Lakefront properties are more humid, and that makes it easier for pests to breed and survive.
If you’ve lived both near the water and farther from it, you already know how stark the difference can be when it comes to pests. Five miles inland, the mosquitoes might not be so bad. The shore is a different story.
As goes the old saying, “it’s not the heat that’ll get you, it’s the humidity.” Lake Michigan pushes plenty of water back into the air, which dampens soil and shaded corners. Inland properties don’t have this problem. Mosquitoes depend on this moisture at every stage of their life, from eggs laid in standing water to adults that have to stay out of the sun in order to avoid desiccation. They like it damp.
Temperature also plays a role, and not quite the way you might expect. The lake is a big heat reservoir that cools the shoreline in the summer and holds warmth in the fall. Mosquitoes can start earlier and run later than they could inland, simply because the killing frosts stop earlier and start later.
As if that were not enough, there is also the ground itself. The shoreline is sandy, with dune swales and a high water table. Water collects in low pockets and lingers, with natural dips behind dunes forming temporary pools after every rain. This is less of a problem inland where the ground is either higher or more clay-heavy and better for drainage. The mosquitoes there have fewer nurseries.
Put it together, and a shoreline yard sees a lot more pests than those inland. If you’d like to enjoy your lake views without dealing with so many pests, Mosquito Squad of West Michigan Lakeshore can help. You can expect an up to 90% reduction in mosquitoes for up to 21 days at a time. With regular re-treatment, you can expect more freedom from pests all season long.
