Mosquitoes are known the world over for carrying some of the most dangerous diseases pests can spread to humans – malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, Zika infection, West Nile fever – and the list goes on. If you’re looking for mosquito control, Phoenix, AZ, then that would be a step in the right direction.
Eliminating mosquitoes from your property mainly involves three steps: eliminating mosquito breeding sites, getting rid of adult mosquitoes, and using mosquito repellents to keep them off your property.
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Mosquito Breeding Sites
Some types of mosquitoes may lay their eggs in moist soil, while some other types of mosquitoes may lay their eggs in water. Eliminating these possible breeding grounds would go a long way in helping to get rid of mosquitoes on your property.
Walk around the perimeter of your property and get rid of any standing water whenever possible. Some of these sites may include the following:
- Ponds
- Puddles
- Ditches
- Old tires
- Tree pots
- Buckets
- Clogged gutters
- Any stagnant water
Rainwater can collect in old tires, buckets, and other containers left out in your yard, so be sure to regularly remove water that has collected from these containers.
You can use larvicide on standing water that you can’t remove, such as water in a fountain. A larvicide is an insecticide that specifically targets the larval stage of an insect, and is commonly used against mosquitoes. They are generally safe for humans, pets, and other wildlife, and will not leach into the groundwater supply. However, some larvicides are highly toxic to fish – but if you have fish in standing water, then you won’t have to worry so much about mosquitoes because they eat mosquito larvae anyway.
When removing collected water, make sure you get rid of them all – a small amount of water left can still breed a lot of mosquitoes.
Note that mosquitoes are particularly drawn to standing water with a lot of organic debris. Nasty water, such as water found in brackish swamps, is a favorite breeding ground. It may also be worthwhile to talk to your neighbors about possible mosquito breeding sites on their property.
Eliminating Adult Mosquitoes
Many mosquitoes rest during the day wherever there is shade. That usually means tall blades of grass, weeds, bushes, and shrubs.
They also feed on the nectar or honeydew from these plants to get nourishment, and it’s actually only females that feed on people and that’s mainly because they’re using our blood as a prenatal supplement. Once they’ve ingested our blood, they can then lay their eggs (and they find people by tracking our body heat, by following the scent of our exhaled carbon dioxide as well as other chemicals we release).
Residual Insecticide Spray
Trim your grass and get rid of weeds to help get rid of mosquitoes. You’ll want to use a residual insecticide and spray it on bushes and shrubs. When buying insecticides, make sure you read the label – choose one that targets mosquitoes and is safe for your plants.
Thermal Fogging
Some mosquito control companies may also use thermal fogging to eliminate mosquitoes. Water-based thermal fogging and diesel-based thermal fogging are both equally effective, however water-based is usually more recommended because it’s safer for the environment and it releases minimal smoke for better visibility.
Misting
Misting application systems can be set up throughout your yard – these are designed to spray insecticides in a fine mist, killing mosquitoes and other pests.
Mosquito Trap
A professional pest control company may also employ the use of mosquito traps, but there are mosquito traps you can buy yourself. There are also a number of DIY mosquito traps you can make yourself.
Mosquito Repellents
Once you’ve eliminated their breeding grounds and killed off most of the adult mosquitoes on your property, use repellents to help keep them away. We’re not necessarily talking about creams or ointments you can put on your skin to keep mosquitoes away – because nobody wants to keep doing that in their own homes.
One of the easiest ways to make your property unattractive for mosquitoes is to plant mosquito repelling plants. Some of these plants are:
- Citronella grass
- Lavender
- Marigolds
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Catnip
Lavender and citronella grass emits a wonderful scent, and marigolds are known for discouraging many pests. If you plant basil, you can also add that to your diet. And of course, if you plant catnip, your cat will be forever grateful.
If you need help in getting rid of mosquitoes from your property, go ahead and search for “mosquito exterminator near me” – and let a professional handle it for you.
Author Bio: Digvijay Singh Kanwar, is a professional Content writer and Digital marketing expert and he loves to write about Finance and Health based Articles. For more details, you can contact him on digvijaykanwar96@gmail.com.
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