Warm weather comes
with extra time spent outdoors, especially in your backyard. Unfortunately, for
many Georgia residents, those warm temps are also accompanied by the presence
of mosquitoes. When these bugs are out in swarms, they can make it difficult to
enjoy spending time in your yardâand the discomfort of their itching bites can
linger for days afterward.
If mosquitoes are
getting in the way of your fun, you have options to fight back and get these
insects under control. Here are some tips to lower your local mosquito
population and reclaim your home's outdoor space.
Cover any standing water.
Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Unattended pools, backyard ponds, and other bodies of standing water are likely spots where mosquitoes will lay their eggs, which adds to your local mosquito population.
It takes about a week for mosquitoes to lay and hatch eggs, so taking care of this water at least once a week can prevent mosquito larvae from growing and maturing. Empty outstanding water, place covers over containers of water to keep mosquitoes out and consider adding chemical treatments to standing water that can't be easily drained out or covered. This will save your backyard from becoming a home to new mosquitoes.
Use traditional spray treatment to kill and prevent mosquitoes.
Spray treatments are
a great option to quickly eliminate local mosquito populations. They can also
be used as a preventative measure, with treatments starting prior to the
typical mosquito season. By getting a head start on treatment, you can keep
mosquito populations at bay and minimize the prevalence of these bugs
throughout the spring and summer.
"Ideally, these treatments can begin in March, before most mosquitoes become active for the year," says a spokesperson for Breda Pest. "This traditional approach uses comprehensive treatment measures to kill existing populations and prevent population growth, providing peace-of-mind to residents plagued by large mosquito swarms."
Bring in plants that naturally repel mosquitoes.
Certain plants have been shown to repel mosquitoes naturally, providing an alternative form of treatment that can be used either on their own or in addition to chemical treatment plans. Lavender, marigolds, rosemary, basil, mint, catnip, bee balm, and sage are just a handful of plants known to keep mosquitoes away. Try adding these to your backyard to give mosquitoes just one more reason to bypass your backyard on their search for another victim.2
Install natural, organic mosquito traps.
Whether you're seeking an alternative to spraying treatments or simply looking for another method to add to those treatment plans, mosquito traps are an effective tool for attracting, trapping and killing mosquitoes before they're able to lay their eggs. These natural, organic treatments use products made from flowers and bacteria to attract female mosquitoes about to lay eggs.
"The female
mosquitoes lay their eggs in the traps, which are treated to prevent eggs from
hatching into adults," says a spokesperson for Breda Pest. "The chemical then sticks to the mosquitoes' body
as they move on to new bodies of water to lay eggs. Each time the mosquito
comes into contact with the water, they add the treatment agent to that water,
helping curb the insect population throughout your neighborhood."
Don't let mosquitoes drive you out of your backyard. While this pest
problem can feel insurmountable, the right mix of
treatment and prevention can quickly help address this problem, allowing you to
enjoy your backyard space without fearing an onslaught of itching bites.
