How To Prevent Mosquitoes

So you live in South Carolina and you’re dealing with mosquitoes. If you’ve lived in our beautiful state for any length of time, you know that being plagued by swarms of mosquitoes just makes it a day that ends in Y.

Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to control the problem until a professional is able to survey your property. Certain elements around your property and yard may invite a swarm of mosquitoes to your land, but knowing what attracts them is the first step towards eliminating them.

Standing Water

Standing water is a big invitation for mosquitoes. Females lay their eggs in bodies of standing water, which is why marshes and similar standing bodies of water buzz with the hum of mosquitoes year round. And they only need a few inches, so don’t overlook ANY source of standing water.

If you have cups, bowls, coolers or other containers around the outside of your home, sitting open, allowing rain to settle in them – dump them out quickly. Birdbath water should be replaced frequently to avoid mosquitoes laying eggs in standing water. Even shallow puddles in your driveway or pools of water after a good rain should be drained to prevent a swarm of mosquitoes.

Clogged Gutters

Clogged gutters are an invitation to a lot of pests, including termites, ants, and mosquitoes. If your gutters are clogged with debris from your roof and the yard, that means all that dirt, leaves, and rainwater are stuck sitting in your gutters. This is another prime example of standing water previously discussed, but we don’t often think about it since we’re rarely up on our roofs looking for standing water.

Clogged gutters are a perfect place for mosquitoes to complete their entire lifecycle, transforming into adult mosquitoes. The first three stages of a mosquito’s life - egg, larvae, and pupa - require standing water. Females lay their eggs in the water in your gutters and the decaying leaves provide nourishment and water for their development into adults. It’s also believed that mosquitoes stay in close proximity to their breeding ground for the entirety of their lives. So if a population establishes itself in your gutters, beware.

Clogged gutters make it easy for several varieties of pests to establish themselves around your home, and worse, provides them with a fast track INTO your home. Be diligent in your efforts to check your gutters regularly and to clean them thoroughly.

Weeds

We all know how ridiculously hot South Carolina can get, especially in places like Charleston and Columbia. What do you do when it gets stupid hot like that? You go in the shade. So do bugs, like mosquitoes.

For pests, the weeds in your garden provide the perfect overhead cover to protect them from the intense Southern heat. Make it a point to clean out any overgrown weeds around your yard and your garden. Not only are they unsightly, but it’ll go a long way towards getting those mosquitoes away from your property.

Mosquitoes affect all of South Carolina, especially the Columbia Midlands and Charleston’s Low Country. If you are in these or surrounding areas, Home Pest Control’s has a mosquito control and treatment strategy that will allow you and your family to enjoy your time outside. We will ensure that mosquitoes are kept from ruining your parties, events, or just a relaxing day by the pool.