Tag Archives: get rid of mosquitoes

Welcome to Mosquito Season!

Spring has come and gone, now welcome to mosquito season. As you pack your bags for the beach house or the mountain campground don’t forget to pack light colored clothing with long sleeves, long pants and a bucket load or two of insect repellent.bestbuffettoonbyjoesanchez

How much we enjoy summer in North America depends a lot on how many mosquitoes there are waiting for us outside. Their bites are itchy and their buzzing annoying, but there’s also reason for concern; mosquitoes carrying dangerous diseases are lying in wait to use us as their next meal.

What causes mosquito populations to explode and shrink? Truthfully, it’s a combination of weather and climate — mosquitoes are very sensitive to their environment. Temperature and rainfall are two major predictors of mosquito populations, and this is for a good reason: These two factors have the greatest effect on their survival and ability to reproduce.

Mosquitoes like it warm and wet. Like most insects, mosquitoes are cold-blooded, or ectothermic.  Their body temperature closely matches the temperature of the environment (air or water) around them. If it is cold outside, they are cold. freezing-bugsIf it is warm outside, they are warm. Any time spent beyond their comfort zone can slow down or stop their development or even cause them to be injured and die.

There are more than 3,000 species of mosquitoes buzzing around on our planet, and a small handful of those actively feed from humans. And even then, only female mosquitoes feed on blood (required for egg production). The less intimidating males drink flower nectar.

Some mosquito species are far from being just bothersome, they carry dangerous diseases.  In North America, West Nile virus is carried by the Culex mosquito culex mosquitoand can cause serious health issues, including coma and paralysis. In tropical regions, mosquitoes are vectors of malaria, yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses.  These debilitating diseases cause hundreds of thousands of deaths each year.  Two of the major offenders include the, Yellow fever mosquito or Aedes aegypti and the Asian tiger mosquito known as Ades albopictus

Aedes-egyepti        Aedes-egyepti


Aedes- albopictus

The most effective mosquito repellent to date, is Deet.  A repellant that contains 5 to 7 percent Deet will ward off the hungriest of mosquitoes.  Why is it so effective?  Because it tastes bad!  Researchers have found that Deet doesn’t leave a bad taste in a mosquitoes’ mouth, but on the tongue-like cells on their feet.

mosquito repellant spray

Now, when you’re outside, coated in DEET, realize this: You still smell good enough to eat. Mosquitoes still want to drink your warm, red blood.mosquito-in-red-sneekers-clipart-k5770244 But your skin tastes really, really gross…… to their feet.

Spring Brings the Good, the Bad and the Ugly!

Spring is the time of renewal and is associated with the beauty of the “reborn”.  Birds are on the wing and so are beautiful butterflies, but there is something bad and ugly winging it’s way into our neighborhoods and right into our homes.  It’s the mosquito!  mosquito-with-red-bottom-sucking-blood1016254_960_720

What causes mosquito populations to diminish and explode? According to entomologists, it’s a combination of weather and climate. Mosquitoes are very sensitive to their environment. Temperature and rainfall are the two major factors determining mosquito populations. These two factors have an extreme effect on their survival and ability to reproduce. How much it ramosquitoes-on-frog-2452343_1280ins at one time, when it rains, how long a cold or warm spell lasts and when it happens are all important when it comes to predicting what kind of mosquito season will be in our future.

mosquiyo-life-cycleMosquitoes can complete their life cycles from egg to adult in about a week, therefore it is extremely important to elimrain-barrel-1inate breeding sites by; emptying collected water or use it within the week. Rain barrels and containers must be tightly sealed to prevent mosquito entry, and pool-dirtygreen, unmaintained pools should be emptied and cleaned.  And don’t forget to get rid of the water collected in the pans under potted plants. Mosquitoes can breed in less than aclay-pot-with-dish ½ inch of waterMosquito larvae are completely aquatic, and they need a source of standing water that will support them until they are ready to emerge as adults.

Ranking third on the list of the most dreaded pests of 2018, these insects are not just annoying (leaving itchy red bites) but can transmit life threatening diseases such as West Nile virus, chikungunya, dengue fever, and the infamous Zika virus.

So gear up and start your mosquito abatement program now, by:

  • Mowing or trimming tall grasses.
  • Maintaining your property so that there are no standing water. sources.
  • Cutting back dense foliage to open areas to the sun.
  • Installing or repairing screens, don’t leave unscreened windows or doors standing open.
  • Moving outdoor lights away from doorways.
  • Burning citronella candles or torches on or around the patio or other outdoor areas where activities are being performed.

For more detailed information click on this link: https://www.corkyspest.com/diy-mosquito.html

They’re Out for Blood!



Back yard breeders and daytime feeders.





Keep safe from mosquitoes by following a few rules.

 In your yard and around your house:

  • Decrease watering schedules                        yard work
  • Remove standing water
  • Limit outdoor activities when mosquitoes are most active.
  • Cut back (prune) dense foliage
  • Mow tall grasses
  • Fix broken screens
  • Move outdoor lighting away from windows and doorways


When you are outdoors: mosquito repellant spray

  • Limit outdoor activities when mosquitoes are most active.


Meet the new daytime mosquito spreading misery in California

Why Do Mosquitoes Love You? They think you’re HOT!



Your Fresh Breath

Woman Summer Dandelions Freedom Blowing Wind



Your Hot Body






Your Cool Outfit



Your Party Spirit


 Picture by Dan Prado
Picture by Dan Prado






Follow this link to Corky’s Pest Control. https://www.corkyspest.com/mosquitoes.html