2014, has been a cold and snowy year for many parts of the country including here in the Albany NY area. Even though the temperatures are in the dismal single digits this morning, we are thinking warm temperatures here! What does the weather so far indicate for the 2014 mosquito forecast?

Mosquitoes are very resilient. Their eggs (and some adults when properly protected) can survive through freezing temperatures. The tough winter may postpone the influx of mosquitoes, but it may also increase the number of the pests!

Mosquitoes can be active in temperatures averaging over 50 degrees and thrive in weather over 80. You probably won’t notice a lot of activity from theses nuisances until the overnight freezes become less common. This may occur later in the season than it normally does. When it does happen, it may be a bad mosquito season!

One thing mosquitoes need to breed is standing water. Exceptionally dry years bring less mosquitoes. So far, 2014 has had a lot of precipitation with high rain and snowfall. The rain, along with melting snow and ice will result in a lot of standing water, which could mean a lot of mosquitoes.

Homeowners often ask us how they can protect themselves from pesky mosquitoes. Not only is standing water necessary for mosquito production, but it’s also the center of their life once they are mature. Mosquitoes don’t venture far from the area where they matured, so if you take care of the standing water on your property, you are instantly decreasing your mosquito population.

• Walk around your property and tip over items like birdbaths and planter saucers that naturally hold water once a week.
• Toss out yard debris like grass clippings and leaves. Piles of debris naturally will hold water after it rains.
• Turn over dog dishes and children’s toys when they aren’t being used.
• Tarps, believe it or not, can be a great place for mosquitoes to lay their eggs when they aren’t pulled taut.
• Treating the property to cut down on the number of adult mosquitoes on your property is the best way to stop the bites. A mosquito service can drastically reduce the amount of mosquitoes on your property, when coupled with regular mosquito prevention measures.

Taking the preventative steps, along with applying insect repellents and an ongoing pest control service, you can reduce your risk against mosquito and tick bites and pest infestations. With cases of West Nile increasing it is important to protect your family, health and property. Our mosquito tips above will help reduce mosquito breeding areas in and around your property. To learn more about Thomas Pest Services and our green mosquito service head over to our website and fill out our contact form to learn how Thomas Pest can assist with your mosquito problem.

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