Mosquito breeding season is right around the corner, but are you prepared? What can you do to help get rid of the mosquitoes from your yard? Our experts at Cooper Pest Solutions give some suggestions on how to decrease the chances that mosquitoes will breed in your yard this summer.
In order to successfully remove mosquitoes from your property, it’s important to know a little bit more about these pesky insects. Having a keen understanding of their breeding cycles, habits and habitats can better help you prepare to defend against them.
In this article we’re going to discuss how mosquitoes breed, where they like to breed, how you can get rid of mosquitoes on your own and when it’s a good idea to call a pest control company to take care of your mosquito problem.
What You Should Know About Mosquito Breeding Cycles
Before we dive into exactly how to get rid of mosquitoes, let’s understand why they are so prominent in your back yard to begin with. What is it about your yard that has the mosquitoes hovering around just waiting for that next bite?
The mating pattern of mosquitoes are quite intriguing since females only need to encounter a male mosquito once to mate and can produce eggs up to five times in a summer from that single encounter.
Once the female has mated with a male mosquito, she will rest for a few days before she finds the ideal location to lay her eggs. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in water, marshes, swamps or anywhere that has sufficient moisture for their eggs. Where the females prefer to lay their eggs varies by species. Some lay their eggs singly or in clumps (rafts) directly on the water surface whereas others deposit them along the water edge. Other species may lay their eggs above the water line, where they will remain until a rain raises the water level, submerging the eggs and causing them to hatch. This last method is typically used by the Asian Tiger mosquito, which can be abundant in your yard because there are many places that females can lay their eggs.
As the eggs hatch, they will become larvae. As they grow, they will mature to the pupae and eventually the adult mosquito emerges from the mature pupae. The life cycle of the mosquito depends on the sex, species, weather conditions and much more. They can live anywhere from as little as a week to as long as several months, with some species able to overwinter as adults.
Backyard Mosquito Breeding Locations
When you really look at your backyard, there are a number of possible breeding locations because all it takes is a small amount of stagnant water for a female to lay her eggs on. Dave Burgess, Branch Manager of Cooper Pest Solutions, explained that in order to reduce your mosquito numbers, you need to reduce the number of possible breeding grounds within you property.“Eliminate stagnate water around the property,” Burgess said. “Although some mosquitoes can fly 40 miles from breeding areas, eliminating them on your property should drastically reduce the number of mosquitoes.”
Places to inspect for stagnant water:
- Gutters (clogged or uneven that does not quickly eliminate the water)
- Corrugated down spout extensions
- Planters and pots
- Kids toys
- Tires
- Tarps
- Areas around property that puddle after a rain
- Open trash cans or buckets
- Bird baths
- Anything that will hold water after a rain
Burgess added that if you go out after a rain to inspect your property, be sure to dump any standing water to prevent any potential mosquito breeding grounds.
How to Reduce Mosquitoes in Your Yard: DIY Versus Professional Pest Control Services
In addition to reducing stagnate water throughout your property, you can either take the route of professional mosquito control or the DIY route. Below are some options for DIY methods and professional mosquito control.
DIY Mosquito Control Methods
If you’d rather take a stab at tackling the mosquitoes in your yard yourself, here are a few options you can try:
- Mosquito Repellent Candles: Candles that include citronella may provide some short-term relief to your yard. However these methods aren’t very effective on windy days.
- Natural Plants: If you’d rather not jump to pesticides, try planting Citronella, catnip, rosemary or marigolds on your property. They have not been scientifically proven effective but they may provide some relief according to DIYers.
- Outdoor Bug Foggers (found at most major retailers): These can kill on contact and may provide temporary relief, but effectiveness varies. Must be used with EXTREME caution and follow ALL directions on the labels.
- Outdoor Bug Sprays (found at most major retailers): You can attach your hose to a concentrated bug spray and spray throughout your property, with primary focus on vegetation and shady areas. The effectiveness of the bug sprays may last longer than typical foggers, however, effectiveness of over-the-counter products haven’t been scientifically tested
Service Options for Professional Mosquito Control
- One-time service: Ideal for special events, but will only prevent mosquitoes for a few weeks.
- Seasonal Service: Service that is conducted every few weeks for the months of May through September to help reduce the number of mosquitoes in your backyard.
Seasonal Service for Mosquito Control vs One-time Treatment
Before you call a professional pest control company for mosquito control, determine what your needs are. Do you want protection from mosquitoes all summer long or just for a special event you’re having? This will help determine what service is most beneficial to you.
If you’re not bothered by the bites, but don’t want your guests to get bit at your annual family reunion, then perhaps a one-time service is the better option. It may be more costly in comparison to a full season service, but if you’re only concern about a specific event then you can certainly do the service.
A seasonal mosquito service provides customers relief from mosquitoes all summer long, not just a few weeks with a single service.
At Cooper Pest Solutions, our seasonal service, which focuses on the Asian tiger mosquito, includes treatments starting in May through September, with treatments every three weeks. You can start a seasonal treatment at any point, as long as it is within season, and it won’t jeopardize the effectiveness of the treatments. The treatments for mosquitoes are not cumulative like with many other pests.
“The prices will go down for a seasonal treatment as the summer progresses because we won’t be coming out to treat as often,” Cooper said. “Once you start the treatment it works, regardless of when you start. As long as it is within the season, it will work, but why would you want to wait?”
If you’re wondering how much it costs to get rid of mosquitoes, check out our previous article explaining the cost, price comparisons and why prices vary from company to company.
Mosquitoes can ruin a lot of fun, summer activities, but you don’t have to let them. You use simple inspections for breeding grounds and have a mosquito service in place to protect your family and friends from the itchy, red bumps synonymous with summer. For more information on Cooper Pest Solutions’ seasonal mosquito service, watch our video or click HERE to get a FREE estimate from Cooper Pest Solutions to have a “bite-free” backyard all summer long!