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Mosquito Control Guide for Memphis Homeowners

With the weather warming up, many of us are looking forward to getting back out in our yards. You may be daydreaming of cooking on the barbeque, lounging by the pool, playing on the lawn, or having drinks on your patio.

But nothing can ruin all that summer fun faster than having to beat off a swarm of mosquitoes.

Mosquito control is important, and not just for preventing those annoying bites. Read on to learn more about why you should keep your mosquito population under control and how a mosquito control service can help.

Meet the Mosquito

Before we dive into how to manage mosquito control, let’s talk about the mosquito.

There are more than 3,500 known species of mosquitoes worldwide, about 200 of which are native to the United States. Of these 200, twelve species of mosquitos are capable of spreading diseases to humans.

Mosquitoes are small, blood-sucking insects, though only the females drink blood, while the males feed on plant nectar. When mosquitoes feed on prey, they inject their saliva into the victim to act as an anticoagulant, keeping blood flowing without clotting.

This saliva injection is how mosquitos spread the diseases they carry.

Mosquito Breeding Cycles

Before you try to get rid of them, it’s important to understand how they work. The mosquito mating pattern is quite unique since females only need to encounter a male once to mate and can produce eggs up to five times in a summer.

After a female mosquito mates, she rests for a few days before finding an ideal spot to lay her eggs. They prefer to lay eggs in water, marshes, swamps, or any location with high levels of moisture.

As baby mosquitos hatch, they become larvae and mature into pupae before becoming an adult mosquito. Their lifecycle can depend on mating, species type, weather conditions, and more.

Mosquito Concerns

Naturally, one of the biggest concerns with mosquito infestations is their potential for carrying disease. Mosquitoes can transmit more than a dozen different diseases, with one of the most dangerous being malaria.

Each year, almost 700 million people get mosquito-borne diseases, and one million people die from them.

While malaria is one of the most well-known mosquito-borne diseases, these insects can also spread West Nile virus and yellow fever. There are several types of encephalitis, a dangerous condition in which your brain becomes inflamed, that you can catch from mosquitos.

Mosquitos also spread dengue fever, Zika fever, chikungunya, and several other dangerous fever diseases.

Protect Yourself First

When you’re trying to control mosquito populations, one of the first things you should do is protect yourself. Although mosquitos can feed on other prey and plants, feeding on blood allows them to produce more eggs. By cutting off their food supply, not only do you help to reduce mosquito populations, but you also avoid annoying bites.

Any time you plan to be outside, especially for extended periods of time, use an EPA-approved insect repellant. This is most important at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active, and when you’ll be around large bodies of standing water.

Wearing long sleeves, pants, shoes, and socks can also help prevent mosquito bites.

Get Rid of Standing Water

Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing freshwater, so one of the keys to controlling their population is to reduce these breeding grounds. In nature, they will often breed in lakes, ponds, or even puddles that stick around for long enough.

But they can also breed in areas as small as a rain-filled bucket or an overturned kiddie pool.

Try to get rid of any standing water in your yard or surrounding your property as soon as possible, especially in the summer months. Dump out buckets, pack away pools with no filtration systems, and keep gutters clear and in working order. You may also need to fill low spots in your yard that gather water or set up more efficient drain systems.

Use Fans

It may sound strange, but taking the simple measure of setting up fans around your home and yard can help deter mosquitoes. Mosquitoes have light, spindly bodies, and each one weighs only 5 milligrams, about as much as a grain of sand.

This makes it very hard for them to fly against any sort of moving air current.

Set up oscillating fans around the area you plan to spend time in when you’re outside, or even in your home. For one thing, in the summer (when mosquitoes are most active), these fans will help keep you and your family more comfortable. But the moving air will also make it impossible for mosquitoes to get near you to bite you.

Set Mosquito Traps

Another great way to reduce mosquito populations around your yard is to set up mosquito traps. These traps imitate the scents and visual cues (heat, etc.) that draw mosquitoes to humans. They then trap them on a sticky surface, zap them with electricity, or simply vacuum them up.

You’ll need to set up your mosquito trap in a shady area of your yard, away from any fans or other repellants you have set up. You may also want to experiment with placing the traps in different areas to find the most effective spots.

If you’re the crafty sort, you can even make your own mosquito trap at home.

Burn Citronella Candles

If you’d like to add a little more ambiance to your outdoor living space and avoid mosquitoes at the same time, you can light special candles. Citronella candles can add the charm of flickering candlelight, as well as repelling mosquitoes. You can also find citronella lanterns if you prefer a steadier light source or use them on camping trips.

Citronella is an essential oil distilled from an Asian grass plant known as lemon balm. Aside from helping to repel mosquitoes and other insects, citronella oil is believed to help boost your mood and fight fatigue.

It is also a popular ingredient in perfumes and food flavorings, so your yard will smell fantastic and be mosquito-free.

Treat Ponds and Pools

If you have a pool in your backyard, it can automatically become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. This is especially true for ponds and pools that don’t have circulating filtration systems.

Luckily, you can keep your pool or water feature without setting up a mosquito nursery in your backyard.

You can buy larvicide products that will kill any mosquito larvae laid in your pool or pond. You may want to look for a product that has BTI, a naturally occurring, non-toxic bacterium that kills mosquito larvae, in it.

You should also consider covering your pool or pond at night or when it isn’t in use to keep mosquitoes from laying eggs there.

Keep Your Lawn Mowed

You might be surprised to learn that keeping your lawn neatly manicured can help to reduce mosquito populations in your yard. Mosquitoes like to rest in cool, damp areas, where they’re less likely to get baked by the sun. Overgrown grass and weeds provide them the perfect shade they need during the hottest parts of the day.

Keeping your lawn mowed can remove these shady refuges and keep mosquitoes out of your yard.

You should aim to cut your grass when it’s about one-third higher than you want it to be. How often you need to mow will depend on everything from how much rain you’ve gotten to what kind of grass you have.

Plant Mosquito-Repellant Plants

While you’re working on your landscaping, you may also want to consider putting in some new plants. There are several plants that are natural mosquito repellants. Having these around your yard, especially close to decks, patios, and pools, can help to keep your yard a mosquito-free zone.

You won’t be surprised to learn that lemon balm is at the top of the list of mosquito repellant plants, as is lemongrass. Lavender, marigolds, and geraniums can all add some color and beauty to your yard while keeping mosquitoes away.

Basil, garlic, rosemary, peppermint, and sage can give you delicious fresh herbs to cook with while repelling unwanted insects.

Hire a Mosquito Control Service

One of the best ways to manage the mosquito population in your yard is to hire a professional Memphis mosquito control service. These professionals have the know-how and the tools to be able to eliminate mosquitoes safely and effectively. Best of all, you don’t have to do anything but sit back and enjoy your mosquito-free yard.

Mosquito control services know how to kill mosquitoes at all stages of life, from eggs to adults. They also know how to safely handle the chemicals that are needed to deal with serious mosquito infestations.

Using these chemicals incorrectly could be very dangerous for the wildlife in your yard, as well as pets and children.

Backyard Basics for Memphis Mosquito Control

Here’s our quick recap of how to keep mosquitoes out of your yard this season. Removing potential mosquito-breeding sites from your backyard is critical to reducing the number of mosquitos in your yard.

Dump water in cans, buckets, or anything that can hold rainwater. Scrub the sides to make sure eggs fall on the ground so they can’t hatch.
Keep drainage areas clear of leaves or trash so water flows away from your home (this includes gutters).
Fix leaky faucets.
Change the water in bird baths and drip trays in flower pots often.
Cover trash containers to keep out water.
Turn over boats or kayaks.
Check tarps over firewood or swimming pools for pooling water and larvae.
Repair or replace screens over windows and doors.
Keep grass and shrubs trimmed short. Mosquitos like to hide away from the sun.

Find the Best Mosquito Control Service for You

Keeping mosquito populations under control is very important for a variety of reasons. Not only are bites itchy and annoying, but mosquitoes can also carry several very dangerous diseases.

Make sure to eliminate any standing pools of water, set up fans, and call a mosquito control service to handle any mosquitoes living in your yard.

If you’re in or near Memphis and are looking to find the best pest control service around, check out the rest of our site at Inman-Murphy. We can help you get rid of termites, bedbugs, roaches, spiders, wasps, mosquitoes, and more.

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 exterminator—contact us for a free estimate!

Read More: Memphis Mosquito Control Guide

Mosquito Control: How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes Before They Get You!

The U.S. is home to 176 recognized species of mosquitoes. Chances are good you have some of the mosquito population living in your backyard.

There’s also a good chance you’ve dealt with the buzzing, annoying, biting insects when you try to spend time outdoors. The resulting itchy bites serve as a lasting reminder of the mosquito population in your yard.

Mosquitoes are more than just annoying. They can carry diseases, including the West Nile virus, which is the most common disease caused by mosquitoes in the continental U.S.

Mosquito control keeps you from itching and cuts your chances of getting West Nile or other diseases caused by mosquitoes. Using multiple methods to repel mosquitoes is often the most effective.

Keep reading to discover how to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard before they turn into a major infestation.

Clean Up Your Yard

Debris in your yard gives mosquitoes shelter and makes your space more hospitable toward the insects. Clean up your outdoor spaces to make it less friendly to mosquitoes.

Remove branches, old tires, trash, and other debris in your yard. Keep your grass trimmed regularly.

Gutters also need regular cleaning. If you let leaves and debris build up in the gutters, the rain can’t drain well. Water can pool in the gutter, which gives mosquitoes a place to lay their eggs.

Take Care of Standing Water

Standing water creates the perfect breeding ground for a mosquito infestation. It helps to understand the life cycle to know why standing water is bad.

The mosquito life cycle begins in water. Adult mosquitoes lay eggs in or near water. In dry conditions, the eggs often can last a few months.

They hatch when they’re exposed to water. The first three stages, egg, larva, and pupa, are spent in the water. It’s not until the mosquito is an adult that it flies.

You can cut down on the number of mosquitoes in your yard if you eliminate standing water. That takes away the breeding and hatching ground for future generations of mosquitoes. Even a very small collection of water can be enough for mosquitoes to thrive.

Walk around your property to spot areas where water collects. Containers, such as flower pot and saucers, can accumulate rain and water you use to irrigate your plants. Kids’ swimming pools, birdbaths, and backyard ponds are also common sources of water.

If you have a boat, RV, or similar items in your yard with a cover on them, the tarp can collect water. Anywhere the tarp curves down, the water can collect. Smooth and secure the tarp to avoid any depressions so the water rolls off instead of collecting.

Rain barrels are an eco-friendly option for your home, but they can also attract mosquitoes. Keep your barrel covered well to keep mosquitoes out.

Water can also collect in low-lying areas, such as ditches or sloped areas. Look for spots where water tends to collect after rain. Adding drainage solutions to those areas can help keep water from pooling.

Treat Birdbaths and Other Water

Some sources of water are decorative, and you don’t want to drain them. This might include birdbaths, ponds, and decorative fountains.

Changing the water in those places frequently can prevent the mosquitoes from reaching maturity. Put fresh water in at least once per week.

Another option is to treat the water with bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI). It’s bacteria that kills the mosquito larvae without harming other living organisms. It also kills blackfly and fungus gnat larvae.

BTI is naturally occurring and isn’t harmful to humans or animals. It’s also approved for use in organic farming.

This mosquito-killing bacteria comes in granule form so you can sprinkle over areas such as gutters, flower pots, and other areas where water might collect. You can also get disks that float on the surface of open water.

Keep Weeds Under Control

Once mosquitoes develop into adults, they can fly around your yard. They’ll look for shelter around your property, especially places that are cool, damp, and covered.

Weeds and thick vegetation make a good spot for mosquitoes. Discourage them from hanging around in your yard by keeping up with your weeding, especially in areas close to your home or outdoor entertaining spaces.

Keeping shrubs and vegetation pruned can also help. Sunlight and wind can better dry out those areas when they’re pruned. Since mosquitoes prefer damp areas, this makes the areas less appealing to them.

Encourage Neighbors to Help

No matter how many mosquito control techniques you use, you may still have the pests in the area if your neighbors don’t help. Even if your yard is clean, the mosquitoes will likely fly over and visit if your neighbors have a mosquito-friendly yard.

Take a peek over the fence to see if your neighbor has lots of overgrown vegetation, yard debris, and standing water. If so, the mosquito population is likely growing next door.

Approach your neighbors in a friendly way, explaining what you’ve learned about how mosquitoes breed and thrive. Provide some helpful suggestions on how your neighbor might be able to discourage mosquito breeding in the neighborhood.

The suggestions may be more well-received if you volunteer to help clean up your neighbor’s yard. Think of it as a neighborhood cleanup day. You’re helping out a neighbor, and you’re making the neighborhood less hospitable toward mosquitoes.

Grow Mosquito-Repelling Plants

While you don’t want a vegetation overgrowth to create hiding spots, some plants may naturally help repel the pesky bugs.

Try these options:

Lemon balm
Lemongrass
Lavender
Citronella
Basil
Marigolds
Geranium

These plants all have strong smells. Those scents may discourage mosquitos from coming near.

Create planting beds around your outdoor patio and entertaining area. Fill them with the mosquito-repelling plants to help create a barrier that discourages mosquitoes.

You can also grow these plants in containers and place them strategically on your patio or deck. Make sure you don’t let water collect in the sauces, though, or you’ll create a spot for breeding mosquitoes.

Even if the plants don’t keep all of the mosquitoes away, you still end up with a beautiful garden area around your patio. Choose the mosquito-repelling plants based on your preferences for appearance and scent, especially if you spend a lot of time outside.

Fix Screens

Screens on windows and doors keep mosquitoes out of your home. The tighter the mesh, the better the barrier to keep the biting bugs outside.

Replacing large mesh with a tighter mesh can keep more bugs out. Look for tears and holes in the screens to spot ways mosquitoes can get into your home. Replace the screens or patch the holes.

Use Bug Zappers

Bug zappers designed to electrocute the insects may cut down on the number of mosquitoes in your yard. They typically have a light that attracts the bugs to them. Read reviews on the various bug zapper to find a model that’s effective.

Position the bug zapper away from outdoor entertaining areas. This draws the bugs away from the spaces where you spend time.

Hang the bug zapper high enough that kids and pets can’t reach them. This prevents accidental shocks while they play in the backyard.

Install Bat Houses

It may not be the most consistent or reliable way to control mosquitoes, but making your yard bat-friendly may help get rid of some of the pesky bugs.

Bats feed on all types of insects, including mosquitoes. Setting up bat houses in your yard gives them shelter and may encourage them to hang around your place. While they’re in your yard, they may help clear out some of your mosquito population.

Bats shouldn’t be your only mosquito control option. While they will eat mosquitoes when they come across them, they tend to eat whatever insects they find. Bats won’t clear out every single mosquito in your yard, so combine this option with other mosquito control methods.

Hire a Pest Control Company

Are you still dealing with a mosquito infestation? A pest control company might be able to help.

Professional pest control services offer a number of tools and products to control annoying bugs. Spraying your property is an option that helps keep mosquitoes away and prevent them from breeding. These products are often used around the perimeter to create a barrier.

Hiring a pest control company to treat your yard instead of doing it yourself is the safest option. A professional company can determine the best product options for your yard. Pros know how to apply products safely and effectively, so they work and you don’t have to worry about your family or pets.

In addition to treatments, a pest control company can offer suggestions on making your yard less appealing to mosquitoes and other insects. They may spot some issues that you didn’t notice.

Improve Mosquito Control

Focusing on mosquito control can make your backyard more comfortable with less chance of annoying itchy bites and the potential for mosquito-borne diseases. Making your yard less appealing to mosquitoes is a good place to start.

Check out our mosquito control options if you’re ready for a stronger defense against the flying, biting pests.

Read More: Memphis Mosquito Control Guide

Ultimate Mosquito Control and Prevention Guide

ultimate guide to memphis mosquito control

While we long for warm, summer days, the change in season can also bring unwanted pests like mosquitos. Itchy welts left behind from their bites aren’t the only thing making American’s skittish. The threat of contracting viruses like the West Nile virus or Zika virus is also a big concern.

To guard your yard and protect your family this year, learn more about mosquitos and use the following tips to control and prevent an infestation on your property.

Mosquito Breeding Cycles

After a female mosquito mates, she rests for a few days before finding an ideal spot to lay her eggs. They prefer to lay eggs in water, marshes, swamps, or any location with high levels of moisture.

As baby mosquitos hatch, they become larvae and mature into pupae before becoming an adult mosquito. Their lifecycle can depend on mating, species type, weather conditions, and more.

Backyard Basics for Memphis Mosquito Control

Removing potential mosquito-breeding sites from your backyard is critical to reducing the number of mosquitos in your yard. This means getting rid of any standing water on the property. To keep it in perspective, mosquitos only need a bottle cap-sized pool of water to lay up to 200 eggs.

Below are recommendations for preparing your property for summer:

Dump water in cans, buckets, or anything that can hold rainwater. Scrub the sides to make sure eggs fall on the ground so they can’t hatch.
Keep drainage areas clear of leaves or trash so water flows away from your home (this includes gutters).
Fix leaky faucets.
Change the water in bird baths and drip trays in flower pots often.
Cover trash containers to keep out water.
Turn over boats or kayaks.
Check tarps over firewood or swimming pools for pooling water and larvae.
Repair or replace screens over windows and doors.
Keep grass and shrubs trimmed short. Mosquitos like to hide away from the sun.

Keep in mind, traditional methods like bug trappers or zappers aren’t great at significantly reducing mosquito populations in your yard. These can be expensive to use and difficult to maintain though may provide some psychological comfort.

If you apply all the backyard basics to rid your yard of mosquito breeding sites, results are only as good as what your neighbors do to prevent mosquitos too. Get your neighbors involved to make sure everyone joins the effort for a safe community.

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, mosquito populations flourish and lead to unhealthy infestations. If you find yourself in an unbearable mosquito situation in your yard, contact the experts at Inman-Murphy Termite & Pest Control for eco-friendly extermination services. Our dedicated technicians have the skills and resources to safely reduce or remove mosquitos from your property. Get a free estimate or call us today at 901-388-0852.