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Unfortunately, mosquitoes can put a damper on your summertime activities. Warmer temperatures, humidity and standing water can attract mosquitoes and lead to breeding. Since these flying pests can carry West Nile virus, it’s important to reduce exposure as much as possible. By following a few tips, most people can reduce the amount of future mosquito annoyances and enjoy their time outdoors.

The key to preparing for mosquitos is to address prevention techniques. Make your yard less attractive for the pests to live in and breed. The flying pests breed in water, so diligent homeowners should remove all standing water from areas such a birdbaths, buckets, drainage pipes, and kiddie pools. Remove the leaves that are left in your gutter that hold water. Remove any junk around the yard that can collect water, such as tires. If you have standing water that you cannot remove, consider placing a fish called Gambusia affinis, aka mosquito fish into the water. This fish will eat any insects that land in the water.

To eliminate all possible breeding sources, homeowners should evaluate their yard for any areas that might give mosquitos a place to live and breed. Homeowners should walk around their yard and look for potential breeding places. Piles of grass clippings or leaves should be removed. Tall weeds and grasses around fences should be cut down. Toys should be picked up to eliminate the possibility that they will collect rain water.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends applying bug repellents to the skin and clothing. Use only repellents that have been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA evaluates each product for efficacy and possible effects on humans and the environment. Products with DEET or Picaridin are most effective. Use a product with no more than 10 percent DEET to avoid potentially harmful effects. Products that contain more than 10 percent don’t allow the skin to breathe properly through the pores.

No one can totally eliminate pests from their lives, but taking a few precautions before the warm weather starts can help to reduce the amount of mosquitos that enter your yard. If you are in the greater Los Angeles area and want to get a head start on your summer pest control, please call the experts at Accuracy Plus today at (888) 675-0258.

The mosquito. The one pest that it seems is good for nothing, and is nearly impossible to get rid of. And while we all may try the sprays and candles when we’re outside, there’s really no better way to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard than by filling it with plants that will do it for you. These plants will get rid of mosquitoes even when you’re not in the space, and are more effective than any candle you’ll ever light. Here are the top five plants to eliminate mosquitoes.

Citronella Plant

By far the most popular plant and smell to get rid of mosquitoes, is the citronella plant. The smell of citronella is so strong that mosquitoes find it impossible to sniff out their next victim. When they find that there’s nothing there, they move on to an area where warm bodies are more easily detectable. Actually planting citronella plants in your yard is much more effective than lighting citronella candles or torches because the plant has a much stronger smell and is of course, pure citronella. Citronella is so well-known for getting rid of mosquitoes that it’s been nicknamed the ‘Mosquito Plant.’

Horsemint

Horsemint is a plant that works much the way citronella does in repelling mosquitoes. It gives off a strong odor and while mosquitoes may not mind the smell so much, they can’t detect their hosts through it and so, move on to a place where they can easily smell their prey.

Marigolds

Marigolds are a very popular plant for the garden but most gardeners will tell you it’s their beauty, not their fragrance that makes them so popular. Mosquitoes find the smell of marigolds to be particularly offensive and tend not to go anywhere near them.

Ageratum

This too is a plant that mosquitoes just can’t stand the smell of! It’s this plant that secretes coumarin, which is found in many mosquito repellents.

Catnip

Catnip is an amazing mosquito deterrent and is said to be ten times more effective than DEET!

Accuracy Plus can handle all of your pest control needs, both inside and outside. Visit our site for more valuable information or give us a call at 888-675-0258.