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top 10 mosquito prevention tips

Taking these DIY steps to tackle those pesky mosquitoes that seem to appear out of nowhere can help, although severe infestations often require professional pest services.

Here are the top 10 prevention tips:

  1. Inspect your yard often. This is one of the most important proactive steps you can take to cut down the mosquito population in your outside area. After any amount of rain, perform a quick walk-through of your yard to look for any standing water, especially in the warmer months from April - November. When water is allowed to sit, mosquitoes will breed in even the tiniest amount. Get into a routine of walking around your yard in between the rainy days and dump out any standing water, paying special attention to planters, drain areas, and any bins outside such as trash or recycle containers. You can also purchase environmentally friendly mosquito pods to drop into places that accumulate water such as puddles and ditches. These pods slowly dissolve to prevent larvae from thriving in the standing water. 
  2. Be aware of signs of an infestation. A stray mosquito buzzing around isn’t unusual. There are some telltale signs, though, of a nearby infestation or breeding ground. If you see swarms of mosquitoes on a regular basis whenever you’re outdoors you likely have a bigger mosquito problem other than just a few random pesky ones. It may even be possible that a neighbor has a problem area in their yard. Mosquitoes are more active at dusk and dawn but can be present during any hours of the day especially if there’s a nearby breeding area. 
  3. Gather up any items that may hold water. A great way to be proactive is to walk around your yard and gather any items that may accumulate water when it does rain. Minimizing the potential for rain water to sit will directly minimize the population of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes need water in order to breed. They don’t require much though, only about one teaspoon sitting in areas around your yard gives them a breeding ground. 
  4. Mow the lawn and trim overgrowth of trees and bushes regularly. Mosquitoes like to seek shelter from the midday heat and sun during the warmer months. Allowing lawns and bushes around your exterior spaces to become overgrown gives these insects a place to seek shelter until later in the day, when they will emerge and feed upon humans and animals nearby. 
  5. Plant mosquito repelling herbs. There are actually some plants and herbs that can be easily grown to help make the area less inviting to pests. Citronella is a plant that is commonly used in repellents and can be planted in gardens. Lemongrass is also an herb that can help. Be aware of where you’re planting any herbs or plants as some can be harmful to your pets or children if ingested.
  6. Keep outdoor pools and fountains clean and maintained. Mosquitoes prefer to breed in standing water, or dirty water. If you have a pool, fish pond or fountain in your yard it’s a good idea to keep these well maintained and with a functioning pump and filter. Maintaining clean water, and making sure water has some movement will help deter mosquitoes from breeding in these areas.
  7. Citronella candles, torches, or citronella incense sticks and coils can help. Creating some air movement with a standing fan is another popular solution. You may notice mosquitoes aren’t as bad when there’s a breeze outside. The air flow helps keep them from swarming around. They prefer still air, and due to them being very small insects, a slight breeze that can be created with a fan will help keep them away from specific areas. Just be sure that the air flow isn’t directly affecting any open flames if you are using candles and torches.
  8. Buy a netted mosquito tent to allow yourself and your family a space to be “bug free”. There are some spacious and comfy outdoor tents, or portable gazebo-style structures you can purchase. These items will help to provide a bug free zone that allows you to be outdoors without the constant irritation of pests biting you. 
  9. Spray or dust the surrounding perimeter of your yard with a pesticide. There are a variety of products that are effective to prevent mosquitoes and other pests from infesting your yard. Powders, foggers, and sprays are all options to consider that can be applied to your lawn and shrubbery to deter mosquitoes. These do need regular applications and will need to be reapplied after a heavy rainfall in order to be effective throughout the mosquito season. 
  10. Call a professional pest control company. Being proactive and some DIY pest control can help prevent mosquitoes, but this can be time consuming, costly and frustrating. If you’re experiencing a mosquito problem and need help to get them under control contact a professional pest control company.  

Contact Eagle Pest Services to set up an inspection and find out about our mosquito prevention services. Our experienced technicians are here to help you and your family with all your pest problems so you can enjoy outdoor activities without being pestered by mosquitoes and other insects.