The hot weather in summer is a great time for the outdoors. However, if you live in areas prone to mosquitoes, these pests can interrupt your time spent outside.

Mosquitoes can live outdoors and indoors and are active throughout the day and night. There are over 3,500 species of mosquitoes, and they all belong to the Culicidae family. Through their bites, mosquitoes can transmit infectious diseases like yellow fever, malaria, Zika, West Nile Virus and dengue. Mosquito control is essential to the safety and health of everyone — learn more about the prevention and removal of these pests.

Understanding the Threat: Why Mosquito Control Is Essential

Many consider mosquitoes to be humanity’s most dangerous animal due to their ability to spread a large number of deadly diseases. According to the World Health Organization, the Anopheline mosquito causes an estimated 219 million malaria cases globally and results in over 400,000 deaths annually. Dengue, spread by the Aedes mosquito, causes over 96 million cases and 40,000 deaths a year.

Besides the danger of spreading diseases, mosquitoes are also a nuisance. They can can cause itching and discomfort, and may trigger allergies in some people. Whether at home, a hotel or a restaurant, the presence of mosquitoes is not pleasant. The pests diminish the quality of life for people who are affected, making it essential to eradicate these pests.

Mosquitoes are found everywhere in the world, with the exception of Antarctica. Female mosquitoes lay eggs in water, so controlling and monitoring any standing water on your property is essential to curb their population.

Mosquito Lifecycle

For targeted mosquito prevention, you first need to understand the mosquito lifecycle. These stages include:

• Egg phase: A female mosquito lays eggs in stagnant water or around damp areas. The eggs can also survive in dry conditions for up to a few months.
• Larva phase: Larvae develop from the eggs. Larvae use a specialized tube called a siphon for breathing and may undergo a few different molting stages.
• Pupa phase: When the larvae reach the pupae stage, they still remain in the water and move around by flipping their tails. They stop feeding during this stage and remain in their pupal case for a couple of days to a week.
• Adult phase: After the pupa stage, the adult mosquito emerges. It will need to rest on the surface of the water until its wings and other body parts dry out and harden.

Prevention also necessitates you understand mosquito behaviors. For example, these pests are attracted to dark colors. In addition, they are drawn to various scents, including fruity scents and sweat. They also fly 4 to 6 feet above the ground.

Preventative Measures: The First Line of Defense Against Mosquitoes

Mosquito bites aren’t fun, and controlling their population is essential. Take specific measures to prevent the possibility of mosquitoes living and breeding around your home or business.

Remove Mosquito Habitats

Mosquitoes breed in water, so you should eliminate standing water inside and outside your home or business. Areas to look at include gutters, buckets, old tires or any container that can hold water. Removing these breeding grounds doesn’t guarantee that there will be no mosquitoes, but you’ve reduced the chances of their existence and multiplication.

Ensure that your gutters are clean and free of debris to prevent the accumulation of water. Flush the pipes after cleaning the gutters. Clean and debris-free gutters not only prevent mosquito breeding but also ensure the water harvested is clean. To minimize the need for regular prefiltration maintenance of your gutters, you can install gutter screens, which prevent the buildup of debris in the gutters. Hot tubs and swimming pools should also be kept clean and properly treated, and covered during the off-season.

Mosquitoes are cold-blooded and become lethargic at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. They tend to be inactive below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which is why you may not frequently see them during cold seasons. During winter, mosquitoes hibernate in hollow logs, animal burrows and basements. It’s a good idea to check your basement for any standing water to keep them from hibernating in your home.

Seal Gaps and Leaks

If you have any holes in your building or gaps between windows, mosquitoes can crawl into your building. Check your roof, window seals and doors to ensure there’s no space for mosquitoes and other bugs to crawl through.

You can also install bugproof barriers in open doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home. Use fine mesh screens that allow cross-breezes to enter the home. Although they allow air in and out, the screen’s openings are not big enough for mosquitoes to pass through.

Lawn Care Tips to Deter Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes prefer humid and dark areas. This explains why you’ll see the reemergence of these pests during hot seasons. While you don’t have control over weather conditions and the changing seasons, you can do something about your yard to prevent the existence of mosquitoes. Regular mowing and trimming will eliminate shades or dark areas that can harbor these insects. You should also manage damp areas or standing water in the yard.

Check the following common mosquito breeding areas:

• Flower pots
• Hollow trees
• Tall grass
• Birdbaths
• Catch basins
• Salt marshes
• Pastures
• Irrigation ditches

DIY Mosquito Traps and Barriers

DIY solutions can also be effective in keeping mosquitoes at bay. A few things you might try include:

• Essential oils
• Garlic
• Citronella candles
• Fans and airflow
• Mosquito netting

Choosing the Right Mosquito Repellent Products

Since there’s no way to eliminate all mosquitoes from your environment, you can use mosquito repellants to make your skin less of a target. The ingredients are the most important factor to consider when choosing an insect repellent. The most effective insect repellents contain oil of lemon eucalyptus, picaridin or DEET. The most effective ingredient for clothing is permethrin.

You can use the repellents on your exposed skin or on your clothing, but never use them under your clothes.

Natural vs. Chemical Repellents

Natural insect repellents contain essential plant oils such as rosemary, lemongrass, citronella, peppermint, cedar and clove. However, they may not be strong enough to repel all mosquitoes. There are other important factors to consider when choosing the right mosquito repellant:

• Children: You may be in a hurry to eliminate mosquitoes fast and use the most potent solution available, like DEET repellents. Remember that DEET-based repellents may not be suitable for children and infants. While it is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you should use it with caution as it can cause skin irritation.
• Pets: DEET-based repellents are unsafe for your pets if ingested and can cause significant medical issues that may require veterinary intervention.
• Type of clothes: DEET repellents can destroy some types of clothes made from synthetic fibers. This means you should avoid nylon and breathable clothes when using DEET.

Science-Based Innovation in Mosquito Control

Modern approaches in the industry to dealing with these pests include biological, genetic and chemical means. Some of these technologies can modify mosquitoes to prevent their female offspring from surviving to adulthood. Such technologies have the potential to reduce mosquito populations. These science-based innovations are also designed to address emerging problems such as insecticide resistance.

Professional pest control companies have moved from relying solely on conventional larvicides and adulticides. We believe these new technologies are the future of pest control and we embrace them. Science-based innovations are part of our mission statement at Pestech Pest Solutions. We have invested in the latest technology to ensure our services are efficient and meet our client’s expectations.

Clothing to Wear to Avoid Getting Bitten

Some clothes will not keep you safe from mosquito bites. This is because mosquitoes have six sharp and long mouthparts, called proboscis, that can easily penetrate clothing materials like spandex and lightweight fabrics like gauze.

To protect yourself from mosquito bites, you need as much coverage on your skin as possible. This means wearing pants and loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts. The materials that provide strong protection from mosquito bites are:

• Tight-knit wool
• Denim
• Velvet and
• Nylon ripstops.
• Polyester
• Silk cotton blends
• Gingham
• Medium-weight cotton

Fabrics with poor protection that you should avoid are voile, gauze and spandex. The reason why you should wear loose-fitting clothes as opposed to tight clothing is to prevent mosquitoes from making contact with your skin. You should also avoid wearing short pants that expose your bare ankles. Avoid items with loose necklines and bell sleeves. Color plays a big role, as well — mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors because they hold in more heat than light colors, which reflect heat away.

Now that you know the right clothing to protect yourself from mosquitoes, you need another weapon in your armory to maximize protection from insects — spray your clothes with mosquito repellents. You can also find clothing that’s been pre-treated with the insecticide permethrin. However, you’ll need to read the label closely for special wearing and cleaning considerations.

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes ASAP?

The fastest way to get rid of mosquitoes is to prevent their existence. All the preventative measures we have discussed will help you prevent the breeding of mosquitoes in your house, business or yard. However, if the insects already exist, you can use insecticides to kill them instantly.

You can spray the insecticides throughout your yard to eliminate the mosquito population. Target damp or water areas in case there are mosquito eggs and larvae that need to be eradicated. How long it takes to spray and kill the mosquitoes effectively will depend on the size of your yard. It can take several hours to finish the job for an average-sized yard.

You can also have multiple yard treatments on subsequent days after the initial spray if you feel it’s necessary. The weather may also push you to repeat the process — if it rains after you’ve sprayed the insecticide.

Repellants are the other alternative for people who want to get rid of mosquitoes ASAP. However, repellents do not kill the mosquitoes — they make it less likely that mosquitoes will approach you or the area where you’ve applied the repellant. Repellants are short-term solutions to the mosquito problem. Spraying your yard has long-term benefits.

Professional Mosquito Yard Treatment Options

Have you tried DIY pest controls in your home or yard and they didn’t work? It’s time to call the pros. Effective mosquito yard treatment needs a professional touch from experienced pest technicians. Pestech Pest Solutions provides both residential and commercial pest control services. Our team takes mosquitoes seriously and we have the solutions you need to ensure your yard is mosquito-free and you can continue enjoying the outdoors day and night.

To protect your home or business from mosquitoes while keeping children and pets safe, choose a service that offers environmental-friendly insecticides. Pestech Pest Solutions provides green pest control solutions. We are a GreenPro certified company and use insecticides that have the least environmental impact.

We offer solutions that are tailor-made for homes and businesses. Our approach to mosquito treatments includes:

• Regular inspections
• Proactive management and response to pest populations
• Targeted treatments of common mosquito habitats
• State-of-the-art technology
• Science-backed methods
• Reliable and experienced technicians

Pestech Pest Solutions Scheduled Services

Mosquitoes are unpredictable and can pop up when you least expect them. The best way to avoid these surprises is to regularly inspect your property for anything that may provide a breeding environment for mosquitoes. Pestech Pest Solutions is flexible enough to provide scheduled inspections and treatment of your home or business.

Scheduling regular visits and treatments to eliminate mosquitoes from your property is the most effective solution to kee your outdoor areas comfortable and safe. Alongside proper vigilance and maintenance, these services will monitor your mosquito population to identify and proactively respond to issues.

You have the option to schedule monthly, bi-monthly and quarterly treatments. These regular treatments significantly minimize the chances of mosquitoes breeding in your residential or commercial property. We will also educate you on the basics of pest management and how to manage common pests in New York, like mosquitoes, rodents, bed bugs, termites, fleas, birds, bats and ticks.

Partner With Pestech Pest Solutions for Ultimate Protection

We have helped many homeowners and businesses deal with mosquito infestations. We remain dedicated to using modern, safe and science-backed methods to give our clients the best results. Regular inspections and maintenance of your business or home are key to ensuring you get effective mosquito control solutions. Our expertise makes us your best choice for reliable pest control management in New York.

Experienced pest technicians at Pestech Pest Solutions are just a few clicks away. Contact us to tell us about your pest issues or schedule your next service online today!