It’s never too early to think about preventing one of summer’s most encountered – and annoying – pests: mosquitoes. After a winter marked by historic rainfall, the threat for abundant mosquito populations is high in many areas of California.

Aside from being an annoyance that takes the enjoyment out of spending time outdoors, mosquitoes are a health threat to you, your family, and your pets. They are vectors of numerous diseases, including West Nile virus, malaria, dengue, and equine encephalitis.

Common mosquito breeding areas

Any container capable of holding at least a teaspoon of water – buckets, watering cans, drinking glasses, cups, bottle caps, or trash that can hold water – can be a mosquito breeding location.

Old tires: Dispose of discarded tires at your local recycling facility. If they’re used for playground equipment, drill holes in them for standing water to escape. If on the ground, ensure that holes are not blocked by debris.

Pet water bowls: Scrub and rinse out pet water bowls at least once a week.

Tarps, plastic covers, flexible sandbox covers: Drain water trapped in folds and arrange them so that water will runs off.

Potted plant saucers: Empty saucers or flush out with a garden hose at least once a week. Remove saucers from under plants. Place fine aquarium gravel in saucers.

Garbage cans, barrels, recycling bins: Keep cans covered with lids or drill holes in the bottom of them. If they are collecting rainwater, cover them with a fine mesh screen.

Rain barrels: Cover rain barrels with an insect screen and secure it tightly. Install small pieces of screen over any other holes, such as overflow valves or connection points, and secure. If the rain barrel comes with a screw top, place square mesh between the rain barrel and the lid and screw it in place. Try to use the collected water first, and empty barrels completely between rain events.

Swat-Away: A three-step approach to mosquito control

Clark Pest Control’s Swat-Away mosquito control service for residential customers deploys a three-step approach to target mosquitoes at different life stages. The process starts with specially trained technicians performing a thorough inspection of your property to identify potential mosquito nesting locations and conducive conditions that could promote mosquito activity.

1. Remove and treat breeding sites: First, most standing water, a breeding source for mosquitoes, is removed. In any standing water that remains, larvicide tablets are applied to kill any mosquito larvae left behind.
2. Install and service a mosquito defense station:  A station is installed to target female mosquitoes laying their eggs. This is important, as female mosquitoes – which need a protein found in the blood of vertebrate animals to create eggs – are the ones that bite. The station contaminates them with a biological fungus that eventually kills the insect, but not before it can be spread to other mosquitoes as she travels to other areas to lay more eggs. This targeted treatment turns the mosquitoes’ own biology against them, passing the fungus to any hidden breeding sites around your yard or home.
3. Treat mosquito resting areas: Your licensed Clark technician will apply a product designed for long-lasting mosquito control to foliage and shady areas in your yard or around your home (e.g., eaves, overhangs, under decks, etc.) where mosquitoes are known to rest. This thorough coverage will ensure that the product remains effective against mosquitoes until the next time your property is serviced.

Additional protection

Although your local vector control agency provides community-wide population control of mosquitoes, Clark’s mosquito control service will offer targeted, ongoing coverage for your yard. This multi-layer approach to mosquito control is serviced year-round, to ensure that your yard, family, and pests are regularly protected from these annoying and potentially dangerous pests.

While vector control focuses on macro-level, community-wide source reduction and population knockdown, Clark’s approach works on a micro level on your property to minimize mosquito reproduction, interrupt the life cycle of developing larvae, and reduce adults by applying a chemical barrier.

If mosquitoes are killing your backyard buzz, call or text (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339) or email us at clarkcares@clarkpest.com.

Until next time, the pest management professionals at Clark Pest Control thank you for helping to keep unwanted pests out of your home and yard.