Mosquitos have been very buzzy this year in many parts of the United States, including Florida. In July alone, 8 counties in Indiana tested positive for West Nile Virus, which can be a very serious virus and sometimes deadly infection caused by mosquitoes. Also in July, Davidson County in Tennessee trapped a batch of mosquitoes, which tested positive for West Nile Virus. Over in Lake County, Illinois a sample of mosquitoes was collected in July that also tested positive for West Nile Virus. Meanwhile locally in Florida, 32 cases of Chikungunya and 24 cases of dengue have been reported in 2015.
You may be asking yourself, What can I do to protect myself and my family from mosquito borne diseases? The good news is you can start today. Here are some tips:
- Remove standing water. Mosquitoes need water to reproduce their offspring. In fact, they can lay a raft of 300 eggs in only an inch of water. The first proactive step you can take is to eliminate any standing water around your property. Turn empty pots upside down and empty out birdbaths on a regular basis.
- Clean up the yard. Mosquitoes like shady places to hide during a hot summer day. Now is the time to do the landscaping project you have been pushing to the side all year. Trim your hedges, mow the lawn, and remove any yard trimmings or woodpiles.
- Clean out your gutters. Gutters can make for a great hideout for mosquitoes during the day so clean out your gutters. If your gutters are dangerously high, contact a professional to assist you with the project.
- Chlorinate and clean your pool on a regular basis. If a pool is neglected it can turn into a mosquito haven, so stay on top of your pool and even check with your neighbors to see that they are doing the same.
If these steps do not help lower the mosquito activity around your home, then Contact Cloud Termite and Pest Control for mosquito treatment options. We can offer you a monthly service that will help reduce the mosquito population in your area so you can enjoy the rest of summer outdoors. We can be reached at 941-746-1147.