Few things are more enjoyable in summer than relaxing outdoors. The sun is shining, the wind is in your hair, and the temperature feels just right. It’s a truly glorious experience!
Unfortunately, there is one flying pest that can and often does spoil the moment: mosquitoes.
While mosquitoes often feed at night, they can be persistent nuisance at most times of the day all through the warmer months. Worse still, they can leave you with itchy bites and even spread a variety of diseases.
Here are some of the most effective Mosquito yard Treatments that can help bring you peace of mind this summer.
Remove all Stagnant Water
Mosquitoes breed in fresh, stagnant water. The female mosquitoes can lay anywhere from 100 to 400 eggs in one go. The eggs are typically laid on the surface of the water where the eggs float, almost like a raft. Typically, it only takes around 2-3 days for the eggs to hatch, depending on the species of mosquito.
For these reasons, it’s incredibly important that you remove or minimise the presence of standing water in your home. This may include the following:
- Swimming pools
- Buckets
- Pot plants
- Pet water bowls
- Bird baths
- Unfinished drinks
- Blocked storm drains and gutters
- Holes in the yard
- Cans
- Discarded tires
Some sources of water cannot be removed easily. For instance, swimming pools, pet water bowls, and bird baths. In this case, either cover these sources of water when they’re not being used, or remember to replace the water every couple of days.
If any mosquito eggs are in the standing water, doing this will prevent them from hatching.
Grow Mosquito Repellent Plants
There are a number of plants that can be used as a mosquito yard treatment. Some of the most popular plants include garlic and lavender, peppermint, basil, catnip, citronella, lemon balm, and lemongrass, to name a few.
Aside from being able to fend off pesky mosquitoes, these plants will add colour and life to your garden, and serve as useful cooking ingredients as well. Best of all? Most of these plants are easy to grow and low-maintenance. Plus, they smell great!
Install Artificial Lighting
Naturally, mosquitoes avoid exposure to direct sunlight, as it can cause them to dehydrate and eventually die. This explains why you don’t usually see mosquitoes in the daytime.
At night, mosquitoes rely on natural light from the moon and the stars in order to provide guidance and direction. Any presence of artificial lighting – be it from ceiling lights, garden lights, lamps, or torches – can cause mosquitoes to lose their sense of direction and become disorientated.
Does this mean installing the right lights can repel and kill mosquitoes? Not quite. However, certain coloured lights (i.e. red and yellow) do have the ability to make humans less visible to mosquitoes. These lights can help prevent the mosquitoes from maintaining a consistent flight path, making them less likely to land on you and bite you.
Mosquito Traps
Remember bug zappers? Mosquito traps work similar to those. However, they emit carbon dioxide in order to attract and kill the mosquitoes.
Why carbon dioxide? Because mosquitoes are sensitive to the carbon dioxide we breathe out. That’s why, these traps aim to replicate the human breath, by emitting their own source of carbon dioxide.
Not only is this an effective mosquito treatment in your yard, it also means that the trap is more likely to only attract mosquitoes. So other flying pests like moths (which are helpful to our ecosystem) can remain safe.
Professional Mosquito Treatment
Do you have an upcoming event and want your guests to enjoy the atmosphere without fear of being bitten? Or, do you want ongoing treatment against mosquitoes all summer long, possibly the whole year?
If so, then get in touch with your local pest controller.
During their visit, your pest control will evaluate the area and carry out a residual spray to all surfaces and garden areas. This does not include flowers so as to protect the bees. This treatment is made up of a variety of active ingredients that are toxic to mosquitoes.
As a result, this treatment will help keep your outdoor area free of pesky mosquitoes, enabling you to enjoy more quality time outside!
Need a fast and reliable mosquito treatment in your yard? Contact All Bugs today.
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