Now that the weather is warm, summer insects are showing up. Among these are biting insects like mosquitoes. These pests may carry harmful diseases and transmit them to humans through their bites. Mosquitoes are also carriers of heartworm larvae.
Arial spraying does not control mosquitoes, but it does kill other beneficial insects. A better approach to reducing mosquito populations is removing their breeding sites.
After taking a blood meal, a female mosquito seeks out standing or stagnant water to lay her eggs in. She may find it in a birdbath or in unexpected places, like tiny rainwater puddles in planter bases, children’s toys, or even a bottle cap.
To eliminate these breeding places, tip water out of collection places after every rain, empty and refill birdbaths on a daily basis, remove litter and debris, and clean out gutters. For landscape water features or ponds, consider adding fish that eat mosquito larvae, or use Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis) pond dunks or granules. This natural pest control kills mosquito larvae without harming other species.
To eliminate these breeding places, tip water out of collection places after every rain, empty and refill birdbaths on a daily basis, remove litter and debris, and clean out gutters. For landscape water features or ponds, consider adding fish that eat mosquito larvae, or use Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis) pond dunks or granules. This natural pest control kills mosquito larvae without harming other species.
To eliminate these breeding places, tip water out of collection places after every rain, empty and refill birdbaths on a daily basis, remove litter and debris, and clean out gutters. For landscape water features or ponds, consider adding fish that eat mosquito larvae, or use Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis) pond dunks or granules. This natural pest control kills mosquito larvae without harming other species.