Effectively Control Mosquitos and Protect Your Family
No one likes mosquitos. They chase us out of our yards, off our decks, and away from our porches. And let’s face it, one of the best reasons to live in the Charlotte area is to spend time outdoors. But instead, we are cooped up indoors hiding from mosquitos.
And like seasonal decorations, they seem to come earlier every year.
Mosquitos are not just the concern of homeowners, but also the CDC and other government institutions. The most serious issue with mosquitos is their propensity for carrying life-threatening diseases.
According to the CDC, “West Nile virus is one of the most common mosquito-borne diseases in the continental United States. Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika virus outbreaks have occurred in US states and territories, including Florida, Hawaii, Texas, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and American Samoa”.
Humans aren’t the only target for mosquitos in our outdoor areas. Mosquitos are the main carriers of heartworm for our dog and cat companions.
Not to worry Killingsworth is an expert at Carolina mosquito control. Let’s learn more about these pests and how you can take back your yard.
Mosquito Breeds
According to the American Mosquito Control Association there are over 3,000 different species of mosquitoes throughout the world; currently 176 species are recognized in the United States.
Different breeds of mosquitos act differently and even target different prey. Some are more focused on human beings whiles some prefer to prey on animals or birds.
The traditional ideas of mosquitos in the South, especially in North and South Carolina, are insects that come out in the early or late hours of the day. They chase us inside from our grills and outdoor dining. However, newer species migrating from other areas of the world mosquitos are a threat in the daytime hours as well.
For instance, the Asian Tiger Mosquito has been named the one of the world’s worst invasive species by the Global Invasive Species Database because, “their serious impact on biological diversity and/or human activities…These mosquitoes have proven very difficult to control due to their ability to adapt to various environments, their close contact with humans, and their reproductive biology. Asian tiger mosquitoes are also unique in that they usually fly and feed in the daytime.”
Guidance for Limiting Contact aka How to Not Get Bit by Mosquitos (as much)
When you are outdoors around an active mosquito infestation, take these precautions to limit contact.
- Apply repellent sparingly only to exposed skin
- Wear long sleeve shirts and pants outdoors
- Be sure to cover all exposed skin
- Pay close attention to how long product lasts and reapply if needed
- Wash off the product when you come in doors
While covering up with clothes and repellent provides some protection, mosquitos can find an area of unprotected skin as small as a dime.
However, a word of warning. While products containing Deet are found to be most effective, it is not a great idea to expose yourself to any chemical more than you must.
While the above may keep mosquitos from feasting on you and your family in the short run, it is not necessarily the most desirable way to not become a mosquito pin cushion.
Getting your children to diligently apply mosquito repellant and then take it off when they come inside seems to be a Sisyphean task.
Read on for more effective ways to combat mosquitos.
Carolina Mosquito Control on your Property
To get the best information about Carolina we mosquito control decided to talk to one of the mosquito experts at Killingsworth, Matt Freeburn, Branch Manager, South.
“Mosquito elimination is really a layered approach. You need to control them in different parts of their life cycle. And you also need to be vigilant. Unfortunately, no mosquito elimination technique is one and done.”
According to Freeburn since mosquitos lay their eggs in water you need to work to eliminate all sources of standing water in your yard. That can be difficult as mosquitos can breed in as little as a few teaspoons of water and sometimes just need damp soil. However, elimination of standing water helps curtail adult mosquitos, giving them less places to lay eggs and eliminating mosquitos that are still in the larval or pupae stage.
While you can eliminate standing water by yourself, the next step to eliminate adult mosquitos really takes a professional. Killing adult mosquitos.
“At Killingsworth we come by every month in mosquito season to inspect and treat areas that harbor adult mosquitos. One of the weaknesses of adult mosquitos is that they are not great fliers, so they take frequent rests in bushes and on plants. They also use areas and other to breed and nest. We treat those areas with a fog-based treatment that kills the mosquitos when they land. The great part is it continues to kill mosquitos for weeks afterwards.”
True pest professionals target mosquitos and reduce drift which can hurt beneficial organisms (like bees).
In addition, Freeburn notes that with mosquito control combined with pest control you can help ensure that pests from the outside have a much harder time making their way into your home.
With these steps you can greatly reduce the effects mosquitos have on you and your family. You can take back your yard, gaining more area to spread out.
If you are ready to get rid of Mosquitos contact Killingsworth environmental. Our Total care package includes Pest Control paired with Mosquito Control for hundreds of dollars of savings a year
