June through August is mosquito season in North Carolina. Among the pests of summer, mosquitoes are considered the most dangerous. Not only is their bite painful and prone to infection, but some species of mosquitoes transmit diseases to people and pets. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that last year was the second worst outbreak of West Nile Virus since it was first identified. For the years reporting, North Carolina has among the highest number of cases of LaCrosse encephalitis on the Eastern seaboard. Because this is such an important public health concern, Triangle Pest Control now offers mosquito control in Charlotte NC.
To avoid mosquito bites you can remove yourself from the environment or remove mosquitoes from your environment. Staying indoors, wearing protective clothing and slathering on insect repellent, hardly sounds like a fun summer.
Safe Steps for Mosquito Control at Home
To target mosquito prone areas, you have to know what they like:
- Stagnant water
- Tall grass
- Wet, decaying debris
- Sweet or sticky substances
As you can see, the most important tasks are to keep your yard is clean and dry.
- Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Check your yard for areas where water can collect. This includes clogged gutters, pails and flower pots that are collecting water, tarps not securely fastened, so water collects in the slack, trash cans left uncovered, bird baths, kiddie pools and poorly drained areas in your yard to name a few.
- Adult mosquitoes congregate in tall grass because it is cooler and protects them from predators. A mowed and clean yard makes these areas unwelcome to mosquitoes
- Piles of leaves from last fall, the branches, weeds and other yard debris that was never hauled away and that compost pile that never quite made it all provide a wet, humid environment for mosquitoes to breed. Removing debris piles and keeping shrubs trimmed and clear eliminates another source for mosquito breeding grounds.
- Use insect repellent plants such as marigold, catnip and tansy as part of your landscaping design in borders and around water features.
- Plant an aromatic herb garden to include basil, garlic, rosemary and lemongrass, all known to have insect-repellent properties.
- Encourage birds in your yard. Birds eat insects, including mosquitoes. No bird’s diet consists of 100 percent mosquitoes. However, some birds, like the purple martin, may help with mosquito control at home.
- If you have natural water nearby or a backyard pond, call a trained mosquito control specialist. While some pesticides may effectively kill adult mosquitoes and larvae, they may be harmful to aquatic plants, insects and fish. A trained specialist has the knowledge and skill to select safe and effective mosquito control products.
Tasks one through six can proactively help to provide mosquito control at home. However, if you already have a mosquito problem, they will not effectively eliminate the problem.
Female mosquitoes lay between 50 and 200 eggs at a time. Within two weeks, the eggs hatch into adults. Mosquito eggs can tolerate periods of drought. So if you clean out an area of stagnant water and don’t stay on top of it, you may not completely eliminate the problem. The next rain could see the eggs viable and ready to hatch.
An expert mosquito control specialist will identify potential breeding grounds and areas in your yard where mosquitoes may congregate. They can put together a safe and effective mosquito control plan and guarantee results. Mosquito control specialists have the knowledge and experience to transform your yard from a mosquito breeding ground to a place you and your family can enjoy all summer.