Pest Control - Mosquito Control Tips

As everyone knows, mosquitoes are very annoying pests. They attack humans and animals alike, and can spoil an outdoor gathering rather quickly. Fortunately, there are ways to control mosquitoes.

Mosquito Breeding Grounds

The American Mosquito Control Association, www.mosquito.org, reports that there are over 2,500 different species of mosquitoes around the world. Out of all of these species, there is one thing that every mosquito has in common: they breed in wet areas. The best way to control mosquitoes is to eliminate their breeding sites.

Here are some breeding control tips:

• Do not allow water to accumulate anywhere in your yard for more than two days. Cans, buckets, pots, plastic swimming pools and tires are all containers that tend to collect and hold water. Removing these items will help control the number of mosquitoes that hatch in your yard.
• Keep the gutters clean. If leaves or other debris clog your gutters and prevent them from draining, water will accumulate in the gutter system, providing the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.
• Do not over-water your lawn or garden. This may cause water to be left standing for more than one day.
• If your cistern, septic tank or cesspool seeps, fixing the problem will help control the number of mosquitoes that plague your yard.
• Filling swampy areas, ditches and drain puddles will eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. If filling is not possible, these areas may be treated with commercial mosquito control products.
• If you have a backyard pond, stock it with mosquito fish (minnows). These fish eat mosquitoes and their larvae.
• Change the water in your wading pool or birdbaths at least once per week. Stagnant water makes the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Adult Mosquito Control

There are many different types of products on the market that claim to attract, repel and kill adult mosquitoes. In some cases, choosing the type of mosquito control that will work best for the area you live in is a matter of trial and error. Here are some of the most common types of mosquito control:

• Fogging - This is commonly used outdoors and applied directly to the lawn. Fogging is thought to both kill and repel mosquitoes for a short time (anywhere from 3 to 30 days). Indoor foggers are also available and may be set off when no pets or humans are occupying the home.
• Mosquito Traps - This form of mosquito control is an electronic device that is designed to attract and then trap adult mosquitoes. Once the mosquito has been trapped, a vacuum device, an electric grid, or a pesticide is used to kill it.
• Aerosol Sprays - Similar to fogging, most aerosol sprays contain a pesticide that kills mosquitoes on contact. This type of mosquito control is best saved for indoor use.
• Insect Repellant - Applied directly to humans, insect repellant is another popular form of temporary mosquito control.
• Citronella - Citronella oil, candles, and torches are a temporary control method that can be used in backyards and porches. The scent of citronella repels most mosquitoes.