One: Treat Mosquito Larvae
Mosquitoes breed and lay eggs in standing water. Those eggs hatch into larvae, the immature caterpillar-like form of mosquitoes. Newly hatched larvae live in the water until developing into adults that fly. Control products known as larvicides kill larvae so they never reach the flying and biting stage.
You can reduce mosquitoes breeding sites by eliminating unintentional standing water in your landscape. But mosquitoes also target intentional standing water such as bird baths, ponds, rain barrels and water gardens.3 By using larvicides to treat these intentional water sites, as recommended by the CDC, you can prevent mosquitoes from ever reaching the biting stage and still enjoy water features around your home and garden.
The Amdro Quick Kill® line offers two highly effective larvicides to prevent adult mosquitoes from developing in your water sites. These products can be used around people, pets, birds and aquatic life:
- Amdro Quick Kill®++Mosquito Bombs are great for larger bodies of water, such as rain barrels, large fountains and ponds. The simple-to-use discs prevent larvae from developing into adults for 60 days.
- Amdro Quick Kill®++ Mosquito Pellets are best for shallow water sites, such as bird baths, planters and saucers. These easy-to-use, simple-to-measure granules prevent adult mosquitoes for 30 days after application.
How To Protect Yourself Against The Dangers Of Mosquitoes
For anyone being exposed to areas with mosquitoes, whether it be your home, yard, or a nearby park or lake, its important to protect yourself against the dangers of mosquitoes.
For this, the CDC suggests using an EPA-registered personal mosquito repellent.
Mosquito repellents work to make you less appealing to these pests when theyre drawn to us due to the carbon dioxide in our breaths or elements in our sweat.
Theyre available in spray, cream, stick, and clip-on style to allow you to use whichever one works for you the best.
The CDC advises using a topical repellent that includes 20 percent or more DEET to protect against both mosquitoes and ticks.
The Environmental Protection Agency has found that DEET continues to meet safety standards when used properly.
Different repellent brands have varying DEET concentration levels, so pay attention to their strength when choosing a repellent. Always make sure you apply the product according to the instructions on the label.
Mosquito repellent, like sunscreen, must be reapplied every few hours or it will lose its effectiveness.
In addition to DEET, there are repellents that use lemon oil, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and picaridin.
They tend to be most active at dawn and dusk, so remember to take necessary precautions especially then. You can also consider wearing a long-sleeved shirt and long pants to help keep them off you.
Natural Mosquito Repellent And Control
Some natural repellents and remedies can help with controlling mosquitoes.
- Mosquitoes avoid such varieties of plants as catnip, feverfew, citrosa, tulsi , rosemary and lemon thyme. Plant a few varieties in high-traffic areas around your home, such as along walkways, in window boxes or in pots on porches and decks. The plant oils and fragrances will act as a natural barrier against mosquitoes.
- Some naturally derived oils, such as peppermint, camphor and citronella, can be mixed with water and used as a spray to help repel mosquitoes. Oils such as eucalyptus and lavender can be lightly applied directly to the skin to prevent mosquitoes from landing to bite.
- Natural predators such as dragonflies feed on mosquitoes at all life stages. Dragonfly nymphs eat mosquito larvae, while adult dragonflies prey on adult mosquitoes. A water feature or pond no more than 2 feet deep, that gets five to six hours of sun per day, and hosts some plants to help oxygenate the water, is an ideal condition to support dragonfly habitation.
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Professional Lawn Care Services: Trugreen
One of the best ways to keep mosquitoes away is to have your lawn adequately cared for by a company likeTruGreen. With TruGreen managing your property, you wont have to worry about a proper mowing schedule, aeration, or even fertilizer and treatment of lawn pests.
With TruGreens professional lawn care services, the chance of mosquitoes even deciding that your yard is a good place to breed will be considerably lower. Remember that maintenance and prevention are almost more important than treatment. If you would like to find out more about TruGreen and the services they offer, take a look at our completeTruGreen pest control review.
- Large variety of plan options tailored to homeowners wants and needs
- All services are backed and performed by TruExpert Certified Specialists
- Services provided in 49 states
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What Can Attract Mosquitoes In The Yard
Below are a few of the household factors that draw mosquitoes in:
- Large amounts of shrubbery or tree branches
- Shady areas of the yard
- A north-facing home
- Plenty of standing water sources
- Thick vegetation near the sides of the home
Beyond these simple attractant factors, there is one other attractant that cannot be controlled: heat and carbon dioxide. Interestingly enough, carbon dioxide is produced every time you exhale, making it difficult if not impossible to manage a growing mosquito infestation without additional help.
If even one of these elements are present in the lawn, you could be attracting a serious mosquito problem to your home without even knowing it. Start implementing effective mosquito control right away to stop the life cycle in its tracks.
Heres how to get rid of mosquitoes that are harboring around residential and commercial lawns.
- Drain any standing water on the property, including fountains, bird baths, and ponds. Less standing water leads to less mosquito breeding over time.
- Mow the grass often, and reduce vegetation near the sides of the home.
- Consider using a pest control company for one-time use.
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Ways To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes In The Yard Naturally
Mosquitoes tend to come out in your yard during the best time of day: The evening is when the mosquito fun starts in the garden. But how to enjoy spending time outdoors without being bitten by a mosquito? Are there any home remedies or naturally helpful repellents? Evenings outside should be fun, but any enjoyment you may receive from time spent outdoors vanishes when you have pesky mosquitoes flying about and trying to bite you. Lets fix that with these ways to get rid of them!
You can always use chemical repellents to keep them away, but surely there must be more natural solutions to keep your yard mosquito-free and ready to be enjoyed? There are, in fact, many natural ways that you can keep mosquitoes out of your yard without needing to resort to harsh chemicals. Continue reading to learn how you can naturally repel mosquitoes from your yard and once again be able to enjoy your time outdoors without being bitten every few minutes by bothersome insects.
Prevent Mosquito Larvae From Maturing
Treehugger / Jordan Provost
You can stop mosquitoes from maturing by using products that contain Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis , a naturally occurring soil bacteria that works as a larvicide. When the larvae of mosquitoes as well as black flies and fungus gnats consume Bti, it affects their stomachs making them no longer able to eat. Within several days, they die of starvation.
The bacteria is all natural and doesnt harm other wildlife or the environment. Apply products that contain Bti to places where there is standing water, as well as muddy, shady areas.
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Excessive Overgrowth Brush Grasses Or Wood Piles
Mosquitoes love to hide and theyll often seek shelter in tall grasses, shrubbery, or even around wood piles. To get rid of mosquitoes, you must think about reducing their hang-out spots.
This could include keeping your lawn regularly mowed, keeping your shrubs neat and trimmed, and clearing out any debris that has collected within your plant beds. If you cover your wood pile with a tarp be sure to keep it pulled tight and weighted down to prevent water from pooling on top of it and becoming stagnant.
Get Rid Of Stagnant Water
Stagnant water is one of the major sources of mosquitoes around your home. It basically serves as a breeding site for mosquitos because they lay their eggs in standing water. Getting rid of any source of water in your home plays a big role in eliminating mosquitos. Even a very small puddle of stagnant water can produce thousands of mosquitos after breeding.
Below are some of the common areas where mosquitoes are likely to breed in your home:
- Birdbaths: A birdbath can be a great addition to your yard or garden. While it gives you an opportunity to watch birds, the place can also turn out to be a breeding site for mosquitoes. The best way to prevent mosquitos is by regularly cleaning and draining them when not in use.
- Bottles, cans, and containers
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Diy Mosquito Control Get Rid Of Mosquitoes Without Insecticides
In addition to repellents, there are products you can install in your home or yard that work against mosquitoes. Some are marketing specifically for mosquitoes while others can help with mosquitoes as a secondary feature. They include:
Fans and screens are different from other repellent methods as they physically prevent mosquitoes from entering an area, rather than relying on scent to keep them out. They tend to be more effective than home remedies for this reason when used regularly. They still offer an affordable mosquito control method that is convenient to implement.
High Tech Mosquito Control
The DynaTrap is a very effective way to rid your yard of mosquitoes. It does not utilize any chemicals so it can safely be used both indoors and outdoors. It doesnt zap them and doesnt use propane so you do not need to purchase and refill propane tanks. Its very quiet. Just plug it in and turn it on, let it run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It does take 4 to 6 weeks to break the mosquito lifecycle.
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Keep Your Yard Trimmed
During warm weather, mosquitoes like to cool off in tall grass or brush. If you go long periods of time without mowing your lawn or you allow weeds to pop up in thick patches, you are creating the perfect hiding places for mosquitoes to rest when they are seeking out somewhere safe to cool off. You can fix this by remember to mow your lawn regularly, using a weed wacker to keep unwanted plants at bay, and trimming any bushes or trees that may be growing unruly. Keeping your yard neatly trimmed will also allow the sun to dry up any wet spots or puddles that may arise.
Keep Mosquito Spray Handy
When youre stocking up for your next barbecue, dont forget to grab plenty of mosquito-repellent spray. Look for products containing picaridin or DEET, which are effective and generally considered safe. Avoid repellents with permethrin, which can cause severe problems for your pets.
Keep in mind that most repellents, even the safe ones, contain chemicals and should be used with caution. Always follow the instructions on the label. If you want a chemical-free option, look for natural repellents with oil of lemon eucalyptus.
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Bug Zappers And Traps
Bug zappers might seem tempting. Just the name implies that you can easily zap all nearby mosquitoes in an instant. Unfortunately, bug zappers are known to kill more beneficial insects than mosquitoes. Mosquito traps might also be a temptation to try for mosquito control, but they actually attract more mosquitoes to your yard, not less. So this might also not be a great option for you.
Drain Standing Water In Your Home
Mosquitoes lay their eggs around standing water, particularly water sitting for a few days. “I’ve even seen larval mosquitoes living in things as small as bottle tops,” says Daniel Markowski, Ph.D, an AMCA technical advisor. “Bottom line is it doesn’t take much water, nor does it take much time for them to develop.” Check that your sinks and indoor planters are draining properly.Clean and disinfect your pet’s water bowl frequently, or switch to a pet fountain that keeps the water moving.
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Signs Of Chigger Infestation
Given that chiggers are tiny, its difficult to indicate their infestation. However, one way to be aware of their infestation is if people around your home or your pets start developing infuriating itchy bites , and they cant spot the insect behind it.
These chiggers explore the low-growing vegetation around them to position themselves strategically. Once they spot any human, birds, reptiles, rodents, dogs, or cats, theyll attack.
Theyll attach themselves to the hosts skin and produce a liquid on the skin cells of the host. This liquid, which is saliva, contains digestive enzymes. It can make the victim experience rash and profound itching.
However, this itching doesnt start immediately. The chiggers would have done their attachment to the skin. Its about three to six hours later that youll start feeling itchy. If youve been walking in tall brush, your waistline areas can be the targeted area. Spots around the ankles can also be where you may be bitten.
For at least three days, these chiggers can stay on their hosts skin if theyre not removed.
If you dont know how to get rid of chiggers on your skin or how to get rid of chiggers on your dogs, youll only be given more days to feed. Whereas theyll even drop off once theyre done sucking. Chiggers do the most when theyre larvae. They lose the capacity to prey on hosts when they become nymphs and adults.
How To Get Rid Of Stinkhorn Fungus
If youâre anything like us, you love a good mushroom! These quirky little fungi come in many shapes and sizes that grow in the woods and gardens with sufficient moisture.
There is one fungus however, that strikes fear into the nose of anyone who smells it: the stinkhorn fungus! If you have encountered these before, you will know them very well, which may lead you to ask: how do you get rid of stinkhorn fungus?
To effectively remove stinkhorn fungus, they must be dug out from the root, and the surrounding soil must be removed.
Although there are a lot of benefits to having fungus growing in your garden, these smelly mushrooms can sometimes be more trouble than they are worth.
This article is going to make you acquainted with stinkhorn fungus and show you exactly how to get rid of it.
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Making A Homemade Mosquito Repellent
Just like you, mosquitoes find certain scents repulsive, according to Mosquito Magnet, a company that helps consumers fight the pests. Those scents include citronella, peppermint, basil, garlic, lemon balm, lavender, marigold, catnip, rosemary and eucalyptus. When making a homemade mosquito repellent for your yard, keep these scents in mind.
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Opt For Yellow Led Lights
Mosquitoes are more attracted to specific colors of lights. If you can use LED lights, especially more towards the yellow color in your outdoor areas, chances are your mosquito population will start to disappear.
- LED outdoor lights come in a variety of colors you may have to experiment to see which color keeps the mosquitoes away
- Yellow light is different than a bug zapper and wont necessarily repel or kill the insects instead, it just makes the area less attractive
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How To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes Permanently
Mosquito control is always going to be an ongoing process. In addition, to have the most success at reducing mosquito populations, it also requires a range of methods. No one treatment or single action will eliminate mosquitoes forever, and the most intensive regime of mosquito control can often still allow an insect or two through.
Professional mosquito control uses the advantages of expertise to address mosquitoes in the ways that will have the greatest impact. A pest management professional can tailor both the treatments and recommendations they provide based on location, environment, risk factors, and the available mosquito control methods they offer.
They can help you determine which mosquito control strategies will eliminate mosquitoes with the most lasting effect.
Diy Mosquito Tips And Tricks
If you decide to take the DIY approach, more power to you! Here are some pro tips and mosquito facts from the All Turf Team to help you survive Summer mosquitoes in Atlanta.
- Mosquito insecticide should be applied with a fogger. The application should be in a circular motion so the insecticide can stick to the top and underside of foliage.
- Since these chemicals are not recommended for indoor use, you can prevent mosquitoes from coming inside by adding screens to doors, windows, and outdoor patios.
- Since Mosquitoes nest in areas of dense foliage and standing water, you can avoid spraying across the lawn. Its recommended to apply product along the perimeter of the home and the property. Its best to start at the home and move in an outward direction.
There are over 3,000 different species of mosquitoes around the world. Its safe to say these pests can be quite a nuisance and even cause illnesses. The most important thing you can do is be prepared for a hot summer in Atlanta! You can trust the pros at All Turf to help keep mosquitoes at bay with our Mosquito Control Program. Contact us today to get a free quote for mosquito treatment and see what other programs we have available.
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