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Month: May 2023

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Mosquitoes

Can I Get Rid of a Mosquito Problem on My Own?

Can I Get Rid of a Mosquito Problem on My Own?

Mosquitoes are often referred to as the deadliest animal on earth. Because of their ability to rapidly multiply and resilient survival skills, controlling the mosquito population can be a difficult task. With some effort and preventative measures, you can take some steps to get rid of a mosquito problem on your own.

Understanding the Mosquito Life Cycle

To help understand the best mosquito control measures, it’s good to have some knowledge about the life cycle of mosquitoes. There are four stages to the mosquito life cycle:

Egg Stage- Females can lay up to 200 eggs after each blood meal. These are laid in stagnant water.

Larval Stage- Eggs often hatch into larvae within the first 48 hours. In this stage, they feed on microorganisms from the water while developing.

Pupal Stage- During this stage that lasts a few days, the pupae do not feed, but continue growing and developing.

Adult Stage- At this point, the mosquito comes to the surface of the water to dry their wings and then take off on flight. At this point, they can live up to 56 days.

The first three stages of the life cycle occur in water. The entire life cycle can take just 10-14 days depending on the environmental conditions.

Preventing a Mosquito Infestation

Considering that mosquitoes need a wet environment to breed and grow, reducing standing water around your home is an important step to reduce the opportunity for mosquitoes to make their home on your property.

  • Check containers such as pots, animal bowls, buckets, bird baths and trash containers for standing water each week.
  • Make sure rain barrels, buckets and other water containers are tightly sealed so mosquitoes can’t get inside.
  • Use larvicides for containers that cannot be emptied or covered and will not be used for drinking to kill mosquitoes before they can develop into aduls.
  • Make sure septic tanks are in good working order with no cracks or leaks, and cover open vents or pipes with mesh wire that is smaller than an adult mosquito.

In addition to limiting access to water sources, some other ways you can reduce the number of mosquitoes on your property include:

  • spraying an insecticide around the perimeter of your home and on shrubbery and trees
  • install plants known for repelling mosquitoes such as catnip, citronella, lemongrass, marigolds, mint, lavender and rosemary
  • light citronella candles to repel your immediate area when sitting outside
  • purchase a mosquito trap to place on the outskirts of your property to draw mosquitoes away from the areas where people congregate
  • apply personal mosquito repellent and wear protective clothing to keep mosquitoes from biting

If your efforts to get rid of a mosquito problem on your own have not been successful, however, it may be time to call a mosquito control expert. At Abarb Pest Services, we serve the Northern New Jersey, Rockland County and Manhattan areas with safe and effective treatment options. With a once a month treatment starting in May, your home can remain a mosquito-free zone all throughout the summer season. Contact us today to speak with one of our representatives.

Categories
Mosquitoes

How Do I Eliminate Mosquitoes From My Yard?

How Do I Eliminate Mosquitoes From My Yard?

Mosquitoes have two primary missions in life: find food and reproduce. Unfortunately for us, their food of choice is blood which often results in receiving painful and itchy bites. As summer quickly approaches, take some time to consider how you can eliminate mosquitoes from your yard to keep the outdoors a pleasant an inviting place all summer long so you and your family don’t become food for these pesky creatures.

Mosquitoes Need Water

Mosquitoes can reproduce at a rapid pace. One female can lay up to 200 eggs after each blood meal. They have many blood meals during their lifetime, resulting in a massive amount of offspring if left unchecked. In order to reproduce, however, mosquitoes need water. They lay their eggs in water and develop through their first three life stages before emerging into the air as adults. In order to cut off the life cycle of mosquitoes, you will want to reduce the mosquitoes’ access to standing water on your property:

  • Each week, drain and clean any containers that may accumulate water such as bird baths, flower pots, buckets or bird houses.
  • Keep water storage containers tightly sealed or covered with a mesh wire that is smaller than the size of an adult mosquito.
  • Use mosquito dunks that seep poison into any water that cannot be drained away. Make sure this water is not drinking water for people or animals.
  • Ensure that septic tanks have no leaks and any open vents or pipes are covered with wire mesh smaller than an adult mosquito.

Repelling Mosquitoes

Once you have reduced the amount of access to standing water on your property, you can think about methods to repel mosquitoes from seeking food sources around your home.

  • Some plants have been shown to repel mosquitoes. Consider planting citronella, lemongrass, marigolds, mint or lavender near high traffic areas or places where people often congregate. This can help keep mosquitoes from getting near your loved ones.
  • Consider installing a bug zapper or mosquito trapper on the outskirts of your property. This will draw mosquitoes and other flying bugs away from gathering places near your home.
  • Light citronella candles or other repellent devices when spending time outdoors, especially in the early morning or early evening hours when mosquitoes are most active.
  • Spray an insecticide formulated for mosquitoes around your yard and the foundation of your home. When a mosquito lands on an area that has been sprayed, it will be killed instantly, keeping it from continuing its life cycle.

What if I Still Have a Problem?

If you have been unable to eliminate mosquitoes from your yard on your own, it may be time to call a professional mosquito control company. At Abarb Pest Services, we recommend starting treatment for mosquitoes at the very beginning of the season in May. With one treatment each month through September, our experts keep your home mosquito-free all summer long. Using an organic spray that targets mosquitoes and ticks, our treatments are safe for your family and the environment. Contact us today for a free quote to see if your treatments are right for your family.

Categories
Mosquitoes

How to Prevent a Mosquito Infestation from Developing in Your Yard

How to Prevent a Mosquito Infestation from Developing in Your Yard

Summer is prime time for splashing in the pool, enjoying visits with loved ones and the unfortunate return of summer’s arguably most hated visitor: the mosquito. These creatures reproduce at a rapid rate and can quickly overtake your yard if preventative measures are not taken early in the season. In order to know how to prevent a mosquito infestation from developing in your yard, you need to learn a little about the mosquito life cycle and ways you can create an effective barrier to repel mosquitoes.

Mosquito Life Cycle

Mosquitoes progress through four life stages throughout their lifetime: egg, larval, pupal and adult. During the first three stages, water is needed for development to continue. Once the mosquito reaches adulthood, it stands on the water and lets its wings dry before flying away to carry out the rest of its life. The process from egg to adult generally takes 10-14 days depending on the species and environmental conditions. If a female mosquito can survive the weather and evade being eaten by predators, it can live up to 56 days, giving it lots of opportunities to lay eggs as offspring.

Reduce Standing Water

The number one tip to keep mosquitoes from being able to breed and create an infestation in your yard is to eliminate standing water from all around your property. It’s important to drain and clean any containers that can accumulate water. Bird baths and flower pots are often overlooked items that can provide a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes. Mosquito dunks can be placed in water that is not used for drinking water and cannot be drained. By reducing the availability of standing water on your property, mosquitoes are unlikely to find suitable conditions to lay eggs and develop all the way to adulthood.

Repelling Mosquitoes

Once your home is free of standing water, you can use some other products and methods to reduce the number of mosquitoes in your yard.

  • Use citronella candles or other products that can repel mosquitoes from specific areas when you are enjoying some time outside.
  • Plants such as citronella, lemongrass, lavender, basil and eucalyptus are known to repel mosquitoes by the oils they give off. Plant these around high traffic areas to reduce mosquitoes from popular gathering places.
  • Install a mosquito trapper or bug zapper that kills flying insects on contact. Mosquitoes will be drawn to these on the outskirts of your property instead of areas around people.
  • Keep your yard free of debris and mow often. High grass and piles of items are prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes since they need damp environments to breed.
  • Hire a professional mosquito control company to provide a protective barrier from mosquitoes around your home.

Hiring a Professional

Taking action early in the season is the first step to preventing a mosquito infestation from developing in your yard. Our mosquito control experts at Abarb Pest Services serve the Northern New Jersey, Rockport County and Manhattan areas to provide safe and effective treatment for mosquitoes. To find out how we can protect your home and keep your outdoors happy all season long, contact us today.

Categories
Mosquitoes

Mosquito Control Company in Northern New Jersey

Mosquito Control Company in Northern New Jersey

As summer quickly approaches, you surely have dreams of drinking coffee on brisk mornings  before the warm temperatures set in for the day and spending evenings on your porch sipping lemonade. Your pleasant vibes can quickly melt away, however, if mosquitoes take over and leave you with painful bites all over your body. In addition to some prevention measures you can take to reduce mosquitoes, a mosquito control company in Northern New Jersey can provide a treatment plan for your family to keep those mosquitoes at bay all season long.

Keeping Mosquitoes Away

Mosquitos need water in order to breed and develop into adults. Because of this, you can greatly reduce the amount of mosquitoes on your property by limiting a mosquito’s access to standing water. Each week, you’ll want to drain and clean any containers such as pots, buckets or pet food bowls that can accumulate water. If you have a septic tank, make sure it has no leaks and any exposed pipes or vents have a mesh wire that is smaller than an adult mosquito. If you have any water storage containers, make sure they are tightly sealed or have a good mesh covering. In cases where an area cannot be drained, use a mosquito dunk in the water to keep mosquitoes from developing into adulthood. These measures will help reduce the likelihood that mosquitoes will be able to breed close to your home.

In addition to reducing potential water sources for mosquitoes, you can take a few other measures to repel mosquitoes from your property.

  • Choose plants for landscaping that naturally repel mosquitoes such as citronella, catnip, lavender, mint and marigolds
  • Spray around your home and landscaping with insecticide for mosquitoes
  • Light citronella candles when sitting outside, especially during dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are most active
  • Install a mosquito trap on the outskirts of your property to draw mosquitoes away from areas where people congregate
  • Call a professional mosquito control company to create a barrier of protection around your home

Why Call an Expert

You could have a few reasons for calling a mosquito control expert. You may not want to deal with the hassle of applying personal repellent, lighting candles and installing special traps around your home. Maybe you have tried all the tricks and still find yourself with a mosquito problem. This is when it’s time to call an expert. A professional mosquito control company can provide you with a safe and effective treatment option. By spraying once a month around the foundation of your home and on trees and bushes in your yard, pest control companies can provide you with a barrier of protection throughout the summer season.

Serving Northern New Jersey, Abarb Pest Services is a quality mosquito control company that uses an organic spray to kill mosquitoes and ticks while keeping your family and the environment healthy and happy. We recommend beginning treatments in May at the very beginning of mosquito season, and continuing once a month through September. To get a free quote, contact us today and one of our representatives will be in touch.

Categories
Mosquitoes

Mosquito Control Experts in Passaic County

Mosquito Control Experts in Passaic County

Nothing ruins a nice summer day more than the bite of pesky mosquitoes on your skin. With their small size, they are difficult to spot and you can go to great lengths using insect repellents, candles and mosquito traps to repel them from your property. But if all your efforts are still not enough, you may want to call in mosquito control experts to make your home into a mosquito-free zone. In Passaic County, the experts at Abarb Pest Services can provide you with a treatment plan to last all season long.

Mosquitoes are Problematic

The bites from mosquitoes are red, itchy and painful and can become swollen. They often resolve on their own within a few days, but can become infected at times. Typically the bites are a nuisance and don’t cause serious illness, but this is not always the case.

In addition to causing painful, itchy bites, mosquitoes are widely known to carry diseases. The CDC has referred to mosquitoes as the deadliest animals on the planet. It’s estimated that mosquitoes kill a minimum of a million people a year around the globe, and infect countless others with serious illnesses. Some diseases carried by mosquitoes include:

  • West Nile Virus
  • Malaria
  • Dengue
  • Zika
  • Yellow Fever
  • Lymphatic Filariasis
  • Chikungunya
  • Encephalitis

Spread by the bite from an infected mosquito, these diseases can lead to serious illnesses or even death. By taking action to limit the mosquito population around your property, you can lessen the chances your family will be infected by these kinds of dangerous mosquito-borne illnesses.

Why Hire an Expert?

By starting mosquito prevention services early in the season, you can prevent an infestation from becoming a problem as the temperatures warm up. Early prevention can attack the eggs and keep mosquitoes from growing into adults. Once they are adults, mosquitoes can multiply rapidly. A mosquito control expert can provide a safe and effective treatment option to cover your yard, landscaping and perimeter of your foundation at the outset of the season. By targeting these areas, your home will have a barrier of protection to repel mosquitoes. An expert can also advise you on problem areas on your property that can breed mosquitoes. Hiring a mosquito control expert can provide you with the peace of mind that you are taking important measures to protect the safety of your family.

Our Mosquito Control Services

At Abarb Pest Services, we recommend servicing your home once a month during the peak mosquito months in Passaic County of May through September. Regular spraying around your property will create a barrier to keep mosquitos at bay. Our mosquito control experts spray around the perimeter of the home and on bushes and plants that may attract mosquitoes. Using an organic product that targets mosquitoes and ticks, our team is concerned about the safety of your family and the environment. To get a free quote for your home, give us a call today and one of our agents will provide you with all the information you need to keep your Passaic County home inviting and pleasant throughout all the summer months.