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Backyard Mosquito Control

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Missouri has gorgeous summertime weather and it makes people anxious to get outside and enjoy their backyard barbecues. Unfortunately, mosquitoes do not always make that possible. Mosquitoes are incredibly annoying, and their bites can become infected, particularly when people scratch at them and break the skin. However, mosquitoes pose a much bigger risk than this. They carry diseases, such as Zika and West Nile Virus, which can be fatal to humans and can be transmitted through just one mosquito bite. To avoid the problems that mosquitoes bring, anyone that has a mosquito problem should call an exterminator that can provide backyard mosquito control.

Breeding Grounds For Mosquitoes

Backyards are full of places for mosquitoes to breed, which will only exacerbate any mosquito problem you are currently experiencing. Mosquitoes require water to breed, and they also require it during the early stages of their life. Some mosquitoes lay their eggs directly in the water, and those eggs will hatch within two days, typically. Others will search out undisturbed areas, such as tin cans or old tires, and use these places to lay their eggs. Once the eggs become covered in water, they will then hatch, which could happen with just one rainfall. It is important to understand how mosquitoes breed, so you can keep them from invading your yard and becoming unwanted guests at your barbecue.

How To Prevent Mosquitoes

Due to the fact that mosquitoes require standing water to breed, it is of utmost importance that you first remove all standing water and any containers that hold it. Remove birdbaths and kiddie pools, and also overturn canoes, boats, and anything else that could collect water.

Although certain areas are obvious mosquito breeding grounds, others are not. Recycling bins and trash cans can easily collect moisture, particularly if they are left outside. To prevent water from accumulating in these areas, drill holes in the bottom so excess water will drain out. You should also clean out the gutters, as leaves and other debris can also cause moisture to collect. Outdoor faucets should also always be tightly closed and repaired quickly when they start to leak.

Eliminating standing water from your yard can help control mosquito populations, but it may not stop mosquitoes from entering your yard altogether. Due to this, it is important that you understand what control measures work and then implement them as soon as possible.

Find A Mosquito Control Solution That Works

There are several mosquito solutions on the market today. Some homeowners use electric zappers that kill mosquitoes when they fly into it. Other people use scents to keep mosquitoes out of their yard, such as citronella candles and sprays that contain DEET. These solutions are not effective and homeowners will continue to battle mosquitoes in their backyard. Even when these solutions work, they are only temporary and mosquitoes will soon come back into the yard. 

Backyard mosquito control requires a long-term solution to get mosquitoes out of the yard, and keep them out. Usually, this requires the help of a professional backyard mosquito control company. When using this form of mosquito control, a technician will visit the yard and conduct a complete inspection. During this inspection, the technician will determine the items in your yard that are attracting mosquitoes, such as tall grass, bushes, and weeds. After considering the many different factors, the technician will then develop a customized plan to control the mosquitoes.

Once a plan has been created, the technician will use a potent spray that will keep mosquitoes out of the yard, and kill the ones that are already there. This spray, while deadly to mosquitoes, is safe for the people that want to sit in their backyard and enjoy it during the beautiful weather months. To ensure that the mosquitoes do not return, a technician will also come back regularly to spray again. While there may be a few mosquitoes still present after a technician has sprayed, the numbers should drop significantly. Eliminating the objects in the yard that attract mosquitoes, such as standing water, can help ensure the mosquito control program is effective and kills and deters mosquitoes in the yard.

Our Backyard Mosquito Control Professionals Are Here To Help

Everyone should be able to fully enjoy their backyard in the summer, without worrying about mosquitoes that can bite or transmit disease. If you have mosquitoes in your yard, our St. Charles backyard mosquito control professionals at Amco Ranger are here to help. We provide inspections free of charge so we can create a customized plan for your yard to get the mosquitoes out and keep them out. Call us today at (636) 441-2847 to learn more about how we can help.

How To Prevent Mosquito Bites

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It’s backyard barbecue season, and you’re not the only one planning a feast. The mosquitoes are out and ready to chow down. Preventing mosquito bites should be a priority, because they can carry deadly diseases, like the West Nile or Zika viruses.

Here are some ways that you can avoid these pesky pests.

Blow them away with a breeze

Almost anybreeze – anything above 1 MPH – makes it difficult for mosquitoes to fly. If you can pick a breezy spot for your summer outing, that can help prevent mosquito bites. Plug-in fans are also a great deterrent. Keep the flow of air directed at the lower half of your body; mosquitoes tend to fly very close to the ground to avoid wind, so directing the fan’s force downward will block their approach.

Avoid peak mosquito hours

Just like you, mosquitoes crave a meal during certain times of day, and it’s often around dusk and dawn. That’s because the wind typically dissipates as the sun rises and sets, which brings mosquitoes out to feed. If you can try to stay inside during these times when the weather is warm, you’ll be able to prevent some mosquito bites.

Rub on some DEET before you head outdoors

DEET has a bad reputation, but adverse reactions to it are rare and typically happen when used incorrectly. When used as directed, it’s extremely effective, since it blocks a mosquito’s CO2 receptors.

The best way to use DEET is not to spray it on your body and clothes like perfume. Instead, squirt a little onto your hands and rub it onto your ankles, elbows, wrists, forehead, and all the other places where your skin is thin and where mosquitoes love to feed.

Use other mosquito repellents if you’re not into DEET

There are other options that are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for use in repelling mosquitoes, including Picaridin, IR3535, Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), Para-menthane-diol (PMD), and 2-undecanone. If you’re at the store and you’re not sure if a repellent has these ingredients, your safest bet is to look for the Environmental Protection Agency approval on the product’s label. Then you will know it’s effective and safe.

Try to stay cool

This can be easier said than done in the summer, but mosquitoes are drawn to pheromones released in your sweat. This can vary from person to person. Some people attract mosquitoes regardless of what they drink, eat, or wear.

Wear tightly woven, light-colored clothes

Mosquitoes can’t penetrate clothing that has a very tight weave. While cotton and linen typically aren’t great armor against mosquito bites, many synthetic fibers – particularly high-tech athletic apparel – tend to be woven tightly enough to keep bugs out. Any garment that offers sun protection will also have a tight enough weave to prevent mosquito bites, especially when you opt for long sleeves and pants.

Mosquitoes also use their vision to search for food sources during the daylight hours. Since they fly very close to the ground, they tend to find targets by looking for things that contrast with the horizon. Dark colors stand out, and light colors are less attractive to them.

Avoid scented products

Any scented perfume, lotion, or soap could potentially attract mosquitoes. If you want to reduce your attractiveness to mosquitoes, avoid scented products in general.

Give your heart a breather

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary thing mosquitoes search for to identify food sources. When your heart rate is elevated, your body produces more CO2. From exercise to drinking alcohol to eating spicy foods, anything that cranks up your metabolic rate will increase your CO2 production and make you irresistible to mosquitoes. If you’re outdoors and know your heart rate will be spiking, make sure you wear protective clothing and apply a repellent to keep bites at bay.

Get rid of standing water

Mosquitoes can easily breed in small containers of water like a birdbath or water sitting around your plants. Do your best to clear out any standing water to lower the odds that you’ll have lots of mosquitoes in your yard.

Adding mosquito-repelling plants to your property

This shouldn’t be your only mosquito-combating strategy, but certain plants may help discourage mosquitoes from hovering near your house. Mosquito-repelling plants include citronella, lavender, lemongrass, marigolds, and basil.

While these plants may lower the number of mosquitoes around your place, even planted in large quantities, the potency of these plants would not be enough to keep mosquitoes out of your yard entirely. The same goes for citronella candles and oils. They do repel insects, but they only work if the scent or smoke gets between you and the mosquito.

Spray your yard

If you live in an area where the mosquitoes are unbearable, it might be worth hiring a professional to come and treat your yard with insecticide. This treatment will do a good job of ensuring that mosquitoes won’t come anywhere near your property.

We Can Help

If you are having issues with mosquitoes, give Amco Ranger a call to get a free quote for professional, ongoing defense in your yard. Treatments are tailored to your property and are applied by certified, trained technicians. Give us a call today if you need help getting rid of pests in your home in Cottleville, St. Peters, O’Fallon, St. Charles, St. Louis, and surrounding communities.