Tag Archives: mosquito treatment

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

When you are trying out a new product or service, the natural response is to have questions about how it works, what it does, and different factors that can affect it. That is true for mosquito treatment services and our customers. There are many questions not only new customers ask, but customers who have been sprayed for multiple seasons. We have a Frequently Asked Questions section on our website, but every once in a while it doesn’t hurt to expand on one of those answers and give you more information about our sprays.

A big question we always get, especially after a big storm, is how rain affects the product we use when we treat your yard. Most people reason that rain washes the product away, requiring a re-spray, but actually the opposite is true. As long as your yard has had adequate time to dry and the product has had time to bond to the foliage (usually about 30 minutes) rain should not impact the effectiveness of your service. It is actually the sun that breaks down the product over time, not rain.

Lots of areas in the country are experiencing higher than average rainfall this season, and since rain creates areas of standing water, allowing mosquitoes to hatch, it is completely normal to worry that your service is being interrupted by the drops. The good news is that we are always watching the weather and we make sure if rain is in the forecast we push your scheduled service up a day or back a day. We want to make sure your yard has the allotted dry time to make sure the barrier around your home is set properly. It’s also important to remember that our MoJo guarantee still stands, rain or shine. If the quality of your barrier has been affected by rain, we will return to your yard to ensure you are mosquito free and enjoying your yard.

photo credit: N1CT4YL0R via photopin cc

Memorial Day weekend is a cause for both celebration and remembrance. As we all fire up our grills, uncover our pools, and dust off those beach chairs to welcome the unofficial start to summer, it is also a time to remember those that gave their lives so that we could enjoy these freedoms. Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service.

Here are a few ways you can celebrate the patriotism of the day:

• Have a picnic with family and friends and talk about what Memorial Day means to you.
• Venture to a parade or memorial service locally. For a listing of Click here.
• Participate in a National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time to pause and think about the true meaning of the day.
• Throw an informal barbecue with all the fixings. Have guests don patriotic gear and fly the American flag.

Whatever you do, remember that mosquitoes don’t have to be on your guest list as you and your family and friends celebrate Memorial Day. Let Mosquito Joe ensure your Memorial Day celebrations are itch-free. Give us a call today and set up your special event barrier spray treatment before it is too late! Use us one time, or continue with us all summer – with no contracts required and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, the choice is yours!

We wish everyone a fabulous holiday weekend as we honor and remember all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

Photo from https://tastykitchen.com

In 1897 author David Flanery described an insect by saying it was “the shyest, sliest  meanest, and most venomous of all.” Unfortunately, he was not talking about something out of a horror film, he was describing a mosquito! Mega-mosquito, that is. The “gallinipper” is a floodwater mosquito with a body about half an inch long, making it twenty times larger than the average mosquito, and while the bite doesn’t actually contain venom, it is said to be very painful. While this type of mosquito is nothing new, they’ve made a lot of headlines lately as Florida could be set for an overabundance of the unwelcome insect this season.

University of Florida entomologist Phil Kaufman says in 2012 the state had a surge of the huge, biting insects and there is concern of a repeat. “I wouldn’t be surprised, given the numbers we saw last year,” said Kaufman, an associate professor with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “When we hit the rainy cycle we may see that again.”

The female lays eggs in soil at the edges of ponds, streams and other water bodies that overflow when heavy rains come. The big problem with the gallinipper is their eggs can remain dry and dormant for years. All the eggs need to hatch is high waters to come along, like Tropical Storm Debby last year that brought on the surge of gallinippers. With those females having laid eggs, all it would take is one good rain for those dormant eggs to hatch. Even in their larval stage, gallinippers are so tough they’ll eat tadpoles!

The good news? These mosquitoes are not known to transmit any diseases so while they’re a nuisance, they’re not as dangerous as some other mosquitoes. The bad news? Kaufman stated that due to their size, these mosquitoes may be immune to insect repellents that contain the well-known ingredient DEET, meaning Florida residents will need to find an alternative to many of the off-the-shelf mosquito repellent products if they want to avoid a run in with these pesky fliers.

Will these mega mosquitoes become an issue in other parts of the U.S.? That may be the question in a lot of people’s minds as the press about gallinippers continues. Fortunately for communities with Mosquito Joe, the product used in our mosquito treatments IS effective on the gallinipper as well as your every day mosquitoes, ticks and fleas. We’re not in Florida yet but we’re planning to be there soon.

If Mosquito Joe is not in your area, why not become your community’s solution (and hero!) by opening your own Mosquito Joe business? We currently have franchise opportunities available across the U.S. Contact us for more information.

Source: https://news.ufl.edu/2013/03/04/big-skeeter/
(UF/IFAS photo by Marisol Amador )