What Does Arizona Mosquito Control Look Like?

Mosquitoes are considered to be the deadliest animal on the planet, claiming more than a million lives every year. Fortunately, the United States is somewhat shielded from this statistic due to a robust health infrastructure and the wide use of pest control services. But we are not immune to the harmful impact of mosquitoes. Dozens die from West Nile virus annually, several viruses cause flu-like illnesses across a large demographic, and new threats like Zika virus present a serious and unique danger. The frontline defense against these mosquito-related illnesses is mosquito reduction.

In a dry state like Arizona, mosquitoes live very close to humans. This is because mosquitoes are moisture pests and there are more sources of moisture near human dwellings than untamed areas. On our properties, we have sprinklers, ponds, pools, spigots, and other water sources. We also have objects in our yards that capture rainwater and give those mosquitoes a place to breed. It only takes 1 inch of still water for mosquitoes to breed. So, the first step towards controlling mosquitoes is the management of still water resources.

There are many ways to alter conditions that promote the capture of rainwater. Items can be covered with a tarp to allow rainwater to run to the ground and soak in. Items can be turned over to prevent collection. A hole can be drilled in some items so rainwater can drain out. Some objects are small enough to pick up and store. The more that is done to reduce stillwater, the fewer mosquitoes you’ll have on your property.

When stillwater breeding sites cannot be removed or altered, a larvicide can be introduced to make them unusable to mosquitoes. A larvicide is an insecticide used to target the larvae of mosquitoes and prevent them from developing into pupa which, in turn, develop into adult mosquitoes.

Once breeding sites are addressed, the job isn’t complete. There are still adult mosquitoes that can come onto your property from neighboring properties. Fortunately, there is a simple solution.

Mosquitoes don’t like the sun because it dries them out. As the sun rises higher into the Arizona sky, mosquitoes run for cover. They hide in tree canopies, ornamental plants, bushes, shrubs, and underneath structures that provide shade. Pest management professionals use this against those mosquitoes.

When you have ongoing mosquitoes service from a professional, you get routine mist treatments applied to mosquito resting sites, which eliminates mosquitoes when they come to hide. And it has been scientifically proven that dead mosquitoes don’t breed. That don’t bite either. That’s good news for anyone living in your home and anyone who comes to visit.

When it comes to mosquito reduction it is important to hire a professional. A pest management professional (PMP) knows what products to use, where to apply them, and how much is necessary to take down mosquitoes without presenting a threat to dogs, cats, children, and adults that come in contact with treated areas.

What You Can Do

Reducing breeding sites goes hand in hand with the services your PMP will provide. Along with the tips above for preventing rainwater capture, try these:

• Inspect gutters to make sure there are no breaks or obstructions that allow water to pool or run over the side.
• Inspect exterior water spigots and hose lines for leaks that can produce a puddle in shaded areas near your foundation wall.
• Loosen any compacted ground that allows vernal pools to form.
• If you have landscaping that requires water, be sure to set your sprinklers so that water has time to soak into the ground rather than sit on top of the ground.
• Consider planting mosquito repellent plants in your landscaping to make mosquitoes less interested in using the hiding places around your home. Just a few of the many plants that repel mosquitoes are catnip, citronella, lavender, basil, scented geraniums, and marigolds.
• If you have a bug zapper, consider storing it away. Bug zappers are great at luring mosquitoes onto your property but only effective at killing male mosquitoes, which aren’t the ones that bite.

Mosquitoes are a health threat in Arizona which should not be taken lightly. It is important to take measures to guard against mosquitoes bites.

For professional assistance with mosquito control in AZ, give us a call today.