Mosquitoes aren’t just an irritating summertime nuisance. They are a community health threat that can carry potentially fatal diseases to humans, domestic animals, and livestock. Mosquito-borne illnesses found in the United States include West Nile virus, zika virus, dengue fever, malaria, eastern equine encephalitis, and heartworm… all of which can have devastating health consequences.

Protecting your health, the health of your family and pets, and the health of your community is why mosquito control is vitally important.

What Are Mosquito Control Measures?

The battle against mosquitoes is fought on several levels. Individuals can take measures to eliminate existing mosquitoes on their property and to create an environment that discourages their return. Additionally, homeowners and businesses may engage the services of a professional pest control company to eliminate mosquitoes at a specific location.

Other measures are taken on a community level to eliminate breeding grounds and to exterminate adult and larval mosquitoes with a program of ground or aerial spraying. In some locales, genetically modified mosquitoes are released to reduce the number of mosquitoes that will survive to adulthood. Local governments also assess mosquito populations, track mosquito-borne illnesses in the area, and communicate mosquito-related information to the public.

How Do You Control Mosquito Breeding?

In addition to community and professional mosquito control efforts, there is something anyone can do: avoid providing them with places to breed.

Mosquitoes need water to reproduce. They lay their eggs in or near water and, once hatched, mosquito larvae grow to maturity in water. When you take away water sources from your property, they can’t breed near your home.

Anything that holds water in your yard can become a mosquito breeding ground. Trash cans, buckets, kiddie pools, and even planters collect enough water for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. Check your yard often and empty any container that holds standing water. Even a forgotten bottle cap filled with rainwater can help mosquitoes breed.

Also look for areas where water pools on the ground. This happens frequently in low-lying areas of your yard, underneath air conditioning units, and near outdoor faucets.

If you have a pond or a pool, make sure that it is properly maintained and that the water is circulating. Moving water is far less hospitable to mosquitoes than still water. If you have a bird bath in your yard, change the water and clean the basin at least once a week during mosquito season.

We Have More Than a Quarter Century of Mosquito Experience

In addition to eliminating mosquitoes, East End Tick and Mosquito Control® can assess your property, pinpoint locations where mosquitoes are breeding, and offer suggestions on how to make your yard less welcoming to them. We have more than 25 years of experience, and our technicians are fully licensed and insured. Contact us online for a free estimate, or call (631) 287-9700 in Southampton; (631) 324-9700 in East Hampton, or (631) 765-9700 in the Southold area.