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Nothing ruins a backyard barbeque like a swarm of pesky mosquitoes. There’s nothing more annoying than constantly having to swat mosquitoes away while you’re trying to enjoy time with friends and family. That’s why we’ve put together this article with information about what you can do to help eliminate mosquitoes on your property and the services that Spence’s Pest Control offers to ensure that they never return again.

Swarm Of Mosquito Insects FlyiThe biggest reason to do all that you can to get rid of these pests is that they can be incredibly dangerous to the health of you and your family. Beyond being a nuisance, mosquitoes can transmit a wide array of vector-borne illnesses. A vector-borne illness is one that is transmitted by a vector, a pathogen-carrying mosquito, tick or flea. These illnesses can include Lyme disease, West Nile Virus, typhus fever, Zika virus and many more. While it may seem unlikely that you’ll catch a vector-borne illness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that between 2004 and 2016, some 640,000 individuals were infected by such illnesses in the United States and that in 2016 alone there were over 96,000 cases. They also found that while tick-borne illnesses are on the rise, mosquito-borne epidemics happen much more frequently.

Because of the dangers that mosquitoes and other vector-carrying insects can have to you and your family, it’s important to take action against these harmful pests immediately. Every homeowner should do all that they can to keep mosquitoes at bay.

What You Can Do

One of the best things you can do in order to help rid your yard of these flying pests is to learn as much as you can about them. The first thing you should know is that a good portion of a mosquito’s life occurs under water. In fact, the first three stages of a mosquito's life happen under water. A female mosquito lays her eggs in or near standing water. These eggs hatch into larvae and then grow into pupa before finally emerging from the water and transforming into the mosquito we know and love to hate.

With this knowledge in mind, one of the most effective ways that you can control mosquitoes on your property is to eliminate any and all instances of standing water. After each rainstorm, patrol your property for standing water. Water can collect almost anywhere. Many people find standing water in buckets, pool covers, old tires, playground equipment, children’s pools, tarps, grill covers and roof gutters. Be mindful that a female mosquito can lay her eggs in the smallest amount of standing water. For instance, mosquito eggs have been found in pools of condensation left by a morning dew on a fallen leaf. This method for prevention can be useful but can certainly fall short of you have a built-in pond in your yard or multiple bird baths that are filled on a regular basis. You’ll also be very limited if this is your only method of eliminating mosquitoes as their eggs are most often found in tiny pools of water buried in dense shrubs and grasses.

Another way you can combat mosquitos in your yard is to cultivate a mosquito-repelling garden. Mosquitoes find their next blood meal using scent. Once they get hold of the scent of their next meal, they flock toward it. The idea behind planting a mosquito-repelling garden is to fill your garden with scents that will “block” your own from being detected. Citronella, catnip, rosemary, marigolds and scented geraniums have all been known to “repel” mosquitoes by creating a barrier, blocking the scent of warm-blooded mammals like humans. You may want to also invest in citronella candles for your next outdoor event.

While these methods are certainly helpful, it’s important to be mindful that the effects of these DIY methods can be limited and often depend on climate and wind conditions in your area. For that reason, it’s usually best to consider professional treatment if you’re truly concerned about mosquitoes on your property.

What We Can Do for You

If the above methods aren’t doing the trick, it’s time to call in the professionals. Treating your property for mosquitoes is easier than you may think and is by far the most effective way to control these pests. We offer two different types of residential property treatment outlined below.

  • Barrier treatment: With barrier treatment, our team creates a barrier around your yard that will not only kill existing mosquitos but also repel new ones from entering the property. We only use insecticides that are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency such as pyrethrins, which are derived from the chrysanthemum flower, or pyrethroids, synthetic chemicals that mimic pyrethrins. Pyrethrins and pyrethroids not only kill existing mosquitoes but also leave a coating on the leaves of plants that will keep them from returning to your yard.
  • Water treatment: Some people think that they have to live with mosquitoes if they have a custom pond, water feature or bird bath in their backyard. Our highly trained team uses insect growth regulators to kill any eggs, larvae or pupa that may be in the standing water on your property so you can rest assured that they will never reach biting age.

The entire Spence’s Pest Control team is always ready to answer any questions or concerns you may have about mosquitoes on your property. Contact us at (804) 794-7738 or schedule an inspection to receive an estimate based on the size and landscaping of your property. Our efficient and effective services will get you back to your backyard barbeques in no time!

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