Mosquitoes Guide

Three Steps to Reduce Mosquito Populations

Managing mosquitoes in your yard during the warm months involves three essential steps: proper sanitation, treating standing water, and applying liquid insecticides every 30-60 days. By following this treatment plan, you can significantly reduce the mosquito population, allowing you to enjoy outdoor spaces with fewer bites. While it is unlikely to achieve 100% eradication of mosquitoes, these steps will help control their numbers to a more manageable level, improving your outdoor experience for you and your family.

During your mosquito inspection, you likely identified several water sources where mosquitoes can lay eggs and develop. To reduce mosquito breeding:

• Regularly empty water from items like flowerpots, pet dishes, rain gutters, and bird baths to prevent standing water from accumulating.
• Prune trees and bushes, and keep grass trimmed short to minimize resting areas for adult mosquitoes.
• Remove any yard debris, especially in shady areas, that can retain moisture and create ideal conditions for mosquitoes to thrive.

Effectively Kill Mosquito Larvae

In areas where standing water cannot be eliminated, larvicides provide an effective solution. These products target aquatic mosquito larvae, preventing them from developing into biting and breeding adults.

• Where to Use Larvicides:
  Treat containerized ponds, animal watering troughs, flowerpots, and other areas where water is stagnant and cannot seep into the ground or connect with other water bodies.
• How Larvicides Work:
• Formulations Available:
  Larvicides come in various forms, including solid dunks or bricks, water-soluble packets, and granules. The best choice depends on the specific area being treated, so it’s important to carefully read the product label before making a selection.
• Application Frequency:
  How often you apply larvicide depends on the product chosen and the rainfall in your area. Follow label instructions for optimal results.

Applying insecticide sprays monthly in your yard can significantly reduce the population of biting adult mosquitoes. To ensure effectiveness, choose a concentrated insecticide product specifically labeled for mosquito control and the areas you plan to treat.

Key Considerations for Effective Treatment:

• When and Where Mosquitoes Hide:
  Adult mosquitoes tend to hide during the hottest parts of the day, seeking shelter on the undersides of leaves, dense brush, tall grasses, under decks, and in other moist, shady areas.
• Application Tips:

Enhanced Effectiveness with Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs):

In areas with high mosquito activity, adding an insect growth regulator (IGR) to your spray solution is highly recommended.

• Benefits of IGRs:

DoMyOwn.com offers various Mosquito Control Kits to simplify product selection for your specific needs.