7 Ways You Attract Mosquitoes to Your Yard
It’s hard to beat Charlotte in the summer. With the warm weather, Carolina blue sky, cookouts, bonfires, games out in the yard and relaxing under the bright sun, the advantages to summer in North Carolina are endless. However, with the beautiful conditions and high humidity, the climate couldn’t be more perfect for mosquitoes.
From irritating bites to the harmful diseases they carry and transmit, mosquitoes pose a never ending threat to both your family’s fun and health. But you shouldn’t have to spend your summer days inside, hiding from their incessant buzzing and biting. With proper planning, you can help prevent mosquitoes and the itchy bites that follow. The first step? Eliminate their breeding grounds. Here are the top ways you're attracting mosquitoes to your yard without even knowing!
Common Mosquito Breeding Grounds in Yards
1. Standing Water
Mosquitoes spend 75% of their life cycle in water, so fresh water without a current or filtration system is ideal for their reproductive process. You may be thinking, “I don’t have a pond or pool, so how could I have any standing water?” Well, the tricky thing about mosquitoes is they don’t need that much of it to breed. In fact, the shallower the water the better--they can lay eggs in as little as the film of water at the bottom of a cup! Here are some sources of stagnant water that you may not be aware of:
- Wheelbarrows
- Tires
- Birdbaths
- Outdoor pet bowls
- Buckets
- Flower pots
- Grill covers
- Trash can lids
By eliminating these sources of standing water in and around your yard, you can help minimize the chances of mosquitoes breeding in your yard!
2. Yard Debris
Mosquitoes will seek shelter from the elements wherever they can find it. Because even a soft breeze can blow mosquitoes away, they typically hang around any type of yard debris they can find. To keep mosquitoes from making your yard theirs, clear your yard of:
- Grass clippings
- Overgrown vegetation
- Stacks of sticks, twigs and branches
- Piles of leaves
- High, uncut grass
- Compost piles
- Unkempt natural areas and shrubs
Be sure to mow your lawn on a regular basis and don’t leave garbage or debris around your yard. Be sure to also consistently trim vegetation from trees and shrubs in your yard!
3. Clogged Drains
When drains and gutters go uncleaned for long periods of time, leaves, twigs and other debris create blockages that trap water. These clumps of debris form the perfect home for mosquitoes because they supply them with protection from the wind as well as a source of collected standing water. To keep mosquitoes from gathering in your pipes or gutters, be sure to keep them clear of debris so water can run through them freely.
Even when your yard is clear of mosquito breeding grounds, they can still find their way to you. Mosquitoes use a variety of methods to track down their food, but you can minimize your chances of being bitten by knowing what attracts them.
Ways You’re Making Yourself a Mosquito Magnet
1. Wearing the Wrong Clothing
During the day, mosquitoes use their eyesight to find food. Shocking, right? To find you, they look for shapes and colors that break up the colors of the horizon. Wearing dark clothing makes you easily visible compared to the green grass and blue sky behind you. On top of that, breathable fabrics such as cotton provide mosquitoes easier access to get to your skin underneath. To help avoid bites, wear light colored clothing made from tighter woven fabrics. Research has suggested clothing that offers UV protection works, too!
2. Drinking Alcohol
We don’t mean to kill your buzz, but drinking alcohol could also be attracting mosquitoes your way. In the evening when the sun is going down, mosquitoes use their nose to find you. Drinking a beer or two raises your heart rate, causing your body to produce more carbon dioxide. In addition, when your body consumes alcohol, it emits certain chemicals. Mosquitoes are attracted to the smell of both when searching for food.
3. Eating the Wrong Foods
Certain foods can make you smell delicious to mosquitoes. Potassium and salt-rich foods like bananas and avocados make your natural scent even more appealing to mosquitoes. Like alcohol, spicy foods raise your heart rate, inviting mosquitoes to the increased carbon dioxide you create. To avoid potential mosquito bites, it’s best to enjoy your meals inside.
4. Exercising
We’re not telling you not to exercise, but….mosquitoes are attracted to heat because they know it means food. Not only does exercise create extra carbon dioxide, but it raises your body temperature. With the increased heat, carbon dioxide and saltiness/humidity of your sweat, exercising in and around your yard is a surefire way to attract mosquitoes.
The Best Way to Get Rid of Mosquitoes
At the end of the day, you can take all of the precautionary measures to prevent mosquitoes, but it’s still not foolproof. If you live near a body of water, there’s no real way to get around mosquitoes without the help of a professional. If you’re looking for an extra layer of protection around your yard this summer and fall, consider a professional mosquito treatment in Charlotte, Winston-Salem, or anywhere we service in the piedmont! It will help give you the peace of mind that your family is protected and can help enjoy your yard without the buzzing and swatting.
$24 Mosquito Treatments
For a limited time, Tailor Made Lawns is offering new customers your first mosquito treatment for just $24 when you enroll in our mosquito program today! We eliminate mosquito populations by targeting the areas they breed, giving you a mosquito-free yard to enjoy all summer long. You can't beat this deal!