Mosquitoes Invade Northern Florida
Erica L Goodrich
July 18, 2011
Mosquito season in Tampa, Ocala and all across Northern Florida is intolerable at best, but this year with a number of strong thunderstorms and heavy downpours occurring across the region, the usual mosquito season is one of the worst in recent years. With no immediate relief in sight from the wet weather, homeowners who manage to squeeze in an outdoor event before the next storm are getting driven indoors by all of the buzzing, biting mosquitoes. Florida homeowners have tried swatting them, zapping them, spraying them, slapping them, repelling them, but the only real way to reduce the number of mosquitoes is to stop them from breeding, but with all the wet weather, it is nearly impossible to do. Eventually the rains will move away and homeowners need to be prepared to go to work at reducing mosquito breeding grounds so that the rest of the summer can be enjoyed relatively free of mosquitoes and their itchy bites.
Female mosquitoes need two things in order to lay eggs; the first, unfortunately we supply, the second the weather does. Female mosquitoes are the only ones with piercing mouthparts, which means they are the ones who administer the itchy bites that welt up on our skin. They are in search of a good blood-meal, which provides her body essential iron and proteins that feeding off nectar and other insects doesn´t. The second thing she needs in order to lay her eggs is a place to lay them and the only place she can lay them is in still, standing and stagnant water. Unfortunately, she doesn´t need much water to lay hundreds of eggs, so when homeowners are trying to eliminate areas in their yard that promote mosquito breeding, they are often disappointed when they forget a small bottle cap and their children´s toys. To reduce mosquito breeding areas, homeowners should remember to:
Outdoor water elimination should be completed regularly and at least one week before special events to keep the number of mosquitoes down, but for added protection from mosquito bites when spending time outdoors, you can protect yourself and your family by:
After the rains have stopped, with a little hard work and a lot of persistence, Northern Florida homeowners can have a backyard that is relatively mosquito free, but if your best attempts to get rid of mosquitoes aren´t enough, professional pest control companies can often provide mosquito remediation services that can be done as a one-time service before a special event or can be done on a monthly basis to keep the number of mosquitoes down all season.
If you live in St. Augustine, Tampa, Ocala or elsewhere throughout Northern Florida and you need help getting rid of mosquitoes or other insects and rodents, please visit http://www.mccallservice.com for more information.
Female mosquitoes need two things in order to lay eggs; the first, unfortunately we supply, the second the weather does. Female mosquitoes are the only ones with piercing mouthparts, which means they are the ones who administer the itchy bites that welt up on our skin. They are in search of a good blood-meal, which provides her body essential iron and proteins that feeding off nectar and other insects doesn´t. The second thing she needs in order to lay her eggs is a place to lay them and the only place she can lay them is in still, standing and stagnant water. Unfortunately, she doesn´t need much water to lay hundreds of eggs, so when homeowners are trying to eliminate areas in their yard that promote mosquito breeding, they are often disappointed when they forget a small bottle cap and their children´s toys. To reduce mosquito breeding areas, homeowners should remember to:
- Get rid of any old tires, bottles, tin cans, sand pails, unused flower pots, buckets and any other item that may be in your yard that can accumulate water
- Turn over wheel barrows, canoes and kayaks when not in use
- If you cover wood or other items in your yard with a tarp, remember to shake the water off after a storm that may have collected in the folds
- Change the water regularly in bird baths and wading pools
- Circulate the water in ornamental ponds
- Clean debris from gutters that may hold water
- Repair outdoor leaks around faucets and air conditioners
- Keep drainage ditches clean and flowing
Outdoor water elimination should be completed regularly and at least one week before special events to keep the number of mosquitoes down, but for added protection from mosquito bites when spending time outdoors, you can protect yourself and your family by:
- Avoiding peak mosquito times; dawn, dusk and early evening
- Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing
- If the weather permits, wear long sleeved shirts and long pants
- Apply an insect repellent before you go out and reapply as directed by the packaging
After the rains have stopped, with a little hard work and a lot of persistence, Northern Florida homeowners can have a backyard that is relatively mosquito free, but if your best attempts to get rid of mosquitoes aren´t enough, professional pest control companies can often provide mosquito remediation services that can be done as a one-time service before a special event or can be done on a monthly basis to keep the number of mosquitoes down all season.
If you live in St. Augustine, Tampa, Ocala or elsewhere throughout Northern Florida and you need help getting rid of mosquitoes or other insects and rodents, please visit http://www.mccallservice.com for more information.
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