Mosquitoes are everywhere. When you go for a hike, spend the day at the lake, or go kayaking, you have to douse yourself in bug spray and put on long sleeves to avoid being eaten by mosquitoes. You expect the buzzing pests to fly around you when you are out and about, but why do you have so many in your backyard? There are a few steps you can take to avoid mosquito breeding areas around your property.

What Attracts Mosquitoes?

There are a few things that attract mosquitoes to humans, most of which you cannot control on your own. Your blood is what mosquitoes are after. When a female mosquito identifies you as her host, she will latch onto your skin to get essential nutrients for her eggs. The female mosquito will find you by the CO2 you emit when you breathe and by the smell of your skin when you perspire. In the summer and spring, that means you have a huge target on your back.

Where do the Mosquitoes Come From?

You are surrounded by mosquitoes, but where are they coming from? The answer – your yard. Mosquito breeding grounds in and around your property are hotbeds for new life. A female will lay more than 100 eggs at a time, and the eggs turn into larvae in as little as 48 hours. When the larvae transform into the pupal stage, they stay on the top of the water until they become adults. Mosquitoes need standing water. To prevent mosquitoes, get rid of standing water around your property.

Get Rid of Breeding Areas

To avoid mosquitoes, get rid of the water. If a water source dries up before the babies mature into adults, they will die. No water, no mosquitoes. It really is that simple! There are several sources of standing water around your home that you may be overlooking. Most people think of the kiddie pool out back and the dog water bowl outside, but there are other sources that are used as mosquito breeding grounds. Other sources of stagnant water around your property include puddles, bird baths, rain barrels, clogged gutters, divots in your lawn, and standing water in the garden or flowerbeds. Your neighbor may even have an old pool with murky water in it. Remember, mosquitoes only need a cup full of water to support their eggs.

Once you get rid of as many sources of standing water around your home that you can, make the call to Schendel Pest Services to set up your appointment for mosquito services. Preventing and controlling mosquitoes are the best protection, and you don’t have to do it alone. Get rid of mosquitoes so you can enjoy spending time in your backyard again with help from the mosquito control experts here at Schendel Pest Services.