Having mosquitoes in your yard can be a menace that can transmit several fatal diseases to you and your loved ones. Out of about three thousand mosquito species in the world, some hundred of them can transmit diseases. They cause diseases like malaria, dengue fever, filariasis and Japanese encephalitis.
However, mosquito control is easier said than done. First of all, mosquitos are excellent breeders, and they can grow on pretty much anywhere from old tires, ponds, old flower pots, tree holes etc. Secondly, mosquitoes can fly, so the effectiveness of any chemical or repellant that does not persist in the air is limited.
You need an effective treatment strategy if your yard has become a mosquito breeding site. You can contact the experts at theyardgard.com, who have vast experience in giving organic and effective mosquito treatment for yards.
All That You Need To Know About The Source Of Mosquitos In Your Yard
Mosquitos breed under warm and moist conditions. Also, female mosquitoes prefer having dark conditions for laying their eggs. However, if a definite light-dark cycle is absent, the female mosquitoes will lay their eggs regardless of the immediate light conditions.
Most people know that mosquito breeding in the backyard is harmful, yet they do not know the conditions that attract the insects to their yard. After reading this article, you will learn about the scientific reasons why mosquitoes are attracted to your yard and some myths associated with the same.
Why Mosquitoes Are Attracted To Your Yard: The Facts
Standing Water
Adult mosquitoes can live for a few days without water, especially if they have had a blood meal in the intervening period. However, the insect’s larva and pupa cannot survive without water. So if you keep your yard dry and free of any puddles, you can effectively check the breeding of these insects.
Most species lay their eggs in stagnant water. Most people may think a source of still water, like a tank of water or a bucket full of water, may be enough for a female mosquito to lay her eggs. But, most people are surprised to learn that eggs and larvae can thrive in very minimal quantities of stagnant water. For instance, if you have a discarded polythene pack in your yard, rainwater or snow accumulates in it, it will be enough to sustain the breeding of eggs and larvae that will eventually spread diseases in the vicinity.
Getting rid of every potential source of standing water in the backyard can be very difficult. Right from the cap of a small water bottle to an empty flower pot could become a potential breeding ground.
The easiest way to deal with discarded bottle caps, trash bins, buckets etc., is to drill a small hole at the bottom so that any rainwater that accumulates in them can drain out effectively.
Yard Debris
Yard debris, that is, any solid waste that accumulates in the yard, like grass clippings, leaves, shrubs, etc, is a potential site for breeding young mosquitoes. Overgrown bushes are the best shelter grounds for insects as they are protected from the elements like fast gusts of wind.
If you have debris in your house or the grass in your backyard has not been trimmed, you must take action to stop the active proliferation of disease-causing agents in your house.
Choked Gutters
Falling leaves and twigs are the biggest reason for choked drains. Apart from the natural causes, unmindful deposition of used plastic packets causes choking of drains. If you want to keep dried leaves away from the drains, buy customized drain covers that keep leaves and twigs from falling into the drains. If you do not find an appropriate design in the market, you can get one made from an old wire mesh.
Apart from using drain covers, you must also be careful to avoid littering in your backyard. Any plastic packet that you accidentally leave in your backyard can eventually block your drain. So you must throw away plastic packets only in a dustbin and check any stray packet that has landed up in your yard.
Water Bowls For Your Pets
Keeping a bowl of water for your pet in the backyard can become a potential source of insect breeding. If you do keep a bowl of water for your pet, make sure to pour out the water at the end of the day. Also, do not leave empty bowls out in the open. A bowl should only be left outside in an inverted position so that no water can accumulate in it from rain or otherwise.
Some Myths Associated With The Breeding Of Insects
Stagnant water and yard debris can lead to the proliferation of large numbers of mosquitoes. But there are some myths associated with insect breeding that need to be debunked for better protection against disease-causing agents.
Mosquitoes Are Attracted By Certain Kinds Of Food And Drink That You Consume
It is a myth that eating certain kinds of food or drinking beer attracts mosquitoes to your house. The insects are attracted to lactic acid, so if you store a bottle of lemonade, it might attract a few insects. But it is unlikely that eating certain kinds of foods will have a great impact on the insect population in your yard.
Mosquitoes Can Be Eliminated By High Frequency Emitting Diodes
There is no conclusive study that proves that high-frequency emitting diodes prevent insect breeding.
Citrosa Plant eliminates Disease Causing Insects
Citrosa may not attract mosquitoes, but there is no solid proof that shows that they actively repel or kill insects.
Conclusion
Myths abound when it comes to dealing with disease-causing insects. However, debunking the myths and paying attention to the facts associated with insect control is crucial for effective management of insect-borne diseases. So the next time you clean your backyard, make sure to unclog the gutters, trim the bushes and remove any vessel that could be a source of stagnant water.
