If you live in New Orleans and the surrounding area, you’re definitely familiar with mosquitoes. They are annoying, they bite, and they can spread diseases. Mosquitoes can even ruin a nice spring morning or a pleasant summer evening. And while mosquitoes may bug us, learning more about mosquitoes – when they’re most active and how to control them – can help us enjoy outdoor fun in the Bayou State once again!
5 Common Questions about Mosquitoes
1. Why are there so many mosquitoes in New Orleans and the surrounding areas?
We love living in Southern Louisiana, and unfortunately, so do mosquitoes. They enjoy our weather because they thrive in wet, hot climates, and if it stays warmer and rainier for longer periods of time, this gives mosquitoes the chance to stick around longer, too! Mosquitos also like water, and they only need a small amount to breed. Here in Southern Louisiana, no matter where you live, you are near water whether it’s the Gulf of Mexico, a river, a lake, or a bayou.
2. When is mosquito season in Southern Louisiana?
We know that mosquitoes love rain and warm temperatures. Prepare for mosquito season in New Orleans and the surrounding area beginning in the spring and lasting through fall.
3. What threats do mosquitoes pose to our health and safety?
Not only do mosquito bites itch, but their bites can also spread mosquito-borne diseases if you’re bitten by an infected mosquito. Some of these include the Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue, and malaria.
4. How many different types of mosquitoes live in Louisiana?
Did you know that there are about 3,500 identified mosquito species in the world? Here in the U.S., there are about 170 species, and at least 64 species live right here in Louisiana.
5. What kind of mosquito repellents actually work?
The CDC recommends using EPA-registered insect repellents to protect yourself against mosquitoes. If it’s U.S. EPA-registered, that means it’s proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women. This includes DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535.
5 tips for keeping mosquitoes away from your property
As a southern Louisiana homeowner, there are many ways you can reduce the risks from mosquitoes in your home and yard:
- Mosquitoes love to breed in standing water. Reduce their breeding sites by regularly replacing all standing water including bird baths, pet water bowls, ponds, and swimming pools.
- If you cannot dump, change or remove a standing water source, take time to remove any unneeded trash or vegetation from around the standing water.
- Prevent entry into your home by keeping fine mesh screening on all doors, windows, and other openings.
- Regularly clean your gutters. Clogged drains and gutters create a backup that breeds mosquitoes.
- Avoid going outdoors during peak active mosquito hours – dawn and dusk. But we understand you may want to enjoy this time outside. If you’re looking for something approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), they have a “Find a Repellent” tool that is easy to use.
Treatment Solutions for Mosquito Problems
The best way to keep mosquitoes away from your home and yard is to follow the mosquito prevention tips outlined above. You may be tempted to try to get rid of mosquitoes or prevent mosquitoes by using any number of products you find on a store shelf. Let’s look at some of these common mosquito repellents and treatments and whether or not they actually work.
Mosquito repellents that don’t work
- Bug zappers
- Citronella candles or citronella oil
- Mosquito-repellent bracelets
- Mosquito traps (e.g., propane and UV-based)
- Sound-based products
Mosquito repellents that do work
- Products containing DEET or the active ingredients picaridin and IR 3535
- An outdoor insect spray made to kill mosquitoes in areas where they rest
- An indoor insect fogger or indoor insect spray to kill mosquitoes and treat areas where they rest
When using insecticides, remember to follow the instructions on the label. These at-home products work immediately and will need to be reapplied. In a recent blog post, we talked about the dangers of DIY pest control. Remember that while DIY pest control methods may seem like the easiest, most cost-effective way to get rid of mosquitos in your home as quickly as possible, they could cause more harm than good.
Why use a professional pest control company to get rid of mosquitoes?
Besides not having to handle it yourself, there are many reasons why you should partner with a pest control company to help get rid of mosquitos in your home and in your hard:
- They know which mosquito treatments work and which ones don’t.
- They are mosquito experts and can recognize warning signs of a mosquito infestation, identify potential breeding grounds, and treat them effectively.
- It actually saves you money, and you don’t need to deal with mosquito repellent products yourself. Hitting a mosquito infestation at its source will save you the headache of having them come back and avoid any headaches with trial-and-error.
- A good pest control company will consider the environmental footprint of your yard or property. When applying products that will help get rid of mosquitoes, targeting is key.
- It’s safer! A professional mosquito exterminator is able to kill the mosquitoes infesting your yard without putting the rest of the yard at risk.
- They know how to kill all mosquitoes – not just the adults, but the larvae as well. This keeps them from hatching and coming back.
Professional Mosquito Control in the New Orleans Area
At LaJaunie’s Pest Control, we like to say we are the local authority on mosquitoes. That’s because we’re based right here in Southern Louisiana. We offer mosquito control solutions for homeowners in the greater New Orleans area to help protect your family by drastically reducing the mosquito population in your yard. This includes:
- Recurring mosquito treatments for lasting results. This is highly recommended to get rid of mosquitoes and biting insects in your hard and keep them from coming back. We’ll inspect your property for areas where mosquitoes might be living or breeding and perform a barrier spray treatment.
- One-time treatments for effective mosquito control. This works well if you have an upcoming outdoor event such as a cookout, graduating party, or wedding. We’ll arrive 24-48 hours before your scheduled event and lay down a barrier spray that includes extra protection against biting, and stinging insects.
Partnering with a professional New Orleans mosquito exterminator like us means that every technician must pass our extensive in-house training program, and they are also fully licensed by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture.
If you are looking for local, professional mosquito control near you, give LaJaunie’s Pest Control a call at 985-859-7378 or contact us here for long-lasting results.