Category Archives: Mosquito Control

Mosquito-Proof Your Campsite

A camping trip is the perfect way to spend time with family and friends and de-stress. Here at Mosquito Joe®, we love getting outside and enjoying nature. That’s why packing up the car — or RV — and going camping is one of our favorite ways to unwind and spend time outdoors too.
Whether you and your family are chilling by the campfire, grilling out, playing by the pool, or relaxing in the backyard, mosquitoes and ticks can easily ruin your fun time. But Mosquito Joe knows that pesky outdoor insects aren’t confined to your backyard. While you might be familiar with how to make sure mosquitoes and ticks don’t impose on you and your family when you’re in your backyard, you might not know the best ways to deal with them when you decide to take the family on a road trip. We’ll explore how to keep mosquitoes away while camping so you and your family can spend less time trying to avoid these pesky biters and more time enjoying the great outdoors.

How to Keep Mosquitoes Away While Camping

Camping is a great way to experience nature, enjoy the outdoors, and connect with each other. However, troublesome mosquitoes can quickly turn a great camping experience into an itchy and uncomfortable one. Luckily, there are effective methods of mosquito control for camping that you can deploy to the good times rolling. We explain the best ways to keep mosquitoes away while camping, the types of insect repellent to keep on hand, and even the best type of clothing to wear.

Steps to Mosquito-Proof Your Campsite

Mosquitoes are attracted to standing water, dense vegetation, and warm environments. By taking measures to mosquito-proof your campsite, you can significantly reduce their presence and likelihood of annoying you.

Here are some of our top tips for campsite mosquito control.

Assess Your Campsite

When considering how to keep mosquitoes away while camping, the number one thing to look for is standing water. Mosquitoes breed there, so make sure to eliminate any standing water from your campsite. A bottle cap full of water alone can breed over 300 mosquitoes. By removing stagnant water, you will ensure that more mosquitoes won’t appear.

Additionally, set up your campsite away from marshy areas, slow-moving rivers and streams, leaf debris, and heavily wooded areas. These landscapes are more attractive to mosquitoes and ticks; mosquitoes prefer damp areas, while ticks like taking shelter in shady spaces and areas with tall grass.

Choose the Right Equipment

If you’re roughing it and spending your camping trip in a tent rather than an RV, having the right tent works wonders for keeping mosquitoes at bay. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a tent for your next camping trip:

1. Purchase a tent with fine mesh screens. These screens have a tight weave that will keep mosquitoes out while still allowing for proper ventilation.
2. Choose a tent with a rainfly. A rainfly not only offers protection against the elements but also provides an additional layer of protection against pests. Ensure the rainfly extends beyond the mesh screens for added protection.
3. Consider a mosquito-proof entrance. Some tents are specially designed with entrances with double zippers and mesh layers. You can also get a tent with built-in bug repellent.

Keep Campsite Bug Repellent on Hand

Insect repellents line the shelves of drugstores during the summer months. Purchasing a bug spray that contains DEET will keep mosquitoes from biting while you’re pitching your tent, hiking, or biking.

For even more protection against these pests, pick up an insect repellent that is made with coconut oil compounds. A recent study showed that the fatty acids in coconut oil may be more effective at repelling mosquitoes and ticks than DEET.

You might also consider using essential oils. These extracts not only help you smell fresh while outdoors but can also repel annoying mosquitoes. Rosemary, thyme, eucalyptus, lavender, mint, and tea tree oils are effective insect repellents. These essential oils can act as a natural remedy for itchy mosquito bites. Check out our blog to learn more about how you can use these home remedies to relieve uncomfortable bites!

Wear the Correct Gear

If you plan on hiking, horseback riding, or fishing on your camping trip, be sure to pack and wear clothing that will protect you from mosquitoes and ticks. White and light-colored clothing will make you less attractive to mosquitoes. These pesky insects see dark colors better than light, so stay cool and avoid mosquito bites with light-colored clothing. When roaming in high grasses or heavily wooded areas, wear long pants tucked into socks and closed-toe shoes to prevent insects from attaching to your exposed skin.

Minimize Odors

One of the best tips for how to keep mosquitoes away while camping is to minimize odors. Certain odors emitted by our bodies and various camping items are natural attractants for mosquitoes. Here are some ways to minimize these odors:

• Avoid fragrant products – Mosquitoes can be drawn to perfumes, scented lotions, and soaps. Use unscented personal care items on your camping trip to avoid drawing mosquitoes to you.
• Keep your campsite tidy – Keep garbage tightly sealed (or better yet, get rid of it immediately) to prevent odors from attracting mosquitoes. Store food in tightly sealed containers and wash dishes immediately after meals.
• Use natural mosquito repellent – Certain scents naturally repel mosquitoes. Essential oils such as citronella, eucalyptus, and lavender can help deter mosquitoes. Use them as a bug repellent or set up diffusers around your campsite.
• Use citronella candles or torches – Assuming you are allowed to burn at your campsite, these candles or torches can be great for keeping mosquitoes away and provide you with a more enjoyable camping experience.

Mosquito-Proof Your Campsite

Camping can be fun and a great experience for the entire family. Taking the steps outlined above will help ensure your camping experience is memorable for all the right reasons. And when it’s time to relax in your outdoor spaces at home, following our advice can help keep mosquitoes and other pests away. If you’re looking for an easier, more efficient way to keep pests away for your outdoor fun, request a free quote from the local bug experts at Mosquito Joe. Because no matter where you spend your time outdoors, we know how to make it fun again!

Although the weather is warm and the sun is shining, fall is just around the corner. Summer months coming to an end does not necessarily mean we’re saying goodbye to warmer temperatures, or those mosquitoes, just yet. Canceling your mosquito control service might be on the top of your to-do list since cooler months are ahead and kids are back in school, but don’t let dropping temperatures trick you into ending your mosquito control service early! It’s important to continue with your barrier spray treatments so you can maintain a protected outdoor area for you and your family. After all, the air will be cooler and the humidity will subside; making it the perfect time of year to sit outside and enjoy a glass of wine or watch the kids play in the backyard after school. We wanted to share some information around the importance of completing the full season of barrier spray treatments before you consider canceling service.

If fall is quickly approaching, why continue service?

The last few sprays are some of the most important for a couple of reasons. Mosquitoes can be tricky creatures. They lay eggs, hibernate, and can survive some pretty frigid temperatures. The only things necessary in order for eggs to hatch are water and temperatures consistently above 50 degrees. This means mosquitoes may be continually living and breeding in your yard all year long. If you end your season early, female mosquitoes will have a chance to not only make your yard a home, but also to lay more eggs before the first freeze. Up to 300 eggs at a time to be exact! It is absolutely vital that our technicians get rid of those mosquitoes and mosquito larvae, by treating unavoidable areas of standing water which will keep your yard winterized. This will also keep ticks and fleas at bay.

It’s important to continue your barrier spray treatment as long as possible so you can continue to enjoy your yard as long as possible and ensure an itch-free start to 2019. If you have any questions about your season, contact your local Mosquito Joe, and they’ll be happy to explain the process to you.

Fall sports or events coming up? We’ve got you covered.

We offer commercial and special event sprays which could be great for fall sports and events. If your kiddos play football or soccer and you’d like an itch-free playing field, don’t hesitate to give us a call this fall! Because let’s face it, there is nothing worse than trying to cheer on your kids and enjoy a good game of ball while swatting away those pesky mosquitoes. We’d love to continue to partner with local sports leagues in our communities and ensure everyone’s eye is on the ball, not their ankles. Have an outside wedding or birthday party on the horizon? We can help keep mosquitoes off of your guest list so you can enjoy that special time together with family and friends. Call your local Mosquito Joe for more details!

Don’t let those mosquitoes trick you into ending service early or overlooking any commercials or special event sprays that may be necessary. You’ll thank us later!

Believe it or not, the first day of Fall is quickly approaching, which means the official end of summer is upon us. But just because we’re saying goodbye to summer on the calendar doesn’t mean we’re saying goodbye to warmer temperatures and those pesky mosquitoes. In most parts of the country, there are weeks (if not months!) of warm weather ahead, and with the temperatures cooling just a bit and humidity giving us a break, it’s the ideal time to enjoy the outdoors. You may be tempted to end your mosquito spraying season a bit early, especially if the kids are in school for a majority of the day. But we wanted to give you some information on why completing the full season of barrier spray treatments can help you avoid a frustrating start to your autumn and help your spring be a lot less itchy.

The Life Cycle of Mosquitoes

The last few sprays are some of the most important for a couple of reasons. Ending your spray season early not only breaks the barrier our services provide, it also gives mosquitoes a chance to breed. The time it takes a mosquito to complete the life cycle is 4-7 days. From the time a female lays her eggs to those eggs becoming biting adults is less than a week. Mosquitoes are tricky creatures. They lay eggs, hibernate, and can survive some pretty frigid temperatures throughout the winter months. All the eggs that were laid before hibernation can also survive the colder temps. They only need water and temperatures above 50 degrees to hatch! Cool weather like that might seem far off, but it’s only weeks away in some parts of the country. You might think the end of summer means the end of mosquitoes too, but stopping your mosquito control treatments early can backfire next year.

Avoid a Breeding Ground

If you end your season early, it gives female mosquitoes a chance to not only make your yard a home, but lay more eggs before the first freeze. That last mosquito treatment spray is vitally important to make sure technicians get rid of those last mosquitoes and mosquito larvae. Along with the barrier spray, our technicians can treat areas of standing water that are unavoidable. Examples of these are pool covers, creeks in your yard with muddy banks, or the base of flower pots. The technicians can treat these areas to make sure they stay free of mosquito larvae which keeps your yard “winterized.” If the last spray and treated areas of water are completed, then there’s no spring hatching in your yard!

We know it’s tempting to cancel service, but after a long day at school, those kiddos will be itching for some outside fun at home. We want to make sure that’s the only itching going on around your house. If you have any questions about your season, contact your local Mosquito Joe, and they’ll be happy to explain the process to you.

Don’t let mosquitoes trick you into ending service before the season ends. You’ll thank us later.