Not only do mosquitoes attack with itchy and annoying bites, but these tiny, flying pests also carry a wide variety of exotic diseases; these include malaria, Dengue Fever, Zika virus, West Nile virus, encephalitis, Yellow Fever, and more. These dangerous diseases can be transmitted to both people and animals through mosquito bites.

You must keep your home and yard mosquito-free, to protect yourself, your family, and even your pets from mosquito-borne diseases.

There are five important things you can do to keep mosquitoes away from your property. However, if mosquitoes are already terrorizing you and your family, contact a pest control professional to get the situation under control right now.

Ways to prevent mosquitoes around your home

Get Rid of Standing Water

The first thing you must do to stop mosquitoes from breeding is to drain away any standing water. Mosquitoes need standing water to lay their eggs. Standing water can collect in a clogged rain gutter, a birdbath, or an empty flower pot. Also, low spots in your yard can collect standing water. However, moving water flowing through a filter, such as a fish pond or a natural stream, should be OK.

If You Can’t Get Rid of Standing Water...

A pest control technician can use certain non-toxic treatments that will stop mosquito eggs from hatching. Mosquitoes can’t fly very far, so getting rid of their breeding places close to your home will go a long way to solving the problem.

Call Vector Control

If you live near a natural pond that is breeding mosquitoes, contact your local vector control to tackle the problem. Most large cities and counties have a vector control department to address mosquito breeding ponds that are not on private property.

Professional Mosquito Control

A pest control professional will address both adult mosquitoes, as well as mosquito larvae and eggs.

Controlling mosquito larvae can be accomplished with the use of insecticide, growth regulators, biological agents, and surface films; surface films coat the surface of the standing water, suffocating the larvae. A variety of bacterial agents, such as fungi, nematodes, and copepods, can also be used.

Methoprene is commonly used on mosquito larvae, which mimics and interferes with the larvae’s natural growth hormones. Methoprene is often deployed as a time-release briquette.

Controlling adult mosquitoes involves spraying insecticides on the surfaces where mosquitoes may land. the mosquitoes will die when they land on insecticide covered surfaces. Be sure to discuss any concerns you have about using insecticides with your pest control technician.

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Do-It-Yourself Mosquito Control

Once your property has been treated by a pest control professional, there are things you can do to help keep these biting pests away.

Citronella candles are commonly available in the garden section of most big box stores. While the citronella fragrance is pleasing to humans, mosquitoes hate it. However, if using these candles indoors, be sure to only use them in a well-ventilated place.

You can also use landscaping to repel mosquitoes. By planting mosquito-repelling plants in your yard, you’ll add a colorful and fragrant line of defense around your property.

First, place red cedar mulch around your trees and shrubs to repel mosquitoes. Many plants repel mosquitoes, as well as other insect pests. Plant these mosquito-repelling plants around your house, patio, or deck.

One very popular and attractive plant that repels mosquitoes are lemon-scented geraniums. Other fragrant plants that repel mosquitoes are marigolds, lavender, mint, rosemary, sage, basil, catnip, and allium. Coincidentally, many of these mosquito-repelling plants can also be used as cooking herbs.

Keeping your home and garden mosquito-free is easy, and there’s no reason not to. Do not tolerate mosquito bites and the risk of serious disease. Keep your family safe, and stop mosquitoes before they can attack this summer.