As anyone in New Jersey will tell you, summer is the prime season for mosquitoes. Not only are mosquitoes annoying when you’re trying to spend time outdoors, but they can cause painful bites and carry harmful diseases.
Here are some recommendations for safe and effective backyard mosquito control to help you get through the summer with minimal bites and itching.
Eliminate Standing Water
Mosquitoes thrive in standing water, so eliminate places around you home where water can collect. This includes your dog’s water bowl, fish ponds, planters, and drainage ditches. Removing water is a first line of defense, but additional measures are usually required to thwart the problem as well.
Treat Water in Ponds and Pools
However, fountains and ponds add an undeniable and peaceful ambiance to backyards, and you don’t necessarily have to sacrifice these features because of mosquitoes. Keep water features flowing with water by using a bubbler or aeration pump to boost the circulation of water and keep it moving all day. Mosquitoes prefer stagnant water, so you’ll help keep them away if the water is continually moving.
It is also useful to remove leaves and keep water levels up. Larvicides, like methoprene, can help stunt the growth of young mosquitoes so they don’t fully form into adults. As a natural approach, some homeowners have made use of used coffee grounds in small bodies of water to kill mosquito larvae.
Mosquito Traps
One popular solution to removing mosquitoes from your yard is to place traps that release carbon dioxide, heat, and moisture. These traps kill the mosquitoes once they are lured inside by a vacuum or propeller and work very quickly. However, they don’t necessarily break the breeding cycles of mosquitoes, and their effectiveness depends upon the size of your mosquito population, the particular species of mosquitoes, and where you place your traps.
Mosquito Nets
Mosquito nets are another backyard mosquito control solution that many homeowners use. These barriers are often used on patios and desks to keep you on one side and mosquitoes on the other. Nets have a reputation of not being the most attractive option for backyards, but more stylish designs are becomming available and can also help shade your outdoor spaces from the sun.
Mosquito Misting Systems
Tank-less and drum-based mosquito misting systems are also used to kill residential mosquitoes. You can mount spray nozzles around your yard to spray the mist to the frequent places that mosquitoes linger. Misters use a fine insecticide mist to kill mosquitoes, but they can also harm beneficial species that have taken up residence in your yard, like bees and butterflies. Pyrethrin is a non-toxic insecticide used in misting systems, while permethrin is a synthetic option made with pyrethrin botanicals.
Call the Extermination Professionals
Although you can attempt to handle your mosquito backyard control on your own, it is often easier, safer, and more efficient to call the experts for help. At Precise Pest Control, we offer mosquito backyard control to exterminate new larvae and eggs, as well as eliminate the presence of adult mosquitoes that are driving your family crazy. Our highly experienced exterminators know the best ways to get rid of mosquitoes based upon your specific backyard and are proud to have served New Jersey communities over 25 years.