Mosquito control doesn’t stop when the leaves fall and it starts again before the last winter snow melts. The best way to ditch the itch for your summer backyard fun is to start natural mosquito control right now.
But won’t the city or the county take care of mosquitoes and other kinds of pest control near me? Cities, counties, states and other government mosquito control programs are great for mosquito surveillance.
They will have entomologists out counting mosquitoes. They will have epidemiologists examining birds for West Nile Virus. They will issue warnings when mosquito problems are particularly bad. City, county, and state programs are also great for issuing warnings about mosquitoes. Governments may even remind you that mosquito bites can infect your pets with potentially deadly heartworms.
What the government won’t do for you is to get rid of the mosquitoes in your own backyard. For complete protection from these annoying pests, you or your pest control company needs to take these five basic steps.
Remove Standing Water Sources
Mosquitoes start their lives in standing water. They fail to thrive in water that gets splashed around a lot, and they can’t survive chlorinated water.
The kind of water where mosquitoes multiply is undisturbed, standing water like the water that accumulates around the base of a flower pot, or rainwater that lands in a bucket or a can, or water in birdbaths, mud puddles, old tires, bottle caps, toys, upside-down garbage cans, open containers, or rubbish.
Once the weather is warm, it only takes two or three days for a mosquito to hatch and mature into a flying, biting adult. A mosquito control specialist can find the year-round mosquito breeding grounds you might miss.
During mosquito season, a pest control expert can locate the soggy places in your yard that can help mosquitoes come back.
Controlling Mosquitoes at the Larva and Pupa Stages
There will be some years that are so wet that you just can’t get rid of all of the standing water around your home. That’s the time to use natural products that are toxic to mosquitoes but harmless for children, pets, birds, and beneficial insects.
- Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (also known as Bti) produces toxins that kill young mosquitoes. You can spray it on water you can’t drain. Bti is deadly for mosquitoes but safe for bees, birds, pets, and people. It is approved for use on organic gardens.
- Spinosad is a toxin derived from fungi that live in the soil. It kills mosquito larvae and fleas, but it is safe for people and other animals. Spinosad breaks down in sunlight, but persists in shady places for up to 16 days.
- Insect growth regulators don’t kill mosquitoes. They just make sure they never mature. However, they can have side effects when they are released into the environment.
- Oils and films trap mosquitoes in the water where they breed. They also make the water where they are applied toxic for visiting backyard birds—including the birds that eat mosquitoes.
When You’re Already Infested With Mosquitoes
There will always be situations when mosquito control in Collegeville will require the use of pesticides. The most commonly used pesticides are pyrethrins, pyrethroids, and organophosphates.
If you sell vegetables or flowers from your backyard garden, the State of Pennsylvania requires that anyone who puts out pesticides must have a Private Pesticide Applicator Certification.
Chances are, you won’t need this state license to put out pesticides in your own backyard. But if you want to keep mosquitoes under control all summer, even when you are on vacation, without danger to children, pets, or desirable wildlife, you should hire a pest control professional.
