Mosquitoes are expected to be two to three times more active than normal along the East Coast. Fun stuff! Mosquitoes are already bad in this area thanks to heavy spring rains and humid summer temperatures. This year was no exception. The spring rains in the Mid-Atlantic were plentiful and helped the flowers, trees, and vegetation grow. But, now we’re seeing the negative effects of this moisture in the form of high mosquito populations.
Where There’s Water, There Are Mosquitoes
The majority of a mosquito’s life is spent in water. It goes through the egg stage, the larva stage, the pupa stage, and the adult stage. It’s not until the adult stage when mosquitoes are out and flying around. (Remember, only the female mosquitoes bite.) Until then, mosquitoes spend their time in or near water, so their life cycle largely depends on how much rain and moisture an area gets.
Even though there was a lot of standing water thanks to the spring rains, the East Coast has been more dry and quiet these past weeks. While you might think this will keep mosquito populations away from your home, it’s the opposite. Because water has dried up in forests and other common areas, mosquitoes move closer to where there is water, such as in bird baths, gutters, potted plants, and kiddie pools. Simply put, mosquitoes go wherever there is water, even if that means closer to people.
Until It Freezes, Mosquitoes Will Be Around
Mosquitoes will continue to fly around until it freezes. They do not disappear when it gets dry, so continue following good practices such as dumping out standing water, keeping grass and shrubs trimmed down, and cleaning out the gutters. A pest control company can also make a difference by checking your yard for unidentified mosquito breeding sources and spraying the yard, if need be.
There are hundreds of species of mosquitoes, so it’s hard to say when they will die off. Generally speaking, non-hibernating mosquitoes stop their reign of terror when temperatures dip into the 50s. For New Jersey residents, this is usually in October or November. Hibernating mosquitoes don’t die off, however. Instead, they seek shelter in places where it’s warm and cozy, such as in hollow logs and animal dens. They will come out if there is a warm spell, which happens occasionally in NJ.
If your yard is being taken over by mosquitoes, call Heritage Pest Control. Our pest control experts will come out, take a look and determine what can be done to control the situation.