosquitoes are quite frustrating, for sure. They can stop you from spending time outside in your favorite places. On top of that, mosquitoes can be quite serious threats to you and your family’s health and safety.

Mosquitoes can actually carry diseases that can impact people’s health. These include malaria, dengue virus, Chikungunya virus, Zika virus, and West Nile virus, which can have disabling and potentially harmful effects. Not only can these diseases impact you and your family and friends, but mosquitoes can also transmit diseases and parasites to your dogs and cats, as well as other nearby outdoor animals and wildlife.

Where Do Mosquitoes Hang Out?

While mosquitoes can survive in quite a few places, they really like warm, wet weather, which we certainly have here in Northern Virginia.

They also like grassy areas, in addition to leaf piles, wood piles, and under decks where it’s dark and cool.

Mosquitoes are not strong flyers, so they actually stay a few hundred feet from where they are hatched, as long as food is near. As they fly, they rest every 5 to 10 yards.

Mosquitoes also like water quite a bit. They lay their eggs in standing water. The larvae spend their first 10 days there feeding on organic matter and breathing oxygen from the surface before becoming pupae and then becoming adults.

These pests can breed very quickly, doubling and tripping their numbers in small pools and puddles of water, as well as in swamps, marshes, ponds, rivers, and lakes, which is why mosquito yard treatments for your yard are so important.

When Do Mosquitoes Come Out?

The majority of mosquito activity actually peaks during dusk. That’s why when you’re outside during those lovely, summer evenings, you’re more likely to get bit by mosquitoes. However, some mosquitoes are also active during the morning and late afternoon, such as the Asian Tiger mosquito in Long Island.

What draws mosquitoes is carbon dioxide – the gas that humans and animals exhale – and the chemicals in human sweat. Mosquitoes can sense carbon dioxide from 30 feet away, which is a great skill for them to use to be able to find their meals. This makes when to get mosquito yard treatment even more important to understand.

Mosquito Yard Treatment Prevention Tips

We know how frustrating it can be when insects so small can be so annoying and threaten your outside time in your own yard.

So you want to use mosquito yard treatments that work.

First, let’s start with some things you can do to prevent mosquitoes.

Limit Mosquito Hangouts

Mosquitoes like those dark, damp places, like under decks, as well as wood and leaf piles, and in grasses.

To reduce these pests in your yard, rake up leaf piles, trim overgrown grasses, and keep those wood piles at a minimum of 20 feet from your home or patio. This, in addition to mosquito yard treatments, can reduce populations in your landscape.

Eliminate Standing Water

Mosquitoes love water – it’s no secret.

Keep those puddles and areas of standing water at a minimum. Get rid of stagnant water spots, such as empty plant pots or trash can lids. Remember to freshen water in pet bowls and bird baths regularly as part of your mosquito treatment for your yard.

Spray Effectively for Mosquitoes

Look For Professional Mosquito Yard Treatments That Work

While you might be trying to combat mosquitoes, you might feel like they are taking over your life.

You don’t have to feel that way.

Hiring a professional mosquito control company can give you your summer evenings back.