Summertime in the Coastal Empire is no stranger daily rain! Sometimes our afternoon storms can be light and quick, and other times it seems like they will never end. Regardless of the storm, there is only one thing that mosquitoes love more than hot humid weather, and that is water. Mosquitoes are known to be a top summer nuisance pest and become a huge problem when they invade your property. Living in an area with high temperatures and frequent summer rain, it can seem like these insects never go away.
But why is it that these pests seem to come out excessively when it is hot and raining? The answer is simple: mosquitoes love moisture and humidity and can often seem even more aggressive after a rainfall or storm. All of the summertime afternoon rain showers we get in Savannah and the surrounding areas can cause our local mosquito population to explode. Together, however, we can work to try to prevent this after a summer storm!
Before we get into the “how”, it is important to know the two major factors that contribute to hot weather and heavy rain attracting more mosquitoes:
Mosquito Biology
Mosquitoes are cold-blooded insects. Because of this, these nuisance pests will not disappear until a sustained temperature of 50 degree is reached. As residents of the Coastal Empire, you know that temperatures exceed 50 degrees more often than not, so we are in a hot zone for mosquito activity beginning in March and extending through October.
Mosquito Breeding
When it comes to rain, mosquitoes are not particularly attracted to rain itself but rather what the rain leaves behind – standing water! Standing water is where mosquitoes lay their eggs, so it is absolutely necessary in order for these pests to breed. Rainwater that is left behind provides prime real estate for mosquito eggs to survive and eventually hatch.
It is important to know that the eventual hatching of the eggs is what leads to an invasion on your property. Any water left undistributed for a long period of time will allow this evolution to take place, so it is important to consistently monitor and inspect your property following rain and storms to mitigate potential mosquito problems. It only takes 7-10 days for mosquito eggs to mature and emerge from the water!
What do Do About Mosquitoes After a Summer Storm
Although you may not be able to completely mitigate the possibility of mosquito activity increasing around your home following a storm, there are definitely steps you can take to lessen the potential issue. Check out these easy ways you can help keep mosquitoes at bay and your family safe this summer:
- Stay indoors during times when mosquitoes are most active following heavy rain or a storm. Mosquitoes typically are most active during the dusk hours. If you do need to venture outside during this time, take extra precaution to protect yourself. Wear long sleeves and pants, and light colors are best. Also apply an EPA-approved mosquito repellant.
- Remove standing water from the ground as well as in places such as flowerpots, bird baths, tarps, old tires, even kids’ toys. Any container in and around your yard that is or can hold standing water needs to be flipped over, emptied out, and scrubbed or removed.
- Remove piles of leaves and debris from your yard as well as from your gutters. These areas provide a place for mosquitoes to hide and breed.
- Cover all objects that can collect or hold standing water but cannot be removed. This includes pools and boats.
- Lucky for Coastal Empire area pool owners, the water inside your pool itself is not ideal for mosquito larvae to survive because of the chlorine content. However, most pools are surrounded by concrete spaces which can carry stagnant water from rainfall or nearby sprinklers. Mosquitoes only need a small amount of water to lay eggs on, so it is pertinent to check the area around your pool regularly and remove any standing water.
The above prevention and elimination tips are not bulletproof, but they will help set you up for a mosquito free summer. If these tips have not helped your problem, your best bet is to hire a professional. It is always wise to let professionals take charge and deliver safe and highly effective mosquito control services. Our certified technicians know the best ways to fog your yard to save you and your beloved kids from being the prey of these thirsty creatures. Our monthly Mosquito Control Program runs March – October and effectively penetrates mosquito breeding areas and helps protect your yard… and your family… from aggravating and itchy mosquito bites.