Is Your Backyard Ready for Mosquito Season?

Mosquito season is coming as the temperatures get warmer. Maybe you have already seen one. Is your backyard ready for the coming mosquito season?

Mosquito season in our area runs from April - October. Mosquitoes start getting active when the temperature starts to consistently stay above 60 degrees. The rains that come with Spring produces standing water and a breeding place for females to lay their eggs. The females need a protein meal by the way of blood to lay the eggs.

So, with increasing temperatures and standing water come more mosquitoes and with them irritating bites and the potential for disease.

One of the unfortunate realities of mosquitoes is that sometimes with the itchy bites comes the potential of disease. From heartworms in dogs to encephalitis in people, mosquitoes have the potential to be dangerous. If a female mosquito carries disease, then it passes that disease to all its offspring. Making this vector increase the possibility of spreading disease exponentially every time they lay more eggs and their female offspring lays their eggs and so on.

Here are some actions you can take to decrease the possibility of breeding mosquitoes in your backyard. Survey your yard and follow Mosquito Squad's 7 T's of Mosquito Control:

• Tip: Get rid of standing water in your outdoor spaces. Standing water may be in your child’s plastic toys, areas underneath downspouts, plant saucers, or dog bowls. Other areas may include traps, gutters, and flat roofs. 
• Toss: Remove excess grass, leaves, firewood, and grass-clippings from your yard.
• Turn: Turn over larger yard items that could hold water, like children's portable sandboxes, plastic toys, or birdbaths.R
• Remove Tarps: If tarps stretched over firewood piles, boats, or sports equipment aren't taut, they may be holding water that you should remove. 
• Take Care: Take care of home maintenance needs like cleaning out gutters. Keep your grass cut and check for leaks in your irrigation system.
• Team Up: Despite taking all precautions in your own home, talking to neighbors is a crucial component to mosquito and tick control. Homes with little space between lots can mean that mosquitoes breed at a neighbor’s house and affect your property.
• Treat: Utilize a mosquito elimination barrier treatment around your home and yard.

If you have questions about mosquito control in your backyard or if you would like to inquire about mosquito and tick treatments, call the authority in Mosquito Squad at 336-617-5268 or emails us at triad@mosquitosquad.com