mike Mosquitos are a familiar nuisance to home owners. They prey on families, pets and seemingly anything with a pulse. In addition to being a nuisance, mosquitos have developed a reputation for being particularly threatening. Because of the species’ inclination to carry blood, mosquitos potentially carry harmful diseases and illnesses. While many of these are rarely contracted, prevention from possible harm is never a bad idea. The 5 T’s of Mosquito Control have been created to help simplify the process of mosquito removal and prevention.
1. Tip
One of the most important factors to controlling a mosquito infestation is to prevent more from being created. To be sure, mosquitos are an incredibly resourceful insect. They have the ability to breed in small amounts of water. Female mosquitos typically lay eggs in areas of stagnant water or where floods occur regularly. With this in mind, the first ‘T’ of mosquito control is to tip over anything that could hold stagnant water. Some typical breeding grounds for mosquitos include dog bowls, bird baths, flowerpots and clogged gutters.
2. Toss
Another common place for standing water includes piles of excess grass or leaves. Any sort of debris in a yard can hold water from rain or sprinklers. In order to prevent mosquitos from taking advantage of this standing water, these piles must be tossed away. They can be moved to a decomposition pile or simply spread out to avoid water deposits.
3. Turn
Large objects such as fire pit covers and sandbox covers also have the proclivity to retain water. This possibility is greatly exacerbated during periods of greater rainfall. These larger objects should be turned over on a regular basis to ensure mosquitos don’t take advantage of the standing water.
4. Remove Tarps
As tarps often collapse and lose tautness overtime, pockets of water can begin developing in these crevices. The fourth ‘T’ in mosquito control suggests that these tarps be removed. In situations where tarps are required, it is important to ensure that they remain taut to prevent the possibility of water pockets.
5. Treat
The most effective method of mosquito control is treatment. There are several sprays that have been developed to help get rid of mosquitos and prevent future infestations. These sprays and treatments can be purchased at most large retailers and applied independently. However, professional businesses can also be hired to offer their special mosquito treatments.
The five T’s of mosquito control are designed to help homeowners effectively rid their yard of mosquito problems. These five steps focus on eliminating the root cause of mosquito infestations. As mosquitos breed in areas of stagnant water, it is critical to eliminate any possibilities of standing water. This usually requires a quick survey around a yard in order to identify all of the target locations.
