Breeding Grounds For Mosquitoes
Among the many pest control companies serving North Carolina, Action Pest Exterminating stands out for its comprehensive knowledge of numerous pests. One of these insects, the mosquito, is on everyone’s top 10 list in terms of annoyingness and unhealthiness. When dealing with mosquitoes, our nearby exterminators go right to the source: their breeding grounds.
Where Do Mosquitoes Like To Breed?
When it comes to breeding grounds, mosquitoes don’t need much: just a mild climate and a small amount of water. In fact, mosquito eggs are so small that just a single water-bottle cap is enough to facilitate the breeding process. Of course, mosquitoes aren’t picky when it comes to moisture – the warmer and wetter a place is, the more likely you are to find mosquitoes. Examples of popular breeding spots include:
- Puddles
- Ponds, marshes, and bogs
- Ditches
- Heavily shaded areas
- Long grasses
- Untended yards
- Bird baths/backyard ponds
- Flower pots
- Rainwater barrels
- Yard items/debris that fills up with water after a storm
This list could be split down the middle into two categories: the first five under items under the header “environmental conditions”, and the second five categorized as “man-made conditions”. For homeowners, the latter conditions are controllable. With some hard work and general stick-to-itiveness, you can keep your yard from becoming a mosquito breeding ground. Let’s take a look at some of the most effective preventative measures.
Preventative Measures For Homeowners
Keep Your Yard Clean
One of the easiest ways to keep mosquitoes away is by cleaning your yard. Empty containers, wheelbarrows, children’s toys, and the like are all proficient water-collectors – and during the warm-weather months, it won’t take long for mosquitoes to seek them out. Along with maintaining a debris-free yard, it’s important to cut the grass on a regular basis and trim any fast-growing plants to reduce the number of damp hiding spots for mosquitoes to use.
Monitor Your Garden
Gardens have a huge upside, but they can become mosquito havens if not monitored regularly. Paving stones, flower pots, garden ornaments, and bird baths are all places where water can collect. Stay a few steps of your local mosquito population by using a running birdbath, which employs a small pump to encourage circulation and protect against standing water. Make sure your flower pots offer good drainage, and you’ll not only prevent mosquitoes from congregating, you’ll also improve the health of your greenery. And specific to garden ornaments, look for items that encourage water run-off – even if it’s just a small hole drilled in the side.
Mosquito-Proof Your Pond
A backyard pond isn’t something you can just pick up and move, nor would you want to cover it and ruin its aesthetics. One great way to mosquito-proof your pond is by introducing a bacteria called Bti, which is a highly-effective mosquito larvae killer. You can also add mosquito fish (“gambusia affinis”): just one of these guys can eat upwards of 200 mosquito larvae in a single hour.
Mosquitoes Don’t Mess With Us
Thanks to our terrific track record in mosquito control and elimination, mosquito populations know better than to mess with us. Contact Action Pest Exterminating today for a free quote and to discuss options for keeping your yard mosquito-free, permanently.
