Our Top Mosquito Control and Prevention Tips

mosquito control prevention tips for memphis residents

Those hot and humid Memphis summers can be a time to relax outdoors, but they’re also the time of year when mosquitoes run rampant.

If you’re dealing with these annoying pests, there are natural ways to kill mosquitos that won’t harm the environment.

Read on to discover natural ways you can say goodbye to mosquitoes in Memphis for a pleasant, itch-free spring and summer.

Get Rid of Standing Water

Mosquitos breed in stagnant water, even if it’s not near a lake or other body of water. To get rid of these pests near your home, take a look around and check for any stagnant water that could be sitting near your property.

Overturned tires, buckets, and other items can fill with rainwater, making it the perfect breeding ground for these biting bugs. Remove anything that’s holding water, and make sure you either dispose of it or turn it upside down so it doesn’t till up again.

If you use outdoor storage for water, try to keep it covered and secure. Check around your outdoor air conditioning unit and try to keep that area as dry as possible so you don’t entice them to breed near your home.

Natural Ways to Kill Mosquitos with Herbs

Certain herbs and other plants have shown to be an effective mosquito repellant. Plant a few herbs like rosemary, lavender, and citronella in your garden.

You can also enjoy these beautiful herbs indoors to keep mosquitos at bay. Get creative and make a lovely indoor herb garden that will not only keep these pests away, but that will also add a nice touch of greenery to your kitchen.

Do a little bit of research to find out which types of herbs thrive in the Memphis area. Plant them in your garden, around the edge of your home, and indoors for the best results.

Set a Trap

Standard insecticides can be harmful to the environment and to your physical health. You can try this safe home remedy to trap these pesky bugs that can be used indoors and outside.

Place a dish full of soapy water on your porch whenever you entertain to keep mosquitos at bay. It’s best to use dish soap that will create a lot of bubbles for the most effective results.

Since mosquitos are attracted to water, they’ll be lured to the bowl. Once they hit the water, the soapy bubbles trap them and they cannot escape and eventually die. This effective trap also works indoors, too.

Prevent Mosquitos from Breeding Near Pools and Ponds

If you have a pool or a decorative pond outside, these features tend to attract mosquitos when the water is stagnant. To prevent a Memphis mosquito problem, use a pump to keep the water constantly moving.

Look for the best pump possible for your pool or pond that will ensure the water is always flowing rapidly. If the water stays in motion all day and night, most mosquitos will simply move on.

Another effective measure of protection is to treat your swimming pool with special chemicals designed to kill or repel mosquitos. Check your pond or pool on a regular basis to ensure that there’s no evidence of mosquitos breeding or hovering around.

Try Essential Oils

The ingredient DEET was used as an insect repellant for decades, but studies have shown it can be extremely harmful to health and the environment. Instead of store-bought mosquito killers and repellant, try essential oils instead.

Lemon eucalyptus oil is a highly effective mosquito repellant. The CDC has approved eucalyptus oil and states that it is an effective ingredient that works.

If you really want to kill those Memphis mosquitos, cinnamon oil is also extremely effective. This oil actually kills the eggs so that the pests cannot continue to breed and bite.

Of course, you can also use citronella to keep mosquitos and other pests away. This natural oil smells incredible and can be found as a raw oil and in candles that you can use outdoors to prevent mosquitos from attacking as you entertain.

Use Fans Strategically

If you place a few fans on your deck or porch in a strategic way, it can actually keep mosquitos and other insects away. Mosquitos are weak flyers, and they can’t handle heavy winds or strong streams of air.

With the right strength, fans can reduce the number of insects in your outdoor space by significant numbers. You may need to experiment with different fans, different levels of airflow, and in different places.

Once you find the sweet spot, you should notice a major drop in the number of mosquitos you’re dealing with. Fans break the flow of carbon dioxide, which can throw mosquitos off guard when they’re looking for food.

Not only will an outdoor fan keep pests away, but it will also keep you and your guests nice and cool. Just make sure your fan is safe to use outside, and always unplug it when it’s not in use. The less sweat and body heat you produce, the less enticing you’ll be to those nasty biting mosquitos.

Give Oranges a Try

Oranges and orange oil can repel insects in a natural way. In fact, a lot of mass-produced repellants and bug sprays include this oil as an ingredient.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on expensive bug sprays. Instead, try your own at-home remedy with real oranges. If you have a plug-in insect repelling device, cut an orange peel to the same size as the refills and use it instead.

Another way to use oranges to your advantage is to simply cut them up and place them in bowls around your home. Not only will this help to keep mosquitos away, but it will also leave your home smelly citrusy and fresh. You also won’t need to worry about breathing in harsh chemicals with an orange.

Mosquito Coils

This unique product is popular throughout Asia and South America, but you can also find it in the USA. Mosquito coils are similar to incense and burn slowly using a coiled-up shape that can be placed on a dish to catch the ashes.

You can set your mosquito coil on the ground near where you and your guests sit outside. This unusual incense is all-natural and made from pyrethrum powder. The powder is made from dried heads of the Chrysanthemum flower.

When you light the mosquito coil, make sure it “catches” the flame so it continues to burn. You can find these unusual mosquito killers online and at many hardware stores. They have a pleasant scent, which makes them a wonderful alternative to chemical-laden sprays.

Mosquitos Hate Old Coffee Grounds

You might know it, but your used coffee grounds can actually work to repel mosquitos. This eco-friendly and natural alternative is a smart way to reuse those grounds that would normally go into a landfill.

Remove the coffee grounds from your coffee pot and sprinkle them around your deck and patio area. You can also sprinkle them in the garden and in hedges around the perimeter of your home. Coffee grounds are also a wonderful compost, so they’re great for the health of your plants, too.

This simple anti-mosquito hack should help to keep those pesky Memphis mosquitos away all summer long. If you plan to spend a lot of time outside, add some old coffee grinds to a bowl and place it near you for a quick repellant.

Wave Goodbye to Mosquitoes

Even though the warm months bring lots of pests to the Memphis area, you can try these natural ways to kill mosquitoes so you won’t worry about those itchy bites. From essential oils to coffee grinds and oranges, give some of these ideas a try.

When you’re ready to call in a professional mosquito exterminatorcontact us for a free estimate!

Read More: Memphis Mosquito Control Guide

Spring Pest Control Advice for Memphis Homeowners

Spring pest control services memphis tn

Finally, winter is nearly over and spring is here! While spring brings the budding of new life, cheery flowers, and warmer temperatures, it also brings spring pests.

Common springtime pests can cause infestations for Memphis homeowners if not taken care of early. The following are the top spring pests Memphis homeowners should avoid.

Bees & Yellow Jackets

Bees, and more specifically, yellow jackets, are common in the spring. They search for places to build their paper nests made of chewed up cellulose materials behind walls, in attics, chimneys, decks, and porches. You may find them swarming around outdoor events or garbage cans looking for sweets and proteins.

Yellow jackets are aggressive and territorial. They’re capable of stinging a person or animal multiple times. The safest way to get rid of yellow jacket nests is with professional pest removal.

Mosquitos

Mosquitos carry a host of diseases including Zika, West Nile, and dengue fever. Be sure to remove standing water from your property which can serve as a warm, moist environment for mosquito breeding grounds.

If you notice high volumes of mosquitos on your property, you may have a mosquito infestation. To enjoy spring days and evenings outside, call your local pest control experts for mosquito extermination.

Termites

Termites are especially active in the spring months as they search for food. They feed on cellulose found in wood, leaves, and soil. Termites can sneak through cracks in your foundation and travel behind walls or underneath flooring to feed on structural wood.

Even worse, termites can hide in your home for years without you knowing. At the first sign of termites, call the local pest control experts. DIY termite control is not recommended due to the difficult nature of exterminating these pests.

Ants

Common springtime ants include large carpenter ants and small sugar ants. Carpenter ants prefer moist environments in decaying wood and often sneak inside homes in search of food. While they don’t eat wood like termites, they tunnel through wood and can leave structural damage.

Sugar ants are small black ants which invade homes through tiny cracks in search of food. Prevent sugar ants from coming inside by cleaning up spilled food, sealing cracks, and trimming bushes and trees near the exterior of your home.

Ant infestations can be difficult to control. If DIY methods stopped working, contact pest control experts to locate ant nests and eliminate the source of the problem.

Ticks

Ticks are a big concern for outdoor enthusiasts because they carry Lyme disease. They are prevalent in the Northeast, Northern Midwest, and areas west of the Rockies.

Ticks may not invade your Memphis home, but they can be carried inside by humans or pets on exposed skin when hiking or running through wooded areas. Protect yourself with tick repellent and perform a whole body check on yourself and your pets within 36 hours of returning from an area where ticks are present.

If ticks, mosquitos, ants, termites, or bees are targeting your home or keeping you from enjoying a beautiful spring day, call Inman-Murphy Termite & Pest Control. We have the experience and eco-friendly solutions to ensure the safe removal of any pest.

Enjoy Your End of Summer Barbecue with These Pest Prevention Tips

 

There’s nothing like end of summer barbecues to celebrate the final days of warm weather before fall and winter return. Grilling outside and enjoying time with family and friends are what great memories are made of. The only things that could ruin a perfectly good backyard barbecue are pesky bees, ants, and mosquitoes.

Outdoor lawn pest control can help alleviate these end of summer nuisances with simple prevention. Don’t let your last days of summer be ruined by pesky insects. Use these tips to prevent unwanted guests.

Outdoor Pest Control for Summer BBQs

  • Avoid sweet smelling candles or fragrances. Use citronella, cinnamon, or mint candles to keep insects, especially mosquitoes, at bay.
  • Make sure doors and windows have proper screens without holes or tears to avoid outdoor pests coming inside.
  • Search for wasp nests on or under your porch, in the eaves, or near your grill. Remove nests before family or guests arrive.
  • Place your grill in a central area with plenty sun to discourage bugs.
  • Keep trash cans a short walk away from areas where your guests will be hanging out.
  • Put easy covers over food. Remove them when it’s time to eat and put them back on after everyone has dished up.
  • Provide lids for sweet drinks to avoid fruit flies or wasps ruining drinks.
  • Keep a box fan circulating the air. The consistent breeze bothers most insects.

Lawn Pest Control Tips and Tricks

  • Mow your lawn and weed your gardens to reduce places for insects to hide and make their new home.
  • Release stagnant water (bird baths and small ponds or pools) to keep mosquitos away.
  • Remove fallen fruit or berries to eliminate sweet temptations.
  • Discourage ants by sprinkling a ring of corn starch or baby powder around your table.
  • Hire a professional outdoor pest control company to spray throughout your yard—especially where your guests will spend the most time.

With advanced planning, your end of summer barbecues will be filled with more fun and laughter and less pesky bugs.

Call Inman-Murphy to schedule a pest control and prevention treatment. Let us to nip your bug problem in the bud with our outdoor pest control and lawn pest control services.

5 Ways Pest Control Professionals Improve Quality of Life

The modern world has a lot to be grateful for when it comes to quality of life. Not the least of these are the advances in pest control and prevention. A pest control professional can fight bugs that once wreaked havoc and improve your quality of life in the following ways.

We Get to the Root of the Problem

When treating bug problems on your own, you can’t be sure you’ve eliminated the root problem. Sure, you can probably keep your carpet from hopping with bugs. However, those bugs may have left eggs that will produce hundreds of creepy critters within weeks. A professional can make sure both bugs and eggs are gone. As pest professionals are in the industry everyday, we have a little extra expertise in all things bugs. Because this is our livelihood, we are able to help you get the best overall solution to your pest problem.

We Protect You From Health Threats

A mosquito can leave you with more than itchy bite marks. They can carry diseases like West Nile Virus. That’s just one example of a disease spread by pests. Pest control and prevention will lessen your risk of serious illness spread by mosquitos, ticks, rodents and more. Having regular pest control service will only help ensure you are protected on an on-going basis from health threats that pests and rodents may bring around.

We Protect Your (and the Public’s) Food Supply

Pests are not just a residential issue. They pose a threat to public health if they infest commercial food processing plants or restaurants. Pest control professionals are one piece of the puzzle in assuring our food sources and supplies are kept sanitary and healthy.

We Can Help Prevent Damage to Your Property

Ever had to deal with a couch infested with bed bugs? How about a wall destroyed by termites? When your home’s bug population gets out of control, your belongings and your home are at risk. Pest control professionals make sure your property is safe by dealing immediately with bugs.

We Help Provide You With Peace of Mind

A professional takes the mystery out of pest control and prevention. They can help you get a plan in place to keep your home free from critters. You won’t have to worry about long term damage or health concerns associated with pests, and you won’t have to be worried whether your home and yard is harboring potentially harmful, and disgusting bugs.

If you’re worried about pests in your home, don’t hesitate to contact us online anytime or call 901-388-0852 for a free pest control estimate.

Inman-Murphy can restore your peace of mind by getting your pest issues under control.

Summer Pest Prevention Tips for Memphis Homeowners

Memphis Pest Prevention for summer

Summer is the time of year we love to get outdoors, relax, and enjoy the weather and all that our beautiful area has to offer.

That means summer picnics, fireworks, backyard barbecues, fun get-togethers, and maybe even some camping.

But along with all this summer fun comes a few annoyances: pests

Although some bugs and pests can be dangerous, the vast majority of insects and outdoor pests we deal with here are more bothersome and annoying than anything else.

Here are our best tips for our Memphis area friends looking to keep pests at a minimum this summer.

Indoor Pest Prevention Tips:

One of the things you need to be aware of is that extended periods of dry, warm weather affects the food supply for bugs—this forces pests such as spiders, ants, scorpions and rodents to venture indoors for food and water.

  • Keep all food closed up tight, put away (keep it in the fridge if you need to), and don’t leave pet’s water and food bowl full overnight.
  • Seal your doors to prevent easy entrance points for ants, spiders, and the like.
  • Make sure screens on windows and doors are not ripped or shredded. This is a common entrance point for flying insects like mosquitoes, bees, and wasps.
  • Empty your trash cans regularly, especially if you throw out leftover food in it.

Outdoors Pest Prevention Tips:

This is the most common pest area we deal with, so pay extra attention outside your home so you’ll be able to enjoy the outdoors more this summer.

  • Get rid of standing water wherever you can. This breeds mosquitoes and other water loving insects. Replace standing water in places such as birdbaths, at least once a week. Do not use pesticides in these birdbaths or small ponds if you expect other animals such as birds to enjoy the water.
  • Remove excess weeds and grasses along with trash and dried, dead leaves from around your home. These are great breeding grounds for spiders and other pests.
  • Keep grass cut short to limit areas that bugs tend to love.

For both indoors and outdoors pest control and prevention, it’s a good idea to hire a professional pest control service to help you really keep bugs under control.

With summer in full effect here, it’s time to contact Inman-Murphy Pest Control for all of your Memphis pest prevention needs. (901) 388-0852

Fall Pest Prevention Tips for Memphis Residents

Spiders, beetles, box elder bugs, rodents, and other pests begin to move indoors as temperatures drop and cooler weather approaches. These pests like to use walls, voids, basements and attics as their winter retreats.

First and foremost, take the right steps to prevent a rodent infestation.

Those steps include:

What can you do?

  1. Don’t allow pet foods and bird seed to accumulate in your yard, garage or anywhere around the house
  2. Make sure wood piles and vegetation are away from the sides of the house
  3. Ensure that your trash bins have secure lids, and don’t over fill them
  4. Turn over your compost pile regularly to check that rodents haven’t infested it – they love compost