The Secret To Successful Mosquito Control In Sanford

The Life Cycle Of Mosquitoes

At the heart of mosquito control is the understanding of how mosquitoes breed. If you can make it hard for mosquitoes to lay eggs and develop into flying pests on your property, you'll be on your way to having a mosquito-free yard. How does it work? Here are five facts you may not know about mosquitoes. Most of them will help you understand how you may deter mosquito activity in your yard.

1. A female mosquito lays a hundred eggs at a time. The primary reason you step outside and are immediately surrounded by a group of mosquitoes is that they hatched in your yard and are now living in your yard. Certain mosquito species don't tend to travel more than a few hundred feet from where they hatch.
2. Female mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water. Stagnant water has tiny organisms that baby mosquitoes need to survive and develop. They hatch into larvae (called wigglers), develop into pupae (called tumblers), and eventually emerge from the water as adults (called pests). That last one is our attempt at mosquito humor. But you see how it works. If a mosquito comes onto a property that has no appropriate location for breeding, she'll pass on to the next.
3. Adult mosquitoes eat nectar and plant sap. Yes. You read that right. They don't feed on blood for survival. It is essential to understand this. Both males and females eat these sweet food sources. It is one of the reasons why they like to hide in landscape vegetation. If you have lots of flowers, or flowering weeds, on your property, you can invite mosquito problems.
4. Adult mosquitoes require moisture to survive. It doesn't take much for a little mosquito to dry out and die. When mosquitoes come onto your property, they will look for humid areas or hiding places that provide protection from the sun. In both cases, the goal of the mosquito is to stay hydrated. A property with a moisture problem, such as a clogged gutter, will tend to have more mosquitoes.
5. Male mosquitoes don't live long. The last critical fact you need to understand is that male mosquitoes typically live for just over a week. While females may live for two months, they rely on the males to breed. That means the female mosquitoes in your yard are continually working hard to mate and lay eggs and produce more male mosquitoes. They're also looking hard to bite any humans or animals in the yard because they need a blood meal in order to reproduce.

When you put all of these facts together, a picture forms. Mosquitoes lay a lot of eggs. The baby mosquitoes that hatch require the microorganisms found in stagnant water. The adult mosquitoes that emerge need flowers and plants, humidity, protection from the sun, and other mosquitoes with which to mate. You have some control over these factors. We'll discuss that in a moment. First, let's quickly look at the last fact we shared and explain why it is important to do the hard work of mosquito control or hire a mosquito control professional to provide mosquito protection for you.

The Potential Dangers Of A Mosquito Bite

Female mosquitoes need a blood meal. They'll draw it from humans or animals. When a mosquito goes from an animal to a human, zoonotic diseases, such as West Nile virus, are sometimes spread. If you have infected animals enter your yard or pass by your property, you have the potential for illness. While most people think of mosquitoes spreading sickness from human to human, that is not the greatest concern in the United States. Many people get sick every year from common endemic mosquito-borne viruses that cause encephalitis, such as West Nile virus. We strongly recommend that you visit the CDC and learn about mosquito-borne viruses and the risks associated with them.

Human-to-human transmission is also a concern. The greatest concern is during outbreaks. If you watch the news and hear about an outbreak of malaria, Zika virus, dengue fever, or yellow fever, it is important to understand that these diseases are not found in local human or animal populations. 

There is one last fact we need to share. All mosquitoes that live in your yard are not carrying a virus. All viruses, even potentially deadly or harmful viruses, may not cause you to have symptoms. You can carry a virus and be asymptomatic. Most of all, it is essential to understand that there are different types of mosquitoes. Some are worse than others. The mosquitoes that take root in your yard may not have the ability to spread diseases to you, or they may have the ability to spread the worst diseases. There is no way of knowing without identifying the species—and identification isn't easy.

Mosquito Prevention Tips That Work

Let's consider what we've learned so far. Mosquitoes are drawn into your yard by sweet, natural foods. They lay eggs and hatch on your property. They prefer to stay near the location they hatch. They are exposed to animals in your yard and you may get sick when an infected mosquito bites you. Mosquito identification is possible, but complicated. So, what is the best way to stop them? Should you use candles to keep mosquitoes away? Unfortunately, no. Female mosquitoes will put up with the smell when they need a blood meal. Can you use essential oils to get rid of mosquitoes? No. While certainly effective, natural materials don't last long. As soon as they wear out, the female mosquitoes are going to pass through "stinky" zones to get at you and draw a blood meal. The methods you've likely heard of for controlling mosquitoes aren't all that effective. Here are our best suggestions.

• Mosquito repellent is the best solution for deterring mosquitoes. Synthetic repellents last long and provide localized mosquito-repellent odors on your clothing or skin. But, as you know, they aren't prefect. Female mosquitoes have a way of finding a spot to bite you. It is also gross to put repellent on every time you go into your backyard.
• Removing stagnant water can limit mosquito reproduction. If you're looking for an all-natural solution that doesn't require repellents, this is the way to go. Remove all containers that capture water and address gutter clogs.
• Avoid going out at dusk or dawn. These are the worst times of day for mosquitoes. The reason they're out at these times is that the sun isn't high in the sky and won't dry them out. They have just enough light to lock onto you, land, and get a blood meal.
• Keep your landscaping trimmed. Proper landscape management can reduce damp conditions that are favorable for mosquito habitation.
• Address lawn weeds. All weeds, particularly the weeds with flowers, provide a food source for mosquitoes and will encourage them to encroach upon your property. 

Do you see how mosquito prevention works? It targets mosquito breeding sites and resists mosquito development. Along with these two key factors, it is helpful to avoid going out when mosquitoes may visit your yard during times of increased activity on properties near yours. If you also add lawn weed control to remove food, you're on your way to having a mosquito-free yard.