With summer in full swing, lawn care operators are likely seeing an increase in mosquito-related calls. Here are some important things to keep in mind when you’re dealing with mosquitoes. 

Where You’ll Find Mosquitoes

Some mosquito species lay their eggs directly in water, which float together on the surface. Other species lay their eggs on the inside of containers, like buckets, with the eggs hatching once the containers fill with water. Regardless of where they’re laid, in order for eggs to hatch, standing water is needed. This year, we’ve had plenty of rain, which means there’s plenty of standing water to go around.

On customers’ properties, mosquitoes commonly breed in bird baths, flower pots, and sagging gutters. If gutters are bowed, they can hold standing water. Any water that has been standing for seven days is a potential breeding site; you’ll likely find mosquito larvae or pupae there.

In areas affected by flooding, mosquito larvae and pupae are often washed away by main waterways, but receding waters can create new breeding grounds in standing puddles or low-lying areas. This is something to keep in mind.

Drought Won’t Stop Them

A common misconception is that we don’t have mosquitoes during drought and dry periods. They can actually thrive under these conditions, since areas that normally have moving water don’t have any. Think about culverts and drainage areas. Without rainwater to flush things out, those areas become hotspots for standing water, leading to pretty heavy mosquito populations.

Staying Protected

Mosquitoes typically stay in the same area during their lifecycle, and they aren’t the best fliers. Since LCOs are constantly moving, mosquitoes shouldn’t be much of a bother to them. If someone is stopping frequently, then that makes them more likely to be bitten.

Mosquitoes may be more of an annoyance than a threat, but they are the primary vector for West Nile, encephalitis, and other viruses, so it’s always best to apply a strong insect repellent before heading out into the field.

Controlling Mosquitoes

Keeping mowing heights low and trimming bushes and shrubs so mosquitoes don’t have a dark, humid place to hide is a great place to start.

Beyond cultural practices, spraying bifenthrin at a rate of one fluid ounce per gallon of water per thousand square feet is a tried and true way to control mosquitoes. These applications will last between 21 and 28 days.

Adding a spreader sticker like Chem-Stik to an application can help it last longer. Keep in mind that heavy rainfall can lead to breakthrough and wash away spreader stickers. Higher temperatures and humidity can also lead to burned turf if a spreader sticker is used.

A couple of other options include Scion, which has a residual of up to 90 days, and EcoVia MT, a botanical product that is often combined with pyrethroids to fight resistance.

For additional mosquito control tips and to ask questions, reach out to your ATS rep.