Tag Archives: mosquito-free

As you’re making that to-do list for your Fourth of July festivities (8 days, but who is counting?) we have one you need to move to the top! Sure you need groceries, sunscreen, and maybe even some decorations, but have you called MoJo? Make sure you call your local Mosquito Joe this week to make sure you’re on the schedule for a barrier spray treatment before the big holiday. We’re pretty sure mosquitoes aren’t on your guest list, so we can help you make sure they don’t show up. Schedules are filling up quickly so call now!

And speaking of groceries and July 4th we’ve got the perfect side dish to go with your burgers and brats. Since you’ve got that grill fired up, make some room for some Jalapeno-Lime Corn.

• 8 ears fresh corn, husks removed
• Vegetable cooking spray
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
• 1 small garlic clove, pressed
• 1 tablespoon lime zest
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro
• Garnish: lime zest

1. 1. Preheat grill to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Coat corn lightly with cooking spray. Sprinkle with desired amount of salt and pepper. Grill corn, covered with grill lid, 15 minutes or until golden brown, turning occasionally.
2. 2. Meanwhile, stir together butter and next 5 ingredients. Remove corn from grill, and cut into thirds. Serve corn with butter mixture.

Now that you’re writing that down, give us a call. Mosquitoes aren’t on your guest list, and Mosquito Joe will make sure they don’t party crash.

 

We all know what today is. It is a glorious day where pranks are allowed, encouraged, and that some of us fall victim to. It is April Fools Day. I can remember in high school thinking it was hilarious to call my parents (who had graciously added me to their insurance policy) to tell them I had just received my third speeding ticket. That April Fools Day joke was a huge fail, and thankfully my need for speed has slowed with age. Probably because I pay my own insurance now!

One thing that we don’t joke about around Mosquito Joe is the health issues that come along with mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. Normally we’re discussing ways to keep you humans safe, but what you might not know is that we’re looking out for your four legged friends too. Did you know mosquitoes, fleas and ticks can cause all of the following in dogs and cats?

• Allergies
• Tapeworms
• Heartworm
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
• Skin Infections
• Lyme
• Tick paralysis
• Ehrlichia

Mosquito Joe offers you the best offense to these diseases, and that’s a good defense. Protecting your yard with our barrier sprays eliminates fleas and ticks keeping your pets safe and healthy. Spring time should be a time of fetch, chase, and wiggles in the grass, so make sure you contact your local Mosquito Joe and get on the schedule. If not for you, do it for your pets! Outside can be fun again for them, too. And that’s no joke.

We know how much Mosquito Joe customers love their lawns and every spring we look forward to getting back out there and seeing your beautiful landscapes. (Not to mention, we love making them mosquito free so you can enjoy them, too!) Spotting clover on your pristine lawn would probably send you running for the weed killer, but four leaf clovers are a different story, right? According to Irish and Celtic tradition, those infamous leaves bring good luck to their finders. Each leaf is believed to represent something: the first is for faith, the second is for hope, the third is for love, and the fourth is for, of course, luck.

Whatever your heritage is, and whether you find a four leaf clover or not, we hope you have a wonderful day celebrating the feast of St. Patrick. We hope it includes hope, love, some luck, and maybe even a little bit of MoJo.

We loves feasts, so in honor of this one we have a recipe for Guinness cupcakes we think you’ll love too. Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Mosquito Joe!

Whether we like it or not, we have a few more weeks to wait for the warmer seasons. The official start of spring is 3 weeks away and some parts of the country are still dealing with winter weather and freezing temperatures. Does that mean mosquito control is something that shouldn’t be on our minds yet? Well, not exactly.

Even during winter months and cold temperatures, female mosquitoes are around. They go into a state called diapause.  David Denlinger is an entomologist at Ohio State University in Columbus and he describes diapause as a state where mosquitoes “essentially shut down their development and hunker it out until spring comes.” The mosquito eggs are even more resilient. Mosquito eggs have been known to stand up to many harsh situations and survive through them. While it is very common for female mosquitoes to lay their eggs on or near standing water, they can survive desert situations, freezing temperatures, and other forces of nature such as storms. Keep in mind once a mosquito egg hatches it becomes an adult (adult = biting) in 4-7 days, so this process is a quick one.

How can you avoid a spring hatching of mosquitoes in your yard? Remember, snow melts into water. Make sure your yards are clear of anything that can catch rainwater or melting snow. These can include something as simple as a child’s toy, a shovel laying on the ground, flower pots or a swing. Keep these empty and you can avoid an overabundance of mosquito eggs. And of course, go ahead and get on the schedule for the first spray of the season with your local Mosquito Joe. We’ll make sure you spend your time doing the things you love instead of swatting this spring and summer.

photo credit: NPR

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