Jul 25, 2022 | Florida Pest Control, Mosquito
South Florida Mosquito Control
In Florida, mosquitoes have quite a presence, especially during peak mosquito season. These pests are most active in warmer months, ruining our summer fun outside. But just because these pests are active does not mean you are not able to avoid them. Check out our top three ways to avoid mosquitoes while outside.
Protect Yourself
When spending time outdoors, it’s important to utilize mosquito repellent containing DEET. These repellents will help protect you from mosquitoes biting your skin. Sparingly spray the repellent on your skin, covering any exposed areas while outdoors. In addition to using repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and avoid perfumes to reduce the chance of getting bitten.
Landscape Your Yard
To avoid mosquitoes during your backyard BBQ’s or picnics, it is always best to keep your yard well-maintained. Mosquitoes need only ½” of water to breed. Ensure that you fill any holes or hollow trees from gathering water. Equally, make sure gutters are clear of debris to avoid pooling water, correct any drainage issues, and eliminate any other sources of moisture – like toys and other containers that collect water.
Consider Peak Times
Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Consider having a party or outdoor event before sunset instead of in the middle of the day. Placing citronella candles throughout your yard can also help minimize mosquito activity and reduce mosquito bites.
If you’ve noticed more mosquito activity this summer, reach out to your local South Florida mosquito control company to schedule a thorough property inspection and a comprehensive mosquito control plan, consisting of monthly mosquito treatments.
Jul 1, 2022 | Florida Pest Control, Mosquito
South Florida Mosquito Control
In South Florida, mosquito season can begin as early as March and end as late as October! Besides leaving behind itchy, red welts when they bite humans, they can also be dangerous as they pose serious health risks. One of the best and most effective ways to reduce mosquitoes in your property is investing in a recurring mosquito control program. There are several programs to choose from, but a popular eco-friendly choice is a green mosquito control option.
With a green mosquito control program, eco-friendly products are utilized when a monthly mosquito treatment is performed. These products are derived from flowers and botanicals, applied to areas where they are most needed instead of the entire property. The treatment solution is effective in reducing both larva and adult mosquitoes.
Mosquito Prevention Tips
While green mosquito control is effective in reducing mosquitoes, it’s equally important to eliminate factors that might be attracting them in the first place. Mosquitoes are attracted to any water as they lay their eggs in the smallest amount. Consider eliminating potential breeding sites by:
- Removing items that can hold water including pots, cans, bird baths, lids, toys, and planters
- Inspecting your gutters for any clogs, making sure they are cleaned out
- Repairing poor drainage sites in your yard as these can lead to standing water
- Cleaning up debris around your home; moisture can accumulate under piles of leaves, boards, rocks, and other outdoor items
If you notice more mosquitoes than usual, it could be time to call your local South Florida pest control company. These mosquito control experts will provide you with a thorough property inspection and provide green treatment options guaranteed to reduce mosquitoes and bites.
Jun 26, 2022 | Florida Lawn Care, Florida Pest Control, Mosquito, Pest Control
South Florida Pest Control
Florida is home to several tourist attractions, beautiful beaches, and a host of pests! There are several factors to why various insects and creatures call Florida their home. We list the top reasons why pests love Florida weather and how you can prevent them from being a nuisance this summer!
Weather & Humidity
The most obvious and biggest factor to why pests are active year-round in Florida is the weather! Florida provides a variety of weather conditions, bringing moderate temperatures to allow pest colonies to grow without freezing temperatures halting them. While our warmer temperatures allow them to continue expanding and growing strength.
Termites, ants, mosquitoes, and cockroaches are just a few pests that thrive off humid weather. The humidity can cause damp wood, making it easier for pests to gain access into homes.
Travel & Tourists
Florida is a popular travel destination and even a perfect location for those ready to live in a warmer climate. With plenty of people traveling in and out of our state, to locations such as Miami, Naples, Fort Lauderdale, and more, pests are bound to follow. As we know, people produce substantial amounts of trash, an ideal situation for cockroaches, ants, rodents, and more. Rodents, such as Norway rats, will dig through trash cans for a food source, leading them to our property and inside our homes.
Vegetation & Landscaping
With a wide variety of naturally grown vegetation throughout Florida, most homeowners plant, maintain, and craft a beautiful lawn. Keeping your yard healthy takes a lot of work but it does help in preventing pests being attracted to the vegetation we grow. Pests such as mealy bugs, aphids, whiteflies, and more will easily destroy all the hard work of keeping a yard maintained and healthy. If lawn care is not maintained, pests such as mosquitoes will utilize your yard – creating breeding sites, multiplying, and infesting your property.
If you have noticed more pests on your property than usual, reach out to your local South Florida pest control company for a Free Pest Control Quote.
Jun 22, 2022 | Florida Pest Control, Mosquito
South Florida Mosquito Control
It’s inevitable not to encounter mosquitoes during Florida’s spring and summer seasons, as hot and humid weather is their peak season. Not just a nuisance, these pests can pose a health risk to humans, dogs, cats, and other animals. Every homeowner should look to place preventative measures throughout their property to help reduce mosquitoes.
Get Rid of Standing Water
Mosquitoes need stagnant water to breed, and they only need a small amount to do so. Identifying these areas throughout your property and eliminating them is your first step toward mosquito prevention. Start with items that can hold water such as toys, buckets, outdoor pet bowls, and tire swings. Make sure you remove them, especially after a thunderstorm when rainwater has collected. Look throughout your yard for any low-lying areas or hollow tree stumps prone to flooding or pooling and fill them in with dirt or mulch.
Keep Your Yard Maintained
Mosquitoes are known to hide in tall grass, damp woodpiles, and overgrown shrubbery. Look to maintain your grass and shrubs, keeping them both trimmed. If utilizing woodpiles, make sure they are covered or stored in containers with lids away from the home’s foundation. If a thunderstorm has passed by, your gutters may be clogged with debris, creating a perfect breeding site for mosquitoes. Carefully clear out your gutters frequently, especially after a bad storm.
Utilizing Mosquito-Repelling Plants
Sometimes mother nature can be the best mosquito repellent for us. Some certain flowers and plants can keep these pests away from your home. Marigold, a common flower, is a popular mosquito repellent. Citronella grass is easy to maintain and a great option to help fill large areas of your yard while it prevents mosquitoes. Lavender, rosemary, catnip, and peppermint are others to help you avoid these pests too.
Monthly Mosquito Service
Getting rid of mosquitoes can seem like a hopeless battle, but you don’t have to do it alone. There are several traditional and green mosquito control options you can invest in for your home. A local South Florida pest control company can provide you with mosquito reduction programs that target both adult and larvae mosquitoes. These professionals can provide you with the best treatment and prevention plans for your home.
If you need extra help with keeping the mosquitoes away, request a free mosquito estimate now!
May 24, 2022 | Mosquito
When you think of warmer weather, you imagine barbecues and beach trips. Unfortunately, these outdoor activities can be ruined by mosquito bites. Mosquitoes can put a damper on any summer fun, causing itchy red bumps and spreading diseases such as West Nile virus, Zika virus, and more within the U.S.
Most people are familiar with the maddening, itching sensation of a mosquito bite. But why do mosquito bites itch and why do they bite people in the first place? Let’s break it down.
Why Do Mosquitoes Bite?
Only female mosquitoes bite as they need protein to nourish their developing eggs. Biting mosquitoes use several different signals to locate a host, including carbon dioxide that we exhale, heat, and body odor. There are many factors that make some people appear more attractive to mosquitoes than others, including darker colored clothing, blood type, body size, being pregnant, sweat, and skin bacteria.
Why Do Mosquito Bites Itch?
During the process of a mosquito biting you, it injects some of its own saliva which contains an anticoagulant and specific proteins. The anticoagulant prevents blood from clotting around the mosquito’s mouth. The proteins released by the mosquito trigger the body’s immune system, which releases histamine, a compound that increases cell count resulting in inflammation and swelling. The histamine also signals the nerves around the bite to cause it to itch.
Preventing Mosquito Bites
- Eliminate standing water around your property to lessen the population of mosquitoes
- Utilize screens on all windows and doors if they remain open
- Most species are active during dusk and dawn, so limit your time outside during these time periods
- Wear long pants and sleeves when possible and apply mosquito repellent containing an EPA-registered ingredient like DEET
If the mosquito problem is more than you can handle, then contacting your local pest control company might be the next step. as they will help set up the right prevention plan for your home.
Apr 27, 2022 | Mosquito
Spring is back, meaning the pesky pests that are mosquitoes are back too! If you haven’t thought about mosquito prevention, then now is the perfect time to begin. Mosquitoes are a major nuisance and they can also pose health risks to humans, dogs, cats, and horses by transmitting diseases. Placing preventative measures throughout your yard to reduce their activity will help avoid the risk of spreading diseases. Keep reading to discover more about mosquitoes.
What Does a Mosquito Look Like?
Mosquitoes are very small, about 1/8” – 3/8” long. They have six legs and long mouthparts called a proboscis. Their coloring varies from grey to black with some having white, green, or blue markings. They are typically difficult to spot as they fly because of their small size. They are most active from dawn to dusk.
Do Mosquitoes Only Feed on Blood?
It’s a well-known fact that mosquitoes do feed on blood. Only female mosquitoes bite and feed on humans so they can lay fertile eggs. Most mosquito species breed continuously, so a female will typically search for a blood meal every two days to lay another batch of eggs. However, both male and female mosquitoes feed on nectar from flowers for their main source of energy.
Are Mosquitoes Dangerous?
Yes. Many people are bitten by mosquitoes with no side effects, except the typical itchy welt. However, mosquitoes can be the cause of many diseases. If they feed off a diseased host, some can spread pathogens that can infect other hosts it later bites.
Mosquitoes are known to spread West Nile Virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, and dengue fever in the US. Around the world they are known to spread yellow fever, malaria, and chikungunya. These illnesses do not come with specific treatments and people have varied reactions to each virus, sometimes with fatal results.
How to Prevent Mosquitoes?
Mosquito prevention begins with eliminating all sources of standing water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in water to allow larvae to develop. This can be as easy as changing out your birdbath water daily, keeping gutters clear of debris to prevent clogging, and checking AC drip pans for standing water.
A small fan at outdoor gatherings can also help reduce mosquitoes. The most important way to repel mosquitoes is by wearing effective insect repellent sprays or protective clothing while outside.
Taking these steps can help to prevent high mosquito activity; though, it might be best to call your local pest control company to help with future infestations. A trained service professional can provide you with a customized prevention and treatment plan to help eliminate these pests throughout your property.
Apr 8, 2022 | Mosquito
As the weather warms, mosquitoes are quick to ruin your outdoor fun. The climate in the southeastern United States is ideal for mosquitoes to thrive. In this area of the country, there is a long, warm rainy season, copious amounts of rain, and high humidity, all leading to ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed. Mosquitoes prefer to lay eggs in standing or slow moving water. They also seek shelter and protection from tall grass, shrubbery, and low hanging branches.
Depending on where you live in the southeast, mosquito season typically runs from March to October. Mosquito eggs will hatch when temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This is when mosquito season officially begins. When it comes to mosquitoes, prevention is key. It is important to have a plan in place before the season starts. There are several things you can do to prevent mosquitoes from taking over your property. Here are a few mosquito prevention tips you can use this season.
- Limit standing water on your property.
- Keep your yard clear of toys, tools, and gardening equipment.
- Clear out any debris like old tires, flower pots, etc.
- Clean gutters to prevent pooling water or consider installing gutter guards.
- Fill in any depressions or holes on your property that can hold water.
- Keep pools, ponds, and bird baths clean every few days.
- Seal any cracks and holes in the house.
- Patch or repair tears or holes in screens.
- Mow your lawn regularly.
Professional Mosquito Treatments
If mosquitoes are a big problem in your area, you may want to consider professional mosquito control treatments. It is best to spray these treatments when mosquitoes are active and humans and pets aren’t. This means it is usually best to spray in the morning or late afternoon when temperatures are cooler and the sun is not at its peak.
With mosquito treatments, a professional will come and inspect your property to identify any resting and breeding areas to help eliminate these pests. It is recommended that treatments be applied monthly during peak mosquito season. Green mosquito control is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional mosquito treatments. Green mosquito control utilizes products derived from flowers and bacteria rather than harsh chemicals. These products are only applied to areas where they are needed, limiting exposure to plants and other animals. Mosquito treatments work to reduce both adult populations and mosquito larvae.
If you have a problem with mosquitoes, contact your local pest control company for a free quote.
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Mar 19, 2022 | In2Care, Mosquito
The South is known for being hot and humid during the warmer months, creating the ideal environment for mosquitoes. With Spring approaching, the season for mosquitoes is upon us, and these small, annoying insects can pose a serious health threat to humans. There is an innovative option for a no-spray mosquito solution to stop the mosquito problem at the source for the season.
In2Care mosquito control is a perfect solution to help prevent and eliminate mosquitoes throughout your property. This trap is unique as it lures in mosquitoes with a special green treatment inside the trap. Once mosquitoes enter the trap, the treatment transfers to the mosquitoes’ legs, spreading to the other breeding sites, such as difference sources of water. The spread of the treatment helps to eliminate adult mosquitoes while also preventing the larva mosquitoes from developing further.
There are many benefits behind In2Care:
- It does not harm beneficial insects, like bees
- It’s a no-spray, discreet way to reduce mosquitoes around your home or business
- The system eliminates all mosquito life stages – from larva to adult
- The traps are strategically placed around your home, so it is always working
This alternative green mosquito control method is placed in a shaded, vegetated area where mosquitoes are likely to breed, and it lures mosquitoes with the treatment inside the trap.
Instead of constantly battling mosquitoes this Spring and Summer, consider a new way with the In2Care Mosquito System to get rid of mosquitoes and take back your yard!
If you’re interested in the In2Care System or would like more information, reach out to your local pest control provider who partners with In2Care to receive a treatment fit for your property!
Request a Free Estimate Now
Sep 8, 2021 | Mosquito
It can be tough to eliminate all the mosquitoes around your property, but it is possible to prevent an infestation of these pests. While mosquitoes are a major nuisance, they can also pose health risks to humans, dogs, cats, and horses by transmitting diseases. It’s important to place preventative measures throughout your yard to reduce both their activity and their risk of spreading diseases.
Mosquitoes are looking for standing water to breed in. The first step to preventing mosquitoes is getting rid of any standing water throughout your yard.
- Keep your gutters clear of debris to prevent clogging.
- Empty birdbaths daily and refill them with new water.
- Check your AC drip pans for standing water.
- Turnover and remove water from anything that can collect, including pots, tarps, toys, old tires, and pet bowls.
Mosquitoes prefer to hide in tall grass and damp woodpiles. Keeping your yard well maintained and clear of clutter can also help prevent mosquitoes from your property.
- Cover or fill hollow tree stumps that can fill with water.
- Make sure to cover wood piles or store them in containers with lids.
- Keep your grass mowed short and frequently trim shrubbery and tree limbs.
- Keep your pool maintained or cover when you’re not using it for long periods of time.
Taking these steps can help to prevent high mosquito activity; though, at times it might be best to call your local pest control company to help with future infestations. A trained service professional can provide you with a customized prevention and treatment plan to help eliminate these pests throughout your property.
