Destroying The Mosquito Population Around Your Home In The Bay Area

Mosquito season in the Bay Area can be unrelenting for local residents. These pests are on the hunt for humans to feast off of as well as conducive conditions that they’ll use to hide and breed. This unfortunate combination means that preventing mosquitoes can be just as difficult as getting rid of them. Luckily, there’s help.

At Bay Pest, we understand the persistent nature of mosquito problems, which is why we provide seasonal mosquito control services to target the source of your issues. For more information on how pest control in the Bay Area can reduce your mosquito populations, we hope that you find the following guide helpful and that you call us to learn more about our Bay Area pest control offerings.

What Chemicals Are Used In Mosquito Foggers?

Mosquito fogging is a method of mosquito control that has become popular over the last few decades because of its ease and ability to offer both direct and broad coverage. It is a heavy-duty option that is not available to the average homeowner, so mosquito foggers are best left to the professionals. Mosquito foggers start to work by producing a concentrate of insecticide that then gets applied to places like shrubs and trees in order to kill off every mosquito from adults to larvae. The droplets that get produced by the foggers are so small that they are nearly undetectable and move throughout the air until they evaporate. When mosquitoes come into contact with the vapors, they can be eliminated fairly quickly. Foggers are also lauded for their ability to quickly eliminate mosquitoes. It’s said that around 90% of reduction takes place within the first week of an application.

The type of chemicals that get used inside foggers may vary. There are eco-friendly options as well as more traditional methods that are all based on your particular needs. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, many companies use “organophosphate insecticides malathion and naled and the synthetic pyrethroid insecticides prallethrin, etofenprox, pyrethrins, permethrin, resmethrin and sumithrin for adult mosquito control.” If the EPA approves a specific chemical for this use, then it meets rigorous well-being and environmental safety standards. 

At Bay Pest, we use backpack mosquito foggers because they are the most effective method of directly targeting areas where mosquitoes live and breed. We provide our customers with monthly services so that we are able to get ahead of mosquitoes and address all of their life stages through one product. For more information on mosquito fogging in the Bay Area, please contact us today. 

Destroying Mosquito Eggs In Still Water

Mosquitoes are lured to Bay Area homes that have areas of standing water, many times without residents’ knowledge. They’re attracted to these conditions for several reasons, one of which is that water is required for mosquito eggs to hatch and for larvae to be produced. These areas also usually provide mosquitoes with the food and oxygen that they require as well. Examples of standing water around a home include places such as inside of kayaks and outdoor gear, condensation accumulation, rain puddles, anything that gets left outside, fish ponds, areas of the yard that don’t drain properly, and clogged gutters. Having these sorts of sites around a home will not only attract mosquitoes but they’re also responsible for keeping them around.

Additionally, certain accumulations of yard debris can also produce moist conditions for mosquitoes to breed inside. This might mean compost buckets, harborage areas, and other trimmings from around the yard. One of the ways that homeowners can reduce the attraction to these areas is simply by keeping a keen eye on them and trying to reduce them wherever possible.

In order to completely destroy mosquito eggs in still water, homeowners should enlist the help of pest control professionals to provide regular treatments that target this issue. At Bay Pest, one of the ways that we address mosquito populations is by treating standing water. We perform these measures because we know that places that collect water like grill covers and flower pots as well as birdbaths and thick soil are ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. We perform these treatments on a monthly basis so that our customers never have to be concerned about the potential development of a new mosquito population in the Bay Area. For more information on mosquito control, contact us today.

Mosquito Prevention: What A Homeowner Can Do

Mosquitoes seek human blood, which the female needs in order to lay her eggs. This can leave Bay Area residents covered with uncomfortable itchy bites, but luckily, there are some subtle yet effective habit changes that you can implement in order to deter the presence of mosquitoes. Some of those tips include:

• Change personal habits: Because mosquitoes are looking for people to feed off of, it’s not surprising that there are so many natural factors that lure mosquitoes in the first place. To make yourself less appealing to mosquitoes, limit alcohol consumption, avoid salty foods, choose unscented hygiene products, and try not to sweat.
• Opt for certain plantings: There are actually plants that contain properties that naturally repel mosquitoes and planting them might provide some relief. Some of those plantings include marigolds, basil, thyme, rosemary, citronella, lavender, lemongrass, and garlic.
• Eliminate water sources: Still or stagnant water is one of the most luring characteristics for mosquitoes, which makes it one of the most important things for homeowners to monitor. This includes making sure that water doesn’t accumulate in grill or pool covers, puddles, crevices, and beneath faulty gutters. It’s also crucial to turn over the water in kiddie pools, bird baths, and dog water bowls frequently.
• Keep the yard tidy: Mosquitoes look for dark, damp, and cool places to live, which makes leaf piles, greenery, and other collections of yard debris ideal for them. Not only will these areas lure mosquitoes but they will also keep them around. In order to eliminate hiding places, trim back trees and shrubs to expose more sunlight and reduce shade, get rid of yard clutter, and mow grass often in order to keep it at a short length.

The simple truth is that so much of what attracts mosquitoes in the first place is difficult or impossible for people to work around and prevent. They are drawn to things like blood type, body heat, and even the presence of pregnancy in women. Some other tips are just impractical and are too restrictive for people who are looking to enjoy their property. By enlisting the help of Bay Pest, Bay Area residents don’t need to be concerned about mosquitoes anymore. We provide monthly mosquito control treatments that are safe and effective and that work in conjunction with the environmental changes homeowners can implement. For more information on keeping mosquitoes away throughout the year, please contact us today.

Mosquito Reduction Services In The Bay Area

Mosquitoes are lured to properties in ways that residents simply can’t avoid without professional mosquito reduction services in the Bay Area from a trusted pest control professional. At Bay Pest, we provide homeowners with the treatments that they need in order to stay mosquito-free during the peak season. As a locally owned company with more than three decades of experience, we will always put our customers’ needs first. To us, this means providing thorough service, using the safest products, and always guaranteeing the results of our work.

Our mosquito treatment services begin with a comprehensive property inspection. This is an important factor because mosquitoes are masters at hiding in sneaky spots where they’ll stay and breed. During this phase, our skilled pest specialists look at places that contain standing water, harborage sites, leaf piles, and any other debris pockets.

During the treatment phase, we use a backpack fogging method, which allows us to provide the most targeted form of application. This approach lets us address all of the aforementioned areas of your property in the most efficient way possible. The products that we use are safe for everyone in the household including pets.

While we’re treating your property, we also tend to areas of standing water and eliminate as many of them as we can. This means that we will look at clogged gutters, children's toys, puddles, and outdoor gear. Because people play a large role in the attraction of mosquitoes, our technicians will also work with you on the ways that you can limit the attraction of mosquitoes between our visits. This might include things like maintaining a clean yard and using citronella candles.

In order to keep mosquitoes away without interruptions, we perform our mosquito control services on a monthly basis. We also offer customers the option of one-time services for special events, concerts, family gatherings, and more. To learn more about residential and commercial pest control in the Bay Area, please contact us today.