When female mosquitoes come out of their winter dormancy with warm weather, they are looking for a meal. These bloodthirsty insects are driven by their biological need to nourish their developing eggs. While their feeding habits may be a nuisance to humans and other animals, they play a vital role in the ecosystem as pollinators and a source of sustenance for various organisms. Nonetheless, it is advisable to take precautionary measures to protect ourselves from the bites of these summertime pests.
Truly Nolen’s mosquito control services in Burlington are effective at removing these pests from your property. If possible, however, it is preferable to keep them away. Here are some tips to help you protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes.
1. Reduce Stagnant Water Around Your Property
One of the most effective ways to keep mosquitoes off your property is to reduce pools or puddles of water around your house. Mosquitoes need to lay their eggs in water, and they prefer water that has been sitting around for a while without draining away. Stagnant water is more likely to contain nutrients that the larvae feed on once they hatch.
Mosquitoes can’t lay eggs in chlorinated water, so your swimming pool should not be an attractant. However, if you have a kids’ wading pool in your yard, that could become a mosquito nursery. Mosquitoes don’t need deep water in which to lay eggs, so remove any standing water from flower pots, outdoor toys, or any place that it collects. Mosquitoes usually don’t fly far from their hatching site, so getting rid of stagnant water is a huge step toward keeping mosquitoes off your property.
2. Change Your Outdoor Lighting
Like many flying insects, mosquitoes are attracted to light. However, certain colours of light attract them more than others. White lights are particularly attractive, so swap these out of your outdoor fixtures with yellow bulbs, which do little to attract mosquitoes.
You can also avoid attracting mosquitoes by only having your outdoor lights on when necessary and turning them off when you go to bed. If you install motion control sensors on your outdoor lights, they go on automatically when you need them and turn off by themselves when you go back inside for the night.
3. Light Citronella Candles
How does mosquito control work? There are several different approaches. One approach is to use organic materials that are shown to be repellent to mosquitoes. One such substance is citronella oil. There are many anti-mosquito products that contain citronella oil, but one of the most popular is citronella candles, which work to repel mosquitoes while creating a beautiful ambiance of soft lighting around your deck or patio.
Citronella candles are also portable, so you can take them with you when you go on vacation. Just be sure to observe fire safety rules whenever burning candles, and keep children and pets a safe distance away. Also, consider waiting until everyone has finished eating before lighting up your citronella candles.
4. Install Screens or Protective Netting
If your attempts to deter mosquitoes from your property are not 100% effective, you can protect yourself and your family from them by installing a screened-in porch or a gazebo with netted walls. The screens or nets prevent mosquitoes from getting inside your shelter to bite you while allowing you to enjoy the fresh air outside.
Another option is to purchase a portable canopy with netted walls. Even if you have been largely successful at deterring mosquitoes from your property, you can take this with you for protection when you go camping or enjoy a picnic in areas that may not have had effective mosquito prevention, as well as use it at home if needed.
Contact Truly Nolen for Mosquito Control in Burlington
If you have mosquitoes on your property despite prevention efforts, you may ask yourself, “Is mosquito control near me really necessary?” In addition to causing pain and itching, mosquito bites can also transmit potentially dangerous diseases. Professional mosquito control can help keep you and your family safe. Find out more about our mosquito control methods and contact us for an inspection of your property.