How to Proactively Prevent Mosquitos in Pasadena, MD
The warm weather and fresh breezes of summer make us all want to spend more time outside. With evenings gathered around a bonfire or enjoying the stars on your patio, mosquitoes and other pesky bugs can put a damper on your summertime vibes. Luckily, there are ways to prevent mosquitos in Pasadena, MD, and keep bites at bay.
When you are looking for proactive mosquito control, we’re sharing helpful tips and insight on mosquito behavior.
What Type of Mosquitoes Are in Maryland?
There are 3,500 different types of mosquitoes, but don’t worry—they don’t all live in Maryland!
There are 3 types of mosquitoes that residents should be the most concerned with. These mosquitoes include:
- Asian Tiger Mosquito
- Yellow Fever Mosquito (uncommon)
- Common House Mosquito
These mosquitoes are primarily a cause for health concerns because they are vectors for viruses. Since mosquitoes are known to carry diseases and illnesses, it’s critically important that you practice mosquito control techniques to keep your family healthy.
What Are the Types of Mosquito-Borne Illnesses?
Here in Maryland, there are several types of illnesses from mosquitoes that you need to worry about. They are the following:
- Zika virus: Carried by the Asian Tiger and Yellow Fever Mosquito. Zika virus yields symptoms including fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes, and muscle pain.
- Dengue: Headache, vomiting, rash, and joint pain.
- Chikungunya: Fever, severe joint pain.
- West Nile Virus: High fever, disorientation, coma, neck stiffness, tremors
While the mosquito can transmit diseases to humans, they are also harmful to dogs and cats. Mosquitoes are the cause of heartworm in dogs, which is expensive to treat and can be deadly.
Where Do Mosquitoes Live?
Mosquitoes rest in tall grass, weeds, and brush. This is where they rest when they are not out hunting for prey.
When it comes to breeding, there are many places you will find these pesky bugs around your home.
- Pools and bodies of standing water. This includes uncovered trash cans that collect water inside, children’s pools, buckets, tins, and old tires.
- Gutters. The mosquito is attracted to gutters that are clogged and contain standing water inside.
- Birdbaths that always have water contained inside.
- Storm drains and septic seepage.
As you can see from these breeding areas, mosquitoes are highly attracted to water. This is one of the most important insights into mosquito control in Pasadena, Anne Arundel County, and all over the state of Maryland.
8 Mosquito Control Tips for Your Pasadena, MD Home
Now that you understand the importance of mosquito prevention and where they live and breed, it’s time to talk about techniques.
There are several actions homeowners in Pasadena can take as a DIY pest control approach to mosquito season. This will get you a head start on keeping mosquitoes at bay and preventing a potential flying pest infestation.
These are some of the best mosquito control techniques:
1. PREVENT MOSQUITOES WITH PLANTS
Did you know some plants naturally repel mosquitoes? It’s true! There are some species of plants and flowers that mosquitoes shy away from.
As our first technique for mosquito prevention, try planting the following in your yard or flower beds:
- Citronelle: This is one of the most common ingredients in mosquito repellents. This is a grass-like plant that lets off a strong smell—and it’s one that mosquitoes don’t like. Be forewarned that Citronelle can grow up to 6 feet in height, but it can add interest to your landscaping while keeping mosquitoes away.
- Lemon balm: This is a member of the mint family and is known for repelling mosquitoes.
- Marigolds: Plant these in your landscaping to repel mosquitoes. Don’t put them in a container on your patio or on your patio table. The bright blooms can attract wasps.
- Catnip: Proud owners of cats, rejoice. You can feed Fluffy’s craving for catnip while repelling mosquitoes at the same time. In fact, a study by the American Chemical Society found that Catnip is 10 times more effective than DEET, which is an ingredient used in insect repellents.
2. UNCLOG YOUR GUTTERS
You probably didn’t expect gutter maintenance to make it to this list, but it’s an important part of mosquito pest control in Pasadena, MD.
When gutters clog with leaves and debris, water is unable to flow through the system. As it continues to rain, the water continues to fill the gutters. Eventually, it may start to overflow. But either way, there is standing water inside the gutters—which is a big attraction to mosquitos.
If you have not cleaned out your gutters in a while, grab a ladder and get to work. It’s most effective to wear thick gloves and scoop the leaves out by hand. If you feel unsafe getting on a ladder, hire a professional to do it for you. It can help with overall pest control.
Once the gutters are cleaned out, consider getting gutter guards installed. This will keep the gutters cleaned out without major clogs attracting mosquitoes.
3. BE DILIGENT ABOUT EMPTYING OUTDOOR CONTAINERS
During the summer, it’s easy to leave the kids’ plastic pool sitting out with water when it’s not in use. However, if you go without using it for a few days, don’t leave it full of water.
This is because plastic kid pools and other containers can easily attract mosquitoes. Make it a habit to empty the plastic pool and any other items that have standing water inside to control pests. It’s recommended that these containers are emptied twice a week for best results.
4. MOSQUITO-PROOF YOUR PATIO
If you spend a lot of time outside on your patio, this is a key area to focus on to prevent mosquitoes.
Consider lighting citronella candles, which is the same scent that is used in many mosquito repellents. The smell can help keep the mosquitoes away.
Another option is to use yellow lights around your porch or patio. These yellow lights are reportedly less attractive to insects than traditional white lights and can help in other pest control areas.
5. TURN ON AN OSCILLATING FAN
Oscillating fans can serve as a powerful method to prevent mosquitos. You can use the fans outside on your deck and patio area to feel a cool breeze and reap the mosquito-repellent benefits.
In fact, Consumer Reports states that oscillating fans eliminate 45 to 65 percent of mosquito landings.
6. INSPECT YOUR WINDOW SCREENS
If you have mosquitoes getting into your house, one area to look at is the window screens. Small holes allow access to the inside of your home, where mosquitoes can live and hide.
If you discover holes in the screens, repair the holes or replace the screen entirely for enhanced pest control.
7. WEAR PROTECTIVE CLOTHES AT NIGHT
No one likes mosquito bites but wearing appropriate clothing at night can keep bites at bay.
If it’s not too hot, try wearing long sleeves. Long socks can help keep your legs from being exposed to mosquitoes. Sports synthetic fibers are also effective at blocking mosquito bites.
8. CALL IN THE PASADENA, MD MOSQUITO PREVENTION PROS
If you’re itching to get rid of your mosquito or other pest control problems, Brody Brothers Pest Control helps prevent mosquitoes in Maryland with proven mosquito control services.
Our experienced pest control team has treatment to kill mosquitoes on contact and prevent their return for 21 days. We will continue this mosquito control service every 21 days through the breeding season to ensure maximized pest control and protection.
Contact us today to learn more and get a free estimate on mosquito and pest control in Pasadena, MD.
