Mosquitoes are more than just nuisance insects that you swat off during your summer outdoors. The tiny biters can be carriers of various serious diseases, including Zika Virus, West Nile Virus, Malaria, and Dengue fever. As such, mosquitoes remain a regular target for Los Angeles pest control efforts.
What Is A Normal Amount Of Mosquitoes To Have In Your Yard
Mosquitoes are excellent breeders, laying 100 eggs at a time on a water surface. Over her lifetime, a female can lay over 1000 eggs. The population of these biting bugs in your yard can quickly get out of control. And contrary to popular belief, females don’t require a large water body such as a lake or pond to breed. A cup of water is sufficient for laying over 1,000 eggs.
Factoring the rapid reproduction cycle and the deadly infections these persistent biters spread, homeowners should aim to have zero mosquitoes flying over their yard. Los Angeles pest control companies can assist in establishing a year-round eradication plan that keeps the mosquitoes from your home and yard.
The Places Mosquitoes Can Reproduce
To keep mosquitoes away, you need first to identify the hiding spots they use for breeding. Common breeding grounds for the pesky bugs include:
- Stagnant water
- Clogged Gutters
- Blocked drains
- Untrimmed hedges and un-mowed yards
- Outdoor flower and plant pots
- Trash cans
- Tree holes
- Old tires
- Birdbaths
- Abandoned pools
The items and sections of your home mentioned can hold puddles of water that provide a still surface for females to lay their eggs. Mosquitoes live 75% of their lifespan in water as eggs, larvae, and pupae. Eliminating the standing water sources is an excellent way to rid your yard of mosquitoes.
Reducing A Mosquito Population On Your Property
Controlling mosquitoes in LA involves targeting all four stages of reproduction. Here are some practical ways to keep mosquitoes away from your home and yard.
- Clear Your Yard Waste
An essential part of mosquito control protocols is ensuring the nasty blood-suckers don’t have a place to breed. Tending to your lawn, removing tree stumps, and disposing of discarded cans and old tires can eliminate breeding sites.
- Target Mosquito Larvae
Spraying to kill adult mosquitoes is tricky due to the insect’s erratic flying patterns. Additionally, the timing needs to be perfect. The most significant impact in mosquito control is targeting the larvae in stagnant waters before they mature and fly away. Treat standing water for mosquitoes with larvicides.
- Create Structural Barriers In Your Home
Install window and door screens to exclude mosquitoes from your home. Repair or replace any torn bug screens. Additionally, you can plant herbs that keep mosquitoes away from your yard. Herbs such as lavender, basil, lemongrass, catnip, and geraniums release strong smells that repel mosquitoes from your property.
The Most Effective Residential Outdoor Mosquito Control
The best way to control mosquitoes at home is to use IPM strategies by pest control companies. Integrated Pest Management plans use a combination of mosquito elimination techniques to target all lifecycle stages. At A Step Above Pest Control & Termite, we can develop a tailored IPM plan to get rid of mosquitoes from your home.
Our trained pest exterminators can carry out a detailed surveillance program to determine the extent of the mosquito infestation. The technicians will develop an appropriate response to kill the invasive bugs from your property based on the results.
Additionally, we offer year-round mosquito treatment options to reduce the mosquito population. Call our mosquito extermination experts to learn more about our IPM strategies and protect your family and friends from itchy bites.