As we are full swing into April you may have noticed an increase of Mosquito’s in your Gilbert neighborhood. Welcome to Mosquito season! It generally peaks between April and October. Our rainy season has been wonderful, however the outcome of this has been an increase in Mosquito complaints. Did you know that standing and stagnant water can produce hundreds of thousands of mosquitoes if larvas are allowed to stand as little as three days?
The mosquito issue is a serious one. In 2016 according to the East Valley Tribune, Yuma County reported its first travel-related case of Zika, the 18th documented case in Arizona. Zika is spread through Aedes aegypi mosquitoes, aggressive daytime biters that are abundant in Maricopa County. They’re especially bothersome in Gilbert and Chandler, which have become breeding “hot spots” according to the article. Maricopa County is also home to an abundance of Culex mosquitoes, night biters that carry the West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis viruses.
How to Control Mosquito’s
Here are a few tips on how to control mosquito’s breeding around your home:
- Drain animal watering troughs, birdbaths, pet watering dishes, etc. weekly.
- Repair water leaks, sprinkler systems or coolers
- Fill in low spots; control the irrigation in your yards, and drain standing water from buckets and other containers that can collect water on your property. Mosquito’s can breed in even a small cap-full of standing water!
- Replace outdoor light bulbs with yellow bulbs that are less attractive to mosquitoes.
- Keep swimming pools treated and circulating
- Adjust your sprinkler timers to allow enough time for grass to dry out before watering again
For more info, the town of Gilbert has put together a mosquito control information page here.
How to Avoid Mosquito Bites
When used as directed, insect repellents are a good way to protect yourself and family members from getting sick from mosquito bites. Look for an EPA-registered insect repellent with one of the following ingredients:
- DEET
- Picaridin, also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
- IR3535
- 2-undecanone
Also avoid mosquito’s by keeping covered. However, not exactly practical when it’s over 100 degrees out!
Pest’R Us Before They Pester You!
Need help with a treatment program for mosquito’s? Please can call Pest’R Us at 480-598-9898 for a thorough mosquito inspection of your home and yard and we can put together a treatment program.
Don’t let the bugs ruin your spring!