We all know that mosquitoes are irritating insects that plague us with itchy welts. They bug us while we're camping. They bug us while we're hiking. And they bug us while we're trying to enjoy a cookout in the backyard. But mosquitoes aren't just irritating pests; they are dangerous insects to have around. These tiny, blooding-eating pests spread Zika, West Nile, yellow fever chikungunya, dengue, malaria, and other viruses. They are also linked to human diseases such as encephalitis and tularemia. That is why it is so important to proactively address mosquito breeding sites in our yards and actively work to reduce mosquito populations by treating hiding spots mosquitoes use during the day. In this article, we're going to be focusing on the latter.

What Months Are Mosquitoes Most Active? 

Mosquitoes are most active during warmer months, from March through early November. Understanding when mosquitoes are most active can help us protect ourselves from this pest threat. What is most important to understand is when, during the warm days, mosquitoes are most active. This is directly connected to treating mosquito hiding spots.

What Time of the Day Are Mosquitoes Most Active? 

Mosquitoes are most active in the evening. Mosquitoes don't like the sun. Mosquitoes need moisture to survive and the sun caused moisture to dry. For this reason, mosquitoes hide during the day. When they do, it is the perfect time to kill them.

When you have seasonal mosquito control for your yard, your pest control provider will actively address locations where mosquitoes hide in your yard, by applying a targeted treatment. Have you seen this done? Have you seen a pest control technician walking around a structure, spraying a fog of insecticide into bushes, shrubs, ornamentals, and other places? What they're actually doing may elude you if you're not aware of it. While that fog can kill mosquitoes on contact, what is more important is that it coats these areas with a knock-down agent that works to eliminate mosquitoes between visits.

How to Prevent Mosquito Bites in Your Yard

• Reduce mosquito breeding locations in your yard. Look for leaking spigots, obstructed gutters, leaking hoses, objects that hold rainwater, and compacted soil. It only takes a half cup of water to provide mosquitoes a place to lay their eggs. By removing and modifying areas of still water, you can have an impact on how many mosquitoes are in your yard. A typical mosquito only travels 300 yards in its lifetime. That means most of the mosquitoes that will bite you in your backyard this year will likely hatch in your backyard.
• Create conditions that reduce wetness. If you have any locations around your home that are shady, it is a good idea to address them. Consider trimming trees, bushes, and shrubs to allow the sun to dry the soil. And consider modifying structures to prevent excessive shade.
• Invest in mosquito services from a professional pest controller.

The key to creating a yard that is mosquito-free is a combination of breeding site control and routine treatments. The average mosquito travels less than a thousand feet in its entire lifespan. If you have mosquitoes biting you in your yard, there is a good chance they were birthed on or near your property. So, killing mosquitoes in your yard can create a dead zone that mosquitoes have to slowly creep back into. It's all about keeping the pressure up.

If a mosquito comes into your yard and isn't able to lay eggs in a location of still, stagnant water, it is likely to move past your home and lay its eggs somewhere else. But, when it does, its babies can come back into your yard to bite you. If you're actively eliminating mosquitoes in your yard with ongoing mosquito service, you're not only stopping mosquito production in your yard, you're stopping mosquito production in your neighbor's yard. It is a scientific fact that a dead mosquito doesn't lay eggs. Every mosquito you actively eliminate is one less mosquito creating babies in your neighborhood.

As we head into mosquito season, and mosquitoes become active again, consider partnering with a pest control company to have seasonal mosquito abatement service for your yard. You might be startled by just how much of a difference it makes. Our customers who get mosquito service every year don't do it because they love spending money. They do it because they know it works. And they do it because they know how important it is to reduce these dangerous insects.

If you live, or own a business in Missouri, reach out to Rottler Pest Solutions to schedule seasonal mosquito service for your home or have one of our trained technicians install an automatic mosquito misting system for even greater control. We're here to answer any additional questions you may have and assist you in making the right decision for your home or business, and for your specific needs. Rottler has been protecting homes and business since 1956. Let us help protect yours.