Summer is quickly approaching, which means people will be spending a lot more time outdoors whether it be for a barbeque, pool party, or backyard volleyball game. Unfortunately, with the warmer weather comes a plethora of bugs and pests. Many people are afraid to venture outdoors during the summer due to mosquitoes and other bugs that bite. Don’t hide inside this summer; take action to keep your backyard mosquito-free by using preventative measures.

Everyone knows how annoying and itchy mosquito bites can be and how this can be especially hard on your kids. However, it is not just the itch you need to worry about; mosquito-derived diseases can make you, your family, and even your pets extremely sick. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, diseases including West Nile, Eastern Equine encephalitis, and LaCrosse viruses are circulated each year around the state through contact with infected mosquitoes. To prevent mosquitoes this summer check out the following tips:

The best thing that you can do to diminish the number of mosquitoes in your yard is to eliminate standing water. Mosquitoes go through four stages in their life cycle: egg, larvae, pupa and adult. The first three stages of a mosquito’s life occur in water. Without water, mosquitoes are unable to reproduce. After a mosquito bites a human, it searches for water to lay eggs. The EPA estimated that it takes about two weeks for an adult mosquito to emerge. To prevent mosquitoes you can remove the following sources of standing water:

Mosquitoes like to hang out in cooler, damp places during the heat of the day, which is why they tend to be hanging out near the bottom of tall shrubs, grass, and vegetation. Mosquitoes feast on plant nectar when they aren’t pillaging for blood, so they are often found in the heavy vegetation near your home. Be sure to trim back your shrubs, and keep your lawn regularly mowed to prevent these pests from having a place to hang out around your home.

Get rid of any areas where debris collects in the yard, such as grass clippings and piles of leaves. Remove twigs, leaves, and branches that have piled up in the corner of your yard or against the fence. Debris needs to be removed so that it does not become a point source for mosquito breeding.

These tips should help keep the mosquitoes out of your yard this summer, but if you do have a mosquito problem be sure to contact Local Exterminator to perform a mosquito treatment on your home. Local Exterminator, Inc. can inspect, identify, and treat the problem. Contact Local Exterminator, Inc. today for a FREE thorough inspection and estimate! We can help with professional mosquito treatments for your home allowing you to enjoy all of the outdoor activities that you love.