No doubt mosquitoes can be extremely annoying, capable of ruining a fun day in the backyard with your family or sending your outdoor party guests running for cover.
As mosquito season is underway in Georgia, it’s vital to think about prevention if you don’t want to spend all summer hiding indoors. If you feel like there are too many mosquitoes in your backyard, prevention is the absolute key to help control these harmful pests.
To fully understand why mosquitoes are so bad in your yard, keep on reading as we explain where mosquitoes breed and live, and what you can do to reduce their numbers to protect yourself and your family from bites and the diseases they can spread.
The amount of mosquitoes you get depends mainly on the following factors:
SEASONALITY
As there are many species of mosquitoes, some may hibernate during the winter only to reappear when the weather starts to warm, while other species hatch from the eggs they had previously laid in the spring.
Mosquito volume rises and falls, depending mostly on the temperature, humidity, and rainfall in a given area. Outdoor temperature makes a difference in mosquito activity, thus it can start at different times each year.
It’s also possible that some species may become active before others in the same year. Warm and rainy spring means huge mosquito populations during the summertime.
The actual start of the mosquito season is based on the weather to a great extent as these insects thrive in hot weather. As the outdoor temperature begins to rise and reaches the 50° F level, the mosquito numbers will increase accordingly and will peak during the hot summer months.
You can roughly estimate when the actual mosquito season will begin and end, depending on what part of the country you live in. However, it can vary a lot from one region to another, and even from one year to the next.
As expected, the hotter the climate, the sooner the mosquito activity starts and the longer it is going to last. Residents in Georgia have to start dealing with the pesky mosquitoes as early as March.
Homeowners should start their preparation for the mosquito season well before these pests have the chance to breed. Unfortunately, most homeowners wait with the mosquito control process until they have been bitten or see swarms of mosquitoes flying around their yards, and by this time, the breeding population has already been established.
Keep in mind that as the temperature gets higher, the mosquito breeding cycle time gets shorter, resulting in an increase in the number of mosquitoes around your property. The ideal time to get started with your mosquito control efforts is when the weather is still cool and before the air temperature consistently reaches that magical 50° F level.
BREEDING PLACES
If you notice there are so many mosquitoes in your backyard, the most probable reason is that they are reproducing nearby.
As a matter of fact, it is necessary to understand the mosquito life cycle and habitat. These bloodsucking insects tend to lay their eggs in damp places and wherever rainwater collects in the form of puddles, run-off, and other standing water because their larvae cannot survive dry conditions. The easier they can access standing water, the more often they will reproduce and lay eggs, thus causing an explosion in the mosquito population.
Just like the majority of other insects, mosquitoes are cold-blooded, which means they rely on external heat to keep them warm. Their eggs and larva are particularly sensitive to air temperatures and cannot grow until it’s a minimum 44°F outside. The warmer the weather, the faster they grow, and the faster they grow, they can mate and produce more larvae at a faster rate.
Mosquitoes prefer living in the open air, but anywhere with standing water will serve them. All they need is a tiny amount of moisture to reproduce, grow, and survive.
They are attracted to any surroundings where the ground stays moist for a long time, and if such places also happen to be warm, shady, and close to a food source, they quickly become their favorite breeding places. Mosquitoes will multiply, hatch, grow, and lay more eggs even faster, the more moisture and heat they can get.
These pests are also able to reuse the same source of water again and again. So if there is a hidden puddle in your backyard, they will use it to reproduce all season long.
Favorite Breeding Places For Mosquitoes In Backyard
When thinking of breeding places for mosquitoes, you most likely imagine puddles, ditches, ponds, and swamps. They are, however, not the only sites that attract swarms of these insects.
Look for those hiding places around your backyard. There could be some stagnant water in the storm drain or untrimmed vegetation. Tall grasses and unpruned shrubs are also a magnet for mosquitoes who love spending their daytime in them.
As the grass starts decomposing it gets organic, and as soon as it starts to smell, the insects will go straight for it.
Homeowners are also likely to find mosquito breeding grounds in various open containers with water or flower pots filled with water that remains for several days.
Some other problem areas are grass clippings that are clogging a storm drain, and septic drains can also be an issue. Rainwater trapped in rain gutters is a very common breeding site.
In addition, mosquitoes often lurk in the front door wreaths and patio furniture cushions because they are cool, dark places to hide that mosquitoes love.
However, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce mosquito numbers in your backyard and keep yourself safe from them.
Above all, it’s important to get into a routine in order to disrupt the insects from hatching.
– Eliminate sources of stagnant water
Empty or get rid of anything that can potentially hold even a tiny amount of rainwater, for example, pet bowls, kids’ toys, or a drinking glass left outside.
Potted plants and flowers sitting on dishes or trays need to be drained at least once a week. Turn over items like buckets and other containers, old tires, wheelbarrows, and baby pools whenever possible.
– Check if your rain gutters are clogged and overflowing, and keep them unclogged at all times.
– Prune vegetation such as tall grass, shrubs, long hedges, or any plants with shady areas. Take good care of your lawn by mowing it as often as needed, and don’t forget to bag up your lawn trimmings.
– Change birdbath water on a regular basis.
– Support boat covers and tarps to let rainwater run off freely, thus eliminating pools of water.
Final Words,
Mosquitoes are a threat, thus they have to be controlled, otherwise, apart from itchy bites, your chances of contracting diseases like the West Nile virus double up.
If mosquitoes have infested your backyard or you seem to notice a gradual increase in their numbers, then you need the help of experts who will do regular mosquito spray treatments in your yard.
Our team at Guaranteed Green in Atlanta can eliminate existing mosquito populations and help keep them away for good. So stop worrying about mosquito bites ruining your summer. Get in touch with us today and get back out into the sun!
