How to Keep Mosquitoes Out of My Tallahassee, FL Yard

If you’ve ever spent a decent amount of time outdoors, chances are you’ve come in contact with a mosquito. They are common during the warm summer months and they’ve been feeding on people for many years. While mosquito populations increase during the peak of summer heat, temperatures don’t get quite cold enough during the year to eliminate all mosquitoes. Hurricane season also brings more mosquito breeding due to their attraction to standing water left in the aftermath of inevitably frequent downpours. Mosquitoes are attracted to body heat and can detect the carbon dioxide humans release when they exhale. Plumes of CO2 in the air act as trails that mosquitoes can follow to find the source.

While male adult mosquitoes mostly feed on flower nectar and don’t bite humans, female mosquitoes need high-protein blood meals to produce eggs. A part of the same family as the fly, mosquitoes are flying insects with two scaled wings, slender bodies and distinctive long legs. They also have a long proboscis (nose) that females use to draw blood out of people and pets. The color of mosquitoes varies by species. For example, some species have bright whitish markings down their legs, while others may be black with white stripes across their bodies and legs.

Are mosquitoes dangerous?

Many people think that mosquitoes are harmful because they believe the pests take massive amounts of blood from those they bite. However, this is far from the truth. A female mosquito typically draws only a few milliliters of blood, but this is nothing compared to the 5 million milliliters of blood the average adult human has. The real danger of mosquitoes lies in potential disease transmission. Mosquitoes are often disease-carrying insects and can transmit severe illnesses to humans with their bites.

Mosquito-borne illnesses include malaria, yellow fever, and West Nile virus, which can cause severe damage to the nervous system and even death if left untreated. Mosquitoes can also pass diseases on to dogs and horses, including heartworms and eastern equine encephalitis, a virus that can cause brain infections. Mosquitoes have affected the health of Florida and Tallahassee, FL area residents with several diseases such as those listed below.

St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE)– First identified in St. Louis in 1933. Only a small portion of those infected by SLE exhibit symptoms and become ill. Severe cases progress from meningitis and encephalitis to coma and possible death.

West Nile Virus– First identified in Florida and Leon County in July 2001. Most people do not feel and symptoms. Severe and rare cases cause brain inflammation or meningitis, and sometimes death.

Zika Virus– First identified in Florida in 1959. Common symptoms last several days to a week, including fever, rash, headache, conjunctivitis, muscle pain, and joint pain.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)– First identified in the 1930’s. Severe cases can result in seizures, coma, permanent brain damage, or even death.

How can I keep mosquitoes out of my backyard?

As a homeowner, it’s essential to prevent or at least limit as many encounters with mosquitoes as possible. The main thing that is drawing mosquitoes to your yard is standing water. They’re drawn to this habitat because that’s where they lay their eggs. Even water collected in as small as a bottle cap can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

The number one thing you can do to keep mosquitoes away is to empty the standing water around your property. This includes filling in low-lying areas, cleaning your gutters and flipping over wheelbarrows and kiddie pools when not in use. Water can also collect in places such as bird baths, open buckets or bins, kids’ toys, or empty flower pots. Sometimes eliminating standing water is not possible. If you live near a body of water such as a lake, stream, or pond, mosquito activity is nearly guaranteed. Without professional pest control, breeding will continue year-round.

To keep mosquitoes at bay, you can also repair broken screens in windows and doors. This will help keep the pests from getting inside. Mosquitoes don’t breed indoors, but it’s easy for them to accidentally fly in and bite you if given a chance. Another way to protect against mosquitoes is to wear mosquito repellent when outside. Store bought products that contain DEET work well to repel both mosquitoes and ticks. Always make sure you follow the instructions provided on the product for maximum effectiveness.

The best way to avoid mosquitoes is to contact Capelouto Termite & Pest Control. DIY remedies might alleviate the problem temporarily, but they won’t have a lasting effect on a mosquito infestation. Our pest control experts can identify areas where mosquitoes like to breed and collect on your property. Then, we can put together a plan to stop breeding sites around your property.

Why does mosquito control pricing vary between companies?

You might notice different pricing across pest control companies because of these factors:

• • Quality: A pest control company that uses the most effective products to control mosquito infestations will typically charge clients more for their services.
  • Guarantee: Some pest control companies will offer seasonal services to reduce the number of mosquitoes in your yard, while other companies only provide one-time services, which may only prevent mosquitoes for a few weeks.
  • Expertise: If you want only the best technicians with extensive, up-to-date training, prepare to pay more money for mosquito control services.

How does Capelouto treat your lawn mosquitoes?

Let the experts at Capelouto Termite & Pest Control give you peace of mind while we help you deal with mosquitoes and keep them away from your yard. Give us a call or fill out the contact form on this page to schedule a free mosquito inspection!