Mosquitoes prospering in rain and heat

Turn on the air conditioning and close the windows—It’s Mosquito season! If you haven’t already noticed, mosquitoes are on the prowl and they are ready to land on a fresh, blood meal! Due to the recent weather conditions, mosquitoes are thriving more than ever before. 2013 is proving itself as the year of the Mosquito! It’s time to recognize this year’s mosquito activity as we recently saw the Asian Tiger Mosquito lurking in our region this summer!

This summer has confirmed itself as one of the most conducive for Mosquitoes due to the dramatic weather conditions.  After the cool spring and mass amounts of rain in early summer mosquitoes have had ample standing water in which to lay eggs. “This is going to be, if it isn’t already, a pretty good year for mosquitoes and a bad year for us,” said Woody Foster, an Ohio State University professor emeritus and mosquito expert.

“We have high temperatures, high humidity and lots of standing water. “ There have been positive tests for mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus throughout the Philadelphia tri-state area and Delaware Valley.

Delaware, Berks and Northampton counties are all considered high risk and categorized as West Nile Vires high risk zones. Chester, Lancaster, Montgomery, Bucks and Lehigh counties are all considered West Nile Hot Zones as well.

Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide, so if you think you can outrun them you are incredibly wrong. Mosquitoes will catch up to you. However you can rely on electric fans to keep mosquitoes away a recent study shows. According to the Journal of Medical Entomology a fan-generated wind strongly reduced the number of Mosquitoes in traps.

So what can you do to protect yourself at home from West Nile Virus?

Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers that have collected on your property.

· Pay special attention to discarded tires. Stagnant water in tires are where most mosquitoes breed.

· Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers left outdoors.

· Have clogged roof gutters cleaned every year, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug up the drains. Roof gutters can produce millions of mosquitoes each season.

· Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use. Stagnant water in a wading pool becomes a place for mosquitoes to breed.

· Turn over wheelbarrows and don’t let water stagnate in birdbaths. Both provide breeding habitats for domestic mosquitoes.

· Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens can become major mosquito producers if they are allowed to stagnate. Clean and chlorinate swimming pools not in use. A swimming pool left untended by a family on vacation for a month can produce enough mosquitoes to result in neighborhood-wide complaints. Mosquitoes may even breed in the water that collects on pool covers.

Obviously you can only do so much as a homeowner. You also can’t stay inside forever and avoid the mosquitoes that way either. If you are planning a special event such as a wedding, pool party, engagement party or anything outside this summer you might want to consider Green Lawn Fertilizing and Green Pest Solutions special event spraying—especially with Labor Day right around the corner! Protect your family and pets today from pesky mosquitoes!