Mosquito Control: After it Rains
By, Caroline Martin
Many times we see an increase in mosquitoes after several rain storms. Why is this? Mosquitoes breed in standing water, even water a quarter of an inch deep!
They lay their eggs either on or next to the standing water and it only takes about 4 days for the hatched larvae to become adult mosquitoes. Within a week after a rain storm, you could have a whole family of mosquitoes living in your yard!
There are several ways to go about preventing this from happening. Make sure to check all around your yard for places where standing water may have collected.
Common places include:
-Dog bowls
-Gutters (be sure to clean these out regularly)
-Bird baths
-Hollow plants
-Swimming pools
-Ponds
-Tires
-Wheelbarrows
If you own containers, like rain buckets, or other devices for collecting water, make sure to cover them after it rains.
Sometimes mosquitoes can also breed in tall grass. Making sure to keep your grass cut short is a huge way to prevent mosquitoes from populating in your yard.