Well, here we are again, everyone. We’ve made it well into spring, and the temperatures are regularly reaching the nineties. Not only that, but we’ve had a ton of rain the last few days. And what do heat, rain, and the spring mean in summer? That’s right. So today, we will talk about some very basic Floridian survival lore. That is, how to kill mosquitoes on your property and suppress their numbers.
Why are mosquitoes so bad in Florida?
Ever heard of “location, location, location”? Well, when it comes to nature, insects especially think “climate, climate, climate.” This state is an absolute heaven for most insect species out there. Especially flying, blood sucking pests like mosquitoes that breed in water! The warm, humid weather provides them with the ideal environment to live, hunt, and thrive in. And Florida was already home to many species before the arrival of humans and international travel. And since then, it’s only gotten much, much worse.
Another reason the mosquitoes in the state are so bad is the rainfall. Florida usually gets tons of rain every year. On top of that, every so often, a gigantic hurricane will blow through. When this happens, ditches flood, and standing water accumulates in huge quantities around the state. This allows the mosquitoes a window of time where they can breed, essentially, anywhere they want. That’s why after a big storm or hurricane, the state is usually inundated with blood sucking pests!
The humidity is another thing that flying pests love as well. When it’s hot, and the air is thick with fluid, it’s a lot easier to push your body through the air! Not to mention the number of people with garden beds. People tend to overwater things and give mosquitoes a place to hang out and give birth. So if you have a potted plant, please ensure that the soil dries out before you can water it. Moist conditions provide suitable surroundings for mosquito larvae’ growth. Essentially, knowing the basics of how to kill mosquitoes is kind of a requirement for this state.
Mosquito Life cycle
Understanding the life cycle of the mosquito is a good thing as a Floridian. It helps you understand just how to reduce their numbers on your property, so we’ll touch on it here briefly. And while the length of their life cycle varies between species and environments, all mosquito’s lives are comprised of the egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. Male mosquitoes spend their lives feeding on plant nectar alone, while females go and get the blood meal required to develop eggs.
Most mosquito species lay their eggs directly in the water. Others lay their eggs close but not quite in the water. The eggs will hatch into larvae shortly after, which will grow to about five millimeters long and breath at the surface through air tubes. At times, you can see the larvae in heavily infested bodies of water. Then, after about seven days, the larvae enter the pupal stage. Pupae can also be seen on the surface of water in mosquito breeding sites. After they fully develop, they will emerge from the pupal stage and stand on the water to dry its wings and prepare to fly. Adult female mosquitoes will then seek an animal on which to feed. Females are capable of flying for miles if necessary and can lay over 100 eggs at a time. The long and short of it is that mosquitoes are breeding machines and will reproduce like fiends if standing water is available.
How to kill mosquitoes: the basics
Alright, let’s get into the real meat of the matter and touch on a few tips. Now that you know the mosquito life cycle, you probably see just how important water is to them. Especially standing, slow moving water that doesn’t have any predators in it.
The first and biggest tip you can have to deal with mosquito infestations is to eliminate breeding areas.
It’s no surprise that mosquitoes are attracted to water, but it is surprising how little water it takes for mosquitoes to breed and multiply. Mosquitoes can lay eggs in just a thimbleful of water, which means that anything that holds even a tiny bit of water can be home to mosquito larvae. Find and empty these water sources. Dispose of or drain water from old tires, buckets, unused kids’ pools, bases of flowerpots, furniture, toys, boats, and trailers left outside. Keep the gutters clean so water can’t accumulate. Fill tree and stump holes with mortar. Fixing your yard’s drainage will not only help prevent mosquitoes, it will also keep your yard from becoming an eyesore or, worse, a threat to your home’s foundation.
And stock any water gardens around your home with fish. Mosquitoes are very vulnerable in their larval, pupal, and newly adult stages. Because of this, fish in your home ponds or water gardens can really help you in the battle of how to kill mosquitoes. Goldfish, minnows, and mosquito fish all prey on them at various stages in their life cycle. But do your best to incorporate native mosquito eating fish in your areas as they will be the most effective.
Dealing with a mosquito infestation
Mosquito infestations are unique in that you can say that most of Florida is infested. However, if your area is suffering particularly you can always contact us at Earth’s Best at insectfree.com to inquire about our mosquito smack service. Our technicians will come out and evaluate your property.
Then, they’ll detail all potential nesting sites. Above, I touched on how that’s so important for killing mosquitoes. But you don’t have to know how to kill mosquitoes if you rely on the pros! Once complete, our skilled employees will treat the nesting areas with a natural solution that will kill the mosquitoes while keeping your family, pets, and the environment safe from those nasty biting critters.
Other than that, basic tidiness and lawn care are the best you can do as an individual in Florida. With sunshine and rain, unfortunately, mosquitoes are kind of a fact of life down here if you don’t partner with a local pest control specialist in Florida!
