In New England, the best month to start mosquito and tick control is early spring, generally April. This is when temperatures begin holding in the 50s and the first pests become active.
You want to make sure you’re getting the most out of pest control. Part of that comes down to timing, and specifically, getting a jump start on the pests.
Mosquitoes and ticks don’t watch the calendar. They pay attention to temperature instead. Mosquitoes start becoming active when daytime highs reach the 50s and ticks come out during the milder days of early spring. In the Springfield area, that generally lands around April, give or take with the year's weather. A warm early spring moves it up; a cold one pushes it back.
Starting pest control right around this time is ideal. That’s because pest populations compound. If the starting population is smaller, fewer pests will be able to breed, and it can greatly slow down their ability to multiply. Ticks, meanwhile, are active and questing in spring, so early-season attention reduces exposure during a period people often overlook. Wait until July, when the mosquitoes are thick, and you're playing catch-up against a population that's had months to grow.
April is also the right time for the groundwork that makes treatment more effective. If you address standing water early, mosquitoes will have fewer places to breed. That’s why it’s good to not only tip over containers or regrade spots that are holding water, but to also unclog your gutters (which are probably full of winter debris).
From that early-spring start, recurring treatment on a roughly three-week cycle carries coverage through the season, typically into the fall. In short, don’t wait until the first bites of the summer. Start pest control in early spring and you’ll deal with far fewer pests throughout the year to follow.
If you're tired of starting every summer already behind the bugs, Mosquito Squad of Springfield can help. Mosquito Squad can begin coverage in early spring to get ahead of the population. This can help you protect your yard with up to 90% reduction in mosquito activity on a recurring 21-day cycle.
