There are many insects that homeowners must deal with. When you look to buy your home on a lake or other type of body of water, you can expect to be exposed to various insects and pests. Mosquitos love water and are generally found in larger populations around bodies of water. Unfortunately, mosquitos can bring diseases such as yellow fever, West Nile virus, and other diseases. Knowing this information should prepare you for controlling against mosquitos. When are mosquitos most active? Mosquitos are most commonly active during dusk and dawn. The times of day when the sun is less hot.
Let’s take a look at some more specifics regarding a mosquito’s active period.
When Are They Most Active
Believe it or not, mosquitos are pretty predictable. They love damp and dark places and hate the sunshine. You can expect that their activity levels vary out of the 176 various mosquito species in the United States. However, the majority of mosquitos are very active at dusk and dawn. They prefer to collect their food right as the sun comes up and right as the sun goes down.
Always remember that the two most common mosquito species, the Asian tiger mosquito, and the common house mosquito also have varying eating habits. Expect an Asian tiger mosquito to bite during the morning or late afternoon. Also, most common house mosquitos bite in the evening hours as the sun has set.
Your best bet is to stay away from damp, dark, wooded areas, and only get out during the day. Most mosquitos are not flying around during the hours of 9 am to 3 pm over the fear of dehydration. The longer they are in the sun, the more dehydrated they get.
What Are My Preventative Maintenance Options
Keeping mosquitos at bay, especially in the south can be challenging. This is because of the frequent storms in the warmer months, but also the canals, ponds, and watersheds that allow mosquito populations to grow quickly. It is important to make sure you keep an eye on these areas that are on or around your property.
Here are some ways to control mosquitos:
Trim shrubs and grass – making sure that you trim these areas is important. This will hopefully keep mosquitos from finding an area to rest.
Take care of leaks – check the outside of the home for any leaking faucets. You don’t want to have water accumulating in the yard or near the foundation of the home.
Clean the gutters – water can collect in the gutters, thus attracting mosquitos. The key is to keep them clean. Some people buy gutter guards but these are a waste or money. Instead, getting on the ladder to clean them out works best or hire a professional.
Objects that hold water – in your yard, you may have bird baths or fountains that will collect water. They look pretty when they do this, however, they will also hold the water when it rains and attract mosquitos.
Trash cans – if you leave these outside, you may want to drill a hole in it so the water drains and doesn’t accumulate on top.
If you control the amount of “stuff” in your yard, you will find you are leaving less opportunity for mosquitos to lay their eggs. Additionally, there are companies that offer an eco-friendly mosquito treatment service. Reach out to them if you are having a hard time controlling them on your own.
How Much Does It Cost
When planning home expenses, most people don’t think about paying to take care of mosquitos. Thus why doing what you can to keep them away from your property is best. The average cost to treat your property for mosquitos ranges between $350-$500 per .25 of an acre. If you have a large property that requires frequent treatments, your cost range is anywhere from $325 to $1,900.
Ever wondered why you don’t see mosquitos when you are at Disney? Take a look below!
Other Recommended Maintenance
Now that you know when mosquitos are most active, consider how you will prevent them from becoming a nuisance. There are a lot of solutions mentioned for mosquito control. However, some of those solutions can be invasive and not environmentally friendly. Always consider environmentally friendly or natural solutions when it comes to insects.
Next, speaking of loving moisture, earwigs are another pest you want to keep an eye out for. You can find them in mulch, stone, boards, and rotted wood to name a few. Keeping the home dry, humidity low and watching out for accumulating water in the yard will help.
Lastly, moisture can also attract termites. You definitely don’t want to attract termites to the yard so making sure the mulch you are using repels them is important.
When Do I Call A Professional
Calling on a professional pest control service is something that should be done the moment you suspect a large number of mosquitos in and around your home. Keep in mind, that mosquitos carry diseases and the last thing that you want is for a mosquito to transmit disease into your bloodstream. Always call on a professional pest control service to assist with getting your mosquito problem under control.
We are a company that can treat the mosquitos for you in an eco-friendly way.
Conclusion
Deciding what type of mosquito control works for your home is fairly easy. That’s because you can reach out to your local home inspection team who also provides a pest control service. Not only do you get a pest inspection conducted throughout the home, but you can also gain valuable pest control ideas. Remember, all mosquitos can carry disease and spread it throughout your neighborhood. So, getting them under control quickly is important. Call on Honor Services for pest control recommendations while conducting a thorough pest inspection in Melbourne, FL, and surrounding areas.
