Winterizing for Mosquitoes: Your Guide to Off Season Protection

The cooler weather is settling in, the leaves have begun to show the first signs of changing colors, and pumpkins and sweaters are making appearances in many cities. That also means that in many areas, we’re wrapping up our season.

If you want to know when to expect mosquitoes to go on hiatus in your area, consult your local weather station.  Until you’ve had your first frost and temperatures stay below 45, you may still see them buzzing around.

Those who are still enjoying some warmth and sunshine should still rely on Mosquito Joe services to keep your yard itch free. (For any folks in South Texas, our new location in the Rio Grande Valley is happily taking on new service calls!)

If you’re already bundling up before leaving the house, you may feel safe from pesky mosquitoes for the season, but that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down when it comes to buzzing in the backyard. There’s still some precautions to take in the fall and winter months to maintain a mosquito-free yard, even after your last spray. Here’s what you should know:

In the autumn months after mating, male mosquitoes die. But did you know female mosquitoes actually hibernate? That’s right, they can actually survive the winter months. In the spring when the weather warms up, they seek blood to feed on so they can lay their eggs. All mosquito larvae (eggs) require water, even in winter, and mosquito larvae can last years. As the water temperature drops, it basically creates a dormant stage in the mosquito larvae called diapause, which stops further development. Development resumes when the water warms again. To make sure you don’t have this problem, remove all standing water from your yard and remove objects like toys or flower pots that can collect rainwater.

Just because some seasons are wrapping up doesn’t mean we’re kicking our feet up. Mosquito Joe is still working hard to bring our mosquito control services to new areas. We’re growing and so excited about new locations for the 2014 season. If Mosquito Joe isn’t in your area, maybe you should consider being the local Joe in your neighborhood. Everyone loves a hero.

And for all those customers who have seen the yellow MoJo van for the last time this season, we say THANK YOU. We love making outside fun again and you give us the opportunity to do that.

photo credit: simonnjulia via photopin cc

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