How To Fend Off Mosquitoes In Southeast Florida

It's virtually impossible to talk about Southeast Florida pest control without mentioning mosquitoes. Florida is infamous for its mosquito problems, and Southeast Florida might just be the mosquito capital of the nation. It can sometimes seem like you can't even enjoy your own backyard because of all the mosquitoes that have taken over it. The good news is you don't have to be held hostage by mosquitoes all summer. There's plenty you can do about them. 

Common Problems Mosquitoes Cause

When you get an infestation, most of the problems it causes have to do with the viruses carried by mosquitoes. These parasitic insects are some of the worst vectors for disease on the planet. In fact, their propensity to spread disease makes them the world's deadliest animal by a landslide. That means the biggest threat they pose is to your health. 

The deadliest disease carried by mosquitoes is malaria, but thankfully we don't have that here in Florida. However, we are still not out of the woods. We still have to deal with mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus, zika virus, and several different forms of viral encephalitis, among other diseases. Though it's rare, some of these diseases have the capacity to permanently disable and even kill the people who contract them. 

When Are Mosquitoes Most Active?

The answer to this question is really twofold. Mosquitoes have a season where they're most active, and they also have times of day where they're most active. Mosquito season typically begins and ends with the warm season. Mosquitoes generally cannot handle temperatures below 50 degrees. And they function best at temperatures above 80 degrees. This means that mosquitoes don't really start coming out in spring until after nighttime temperatures no longer dip below the 50s. Of course, in Florida, this is much of the year. 

Mosquitoes also cannot handle direct sunlight. That means you are generally not going to see them out in the day unless there is deep shade that shelters them. Mosquitoes are most active in the early morning and especially early evening hours when the sun is just coming up or just going down. 

Four Things You Can Do To Avoid Mosquitoes

There are plenty of ways to repel mosquitoes from your property. The most effective ones include: 

1. Plant herbs and flowers that keep mosquitoes away, such as lavender, citronella, and mint. 
2. Get rid of all standing water on your property so that mosquitoes cannot lay their eggs in it.
3. When you go outside, wear bug spray containing DEET or a natural alternative, such as lemon or citronella. 
4. Trim back shade trees and brush to encourage evaporation and reduce mosquito hiding spots.

Following these steps can help make your property less attractive to these blood-sucking property invaders.

Do I Need Professional Mosquito Control?

Though there are things you can do on your property to keep mosquitoes away, the issue is you can't control everything around your property that could be attracting mosquitoes or facilitating their breeding. For instance, you could get rid of all of the standing water on your own land, but you might live within a couple blocks of a stagnant pond. You might also live near high-nectar flowers that can attract mosquitoes. If these attractants are near, but not on, your property, there's little you can do. 

This is where professional mosquito control services come in. Here at Mrs. Mosquito, we can help you get rid of the mosquitoes that are coming onto your property from elsewhere. Though you can't control all of the mosquito attractants in the immediate area, our mosquito control products can help you keep the mosquito population on your property close to zero. So give us a call or visit our contact page to schedule your appointment.