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.
