This summer may be tough for a lot of us in the D.C. region due to the .
Mosquito season normally starts in April and lasts until October depending on temperatures and rainfall. Experts are predicting this year to be one of the worst for mosquitoes in recent memory, thanks to a “topsy turvy” winter.
鈥淲e’ve had spikes of very nice, warm days,鈥� said Douglass Miles, president of . 鈥淣ext thing you know, the forecasters are talking about inches to a foot of snow.鈥�
The soggy conditions caused by saturated ground are perfect for breeding spots for mosquitoes.
鈥淪o, all of that moisture being around sooner than later allows them to hatch eggs earlier in the year than normal,鈥� Miles said, 鈥淎nd it promotes growth, because mosquitoes love to lay eggs in the water 鈥� standing water.鈥�
Miles said a 鈥渕osquito only needs a bottle cap of water to lay eggs,鈥� and then a week after they鈥檙e hatched, they’re flying and biting.
鈥淚f you’ve got toys in the yard, like upside down Frisbees, you’ve got some old tires laying around, you’ve got tarps, you’ve got even on top of the trash can after a heavy rain, where you’ve got the water that pools, that’s where they’re going to lay eggs,鈥� Miles pointed out.
Bird baths are another hot spot for mosquitoes.
鈥淵ou can put in mosquito dunks. They’re relatively inexpensive,鈥� Miles said. 鈥淚t’s very, very, very low toxicity to humans, mammals, pets, birds, fish.鈥�
According to Miles, mosquitoes normally start getting a tad frisky when the temperature is 80 degrees, 鈥淭hey’re going to populate extremely fast, and overwhelmingly.”
鈥淭he life cycle of mosquitoes from egg to adult is 18 to 19 days,鈥� Miles said.
鈥淪o once that mosquito becomes an adult, starts to lay the eggs and they become adults. If you don’t do anything by the end of June, you’re not going to be able to enjoy your outdoor space.鈥�
Now you may be thinking, “I’ll be fine because I have tiki torches, citronella candles and bug lights.鈥�
鈥淲hat that does is it attracts mosquitoes in your yard and in the space that you’re trying to enjoy,鈥� Miles said.
鈥淭hey lie in wait all day long. As soon as the sun sets and it becomes dark, that’s when they become the nuisance that they are鈥�
What if you want to be able to spend time outside on your property all hours of day and night without getting swarmed by mosquitoes?
鈥淔inding the right company that provides biweekly service, along with keeping the standing water at zero. Those are the most healthy things you can do,鈥� Miles advised.
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