An effective mosquito control strategy starts with a great cooperation between the resident and the pest management professionals. Mosquito treatments will not be effective if, for example, the resident does not remove water-filled items, because mosquitoes will continue to breed. Let’s explore the steps to better control the mosquito population.
Inspection
The property should be inspected for any potential breeding sites for mosquitoes. Inspect for natural and man-made conditions that allow water to collect and lay stagnant on a property.
Artificial Breeding Sites for Mosquitoes
- Pet water bowls
- Blocked gutters, tarps, vehicle covers
- Flowerpots and planters
- Discarded beverage cans and bottles
- Birdbaths or fountains
- Toys (riding toys, sandboxes, pails)
- Vehicle Tyres
- Neglected swimming pools (including covers and child wading pool)
Natural Breeding Sites for Mosquitoes
- Leaf, their axils
- Fallen leaves
- Ground depression
- Tree holes
- Bamboo stumps
Other Breeding Sites You Should Inspect – Remember also that not all breeding sources are on the ground.
Vegetation
- Dense vegetation provides:
- Resting / harbourage for adult mosquitoes
- Favourable environments for water collection and well-hidden mosquito breeding sites
Expert tip: Highly recommended that vegetation is trimmed, and lawns mowed.
Gutters & Roofs
- Gutters that don’t drain properly are another frequently encountered mosquito breeding site. If you notice clogs in these areas, be sure to fix that.
Expert tip: While it is not necessary to climb a ladder or onto the roof to inspect, it is a good idea to bring a pair of binoculars or an inspection drone with you for a quick visual inspection from the ground level.
Containers for collecting rainwater
- Inspect around water pails/buckets for standing water. Recommended to flush all water containers at least twice a week.
Interior Inspections
Screens & Windows
- Check for window and door screens. Be sure to see no screens broken.
Near Beds
- Typically, mosquitoes resting indoors will be found in the bedroom area, and inspections should focus on the walls adjacent to the bed, surfaces of items beneath the bed, and on linens, such as curtains or bath towels hanging on racks.
Shady, Undisturbed Places
- Adult mosquitoes will rest on vertical surfaces – especially on walls in shady, undisturbed places.
Bases of Potted Plants/Flower Vases
- Potential breeding sites, such as the bases of potted plants. Often, there is a dish beneath the pot, that collects water and will support larval development. Additionally, flower vases with water make ideal places for mosquito-egg-laying, especially after a few days when flowers begin to die, leaving the water stagnant and full of organic detritus.
Targeting Adult Mosquitoes
Controlling adult mosquitoes can be done by applying a residual barrier treatment around a home or building, with the use of a mist blower, compressed air sprayer or power sprayer to make a pesticide application to perimeter vegetation, ornamentals and building foundations. Adult mosquitoes will come into contact with these treated areas when they land to rest.
Learn Mosquito Resting Behaviour to Better Control Them
1. Mosquitoes rest on low-lying vegetation to avoid drying out.
During the day, mosquitoes will spend their time resting on low-lying vegetation in order to survive the daytime temperatures without drying out.
Resting behaviour is also an essential part of the adult female mosquito’s feeding process.
2. Mosquitoes rest briefly nearby, prior to landing on host.
The female mosquito will typically “rest” twice during her feeding process. The first rest occurs after a mosquito (in search of a blood meal) has detected and flown the distance (120 feet or further) to reach her host. Instead of landing directly on the host, the mosquito will land nearby for a brief rest. After a brief rest, the mosquito will then fly to and land on the host to feed.
3. Mosquitoes rest after feeding to eliminate water.
Once the female has fed, the second rest occurs. The mosquito will fly a short distance away (usually less than 10 feet) from her host and take her second rest on a vertical surface for more than an hour, while she eliminates about half of the water from her blood meal. Eliminating the water will allow her to fly much more easily (and consumes less of her energy), while she seeks a suitable breeding site to lay her eggs.
It is during these resting periods that the adult mosquitoes will come into contact with your pesticide application.
Where should we target applications for a barrier treatment?
Knowing that mosquitoes prefer to rest in cool, damp and shady areas, you can easily determine where to apply your pesticide material in order make your mosquito barrier treatment. Application sites include ornamentals, shrubs, mulch beds, shady grassy areas, trees, and vegetation up to 3 metres high. Treatment should also include building foundations and shaded areas on buildings such as under eaves and overhangs and beneath decks. Some places to avoid treating include vegetable or herb gardens, as well as near fishponds.
Larvicide Applications
Larvicide will be applied to standing water found to avoid the emergence of adult mosquitoes.
Prohibited Larvicide Treatments
Do NOT treat:
- Maintained swimming pools, fountains, reflecting ponds, fishponds.
- Naturally moving water.
- Water that is connected to a waterway or a larger body of water.
Wear the Right Clothing
Avoid mosquito bites by wearing:
- Long sleeves and trousers
- Light-coloured clothing
Any time you have skin exposed, you are more susceptible to being bitten by mosquitoes. Research has also shown that mosquitoes tend to be more attracted to dark colours so avoid them whenever possible.
Insect Repellent
Use insect repellents that are commercially made, rather than homemade remedies.
The WHO (World Health Organization) recommends repellents that contain some of the following:
- DEET or diethyltoluamide
- IR3535, or 3-[N-Butyl-N- acetyl]
- aminopropionic acid, ethyl ester
- Picaridin (KBR 3023)
Repellents should be applied in accordance with the label instructions, especially regarding:
- Duration of protection
- Timing of re-application
Don’t let mozzies inside
- Install screens on windows and doors
- If you have an air conditioner, use it instead of opening windows and door
Use Fans
Mosquitoes are not strong fliers. Whether you are indoors, or sitting outside, take advantage of the mosquito’s weak flying ability by using fans to keep the air moving.
In2Care Station Improves Conventional Mosquito Control Services
In the past, mosquitoes could only be controlled by a chemical application. Spraying the whole yard was important to address as many mosquito resting and breeding sites as possible. However, it was almost impossible to reach all the breeding sites. Untreated breeding sites allowed for mosquito numbers to rebound faster.
The chemical treatment would start breaking down and gets washed away when it rains. When the chemicals start breaking down, it wouldn’t take long for the mosquito numbers to increase again. To keep mosquitoes away, it was necessary to repeat the chemical application every two weeks.
Fortunately, now there’s a more effective and environmentally-friendly solution – the In2Care Mosquito Station.
Chemical treatment will quickly reduce the number of biting mosquitoes in your yard.
However, even after the treatment, new mosquitoes will continue to emerge from the untreated breeding sites.
In2Care mosquito Stations provide superior, broader, and long-term control of mosquitoes in your yard. The In2Care Mosquito Station uses the adult mosquitoes to effectively spread larvicide to all breeding sites surrounding the house. In this way, the In2Care Station reduces mosquito numbers and keeps them at a constant low level.
It is a greener and more effective solution than conventional mosquito control because it is a family-friendly and pet-friendly solution. And does not harm other beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies.
Each station effectively covers an area of 400 square metres which equals 4300 square feet. The In2Care Station offers effective long-term 24/7 mosquito control with reduced need for additional periodic chemical spraying.