Summer is the time for outdoor fun and feasting, for people and mosquitos. Want to get rid of uninvited guests? Here are some tips for mosquito control in Idaho.

Drain Standing Water

Mosquito eggs hatch in water, so draining standing water is the first thing to do. But don’t just focus on large sources of water and think the job is done—what you may not realize is that mosquitoes can breed in only a few teaspoons of water.  Keep those cans you’re collecting to recycle dry and covered and consider some other things to do:

• Empty your watering can. You may want to keep some water in your can so you can conveniently water your plants, but don’t keep it too long, it’s a breeding ground for mosquito larvae.
• Keep your garbage cans and storage containers covered. If the wind blows a lid off, try weighting it with a rock, or securing it with rubber straps
• Keep your tarps tight. Enough water can collect in the folds and low spots for eggs to hatch. If you can’t pull tarps tight, be sure to remove water from them soon after it rains.
• Dump out the birdbath, or change the water regularly. It doesn’t have to be changed every day, since it can take 8-10 days for eggs to develop into adults, but change the water often enough to disrupt the breeding cycle.
• Dump out the pet dish, or keep the water fresh.
• Fill in low spots in your lawn.
• Keep your rain gutters clear, and watch for standing water in your street gutters.

 

Pools, Ponds, and Watering Troughs

It’s not practical to remove all standing water, but there are treatments available.

• A well-maintained swimming pool, skimmed of debris and filtered for a few hours a day, is not an inviting place for a mosquito to lay eggs—they need stagnant water—and the chlorine or other disinfectants in the pool are not conducive to mosquito larvae developing further.
• For fish ponds, watering troughs, rain barrels, and the like try Bti. Bacillus thuringiensis occurs naturally in soil and has been used as a natural form of pest control since the early 1900s. The strain israelensis (Bti) is particularly effective against mosquitoes and some close relatives, but harmless to other animals. Two popular Bti products are Mosquito Dunks, which dissolve slowly in water, and Mosquito Bits, which come in granules that can be spread around the yard.

 

Get Professional Help

If the list of places mosquitoes can breed seems endless and you don’t have time for DIY mosquito control, or you just want a professional job, contact Diamond Lawns today. We’re your experts for lawn care and pest and mosquito control in Idaho.

 

Pro Tip for Mosquito Control in Idaho

Plant mosquito repellent flowers and herbs, like lavender, rosemary, basil, geraniums, citronella grass, and catnip. This bonus tip adds color to your garden, flavor at your table, happy cats, and unhappy mosquitoes.