Wind helps since mosquitoes are weak fliers and struggle in sustained breezes above 10 mph. But coastal wind alone is not consistent or strong enough to reliably keep mosquitoes out of your yard.
You might have figured that the wind would take care of your mosquito problem for you. But all it takes is one mosquito bite to find out it doesn’t work that way.
Wind does suppress mosquitoes. Mosquitoes weigh almost nothing and fly at about one to one and a half miles per hour. A steady breeze makes it physically difficult for them to navigate, land on a host, and feed. On a breezy afternoon at the Jersey Shore, you’ll notice significantly fewer mosquitoes in open, exposed areas.
The trouble is that the wind isn’t exactly a reliable partner. It doesn’t reach everything and it’s not constant. Calm evenings happen a lot on the coast, especially during the peak mosquito hours around dusk when the thermal breezes die down. And even on windy days, there are sheltered pockets in your yard, such as those behind the house, along a fence, or under a deck. Mosquitoes are good at finding places like these.
Landscaping creates wind shadows too. A privacy hedge, a row of arborvitae, or dense plantings along a property line can all block airflow at ground level, which creates the kind of still and humid conditions mosquitoes prefer. The more sheltered and vegetated your yard, the less beneficial the wind will be.
There’s also the issue of what’s breeding nearby. Salt marshes behind the barrier islands and along the back bays produce massive numbers of mosquitoes throughout the summer. Wind might keep some of those mosquitoes from reaching your deck on a breezy day, but on a calm evening, they'll cover that distance without difficulty.
Using fans on patios and decks is one of the more effective low-tech ways to deal with mosquitoes. A box fan or oscillating fan can create localized airflow that deters mosquitoes in a small area. But it’s a band-aid measure that won’t address problems on a whole property.
If you’re a Jersey Shore homeowner, you probably want a way to control mosquitoes without relying on the wind. If so, Mosquito Squad of the Jersey Shore can help through mosquito barrier treatments. These are applied to the sheltered resting areas and vegetation across your property where mosquitoes harbor. A professional technician will find where these spots are, treat accordingly, and come back every 3 weeks so you can count on an up to 90% reduction in mosquitoes all season long.
