While mosquitoes may try to bite anyone close by, there could be a reason why you’re constantly littered with mosquito bites whenever you venture outside. Mosquitoes are naturally attracted to some people more than others – such as pregnant women, people with Type O blood, or anyone who’s been drinking lately.
In general, mosquitoes are attracted to people that are generating more heat, which is why they’ll bite women in the late stages of pregnancy or anyone who’s exercising while they’re outside.
Here’s what you need to know about all the ways you could be attracting mosquitoes in Raleigh as well as what you can do to reduce attractions and the best way to deal with too much mosquito activity.
What Attracts Mosquitoes To Your Raleigh, NC Property?
Even if you don’t have Type O blood, aren’t pregnant, aren’t exercising, and haven’t been drinking, some factors could be attracting mosquitoes to your property:
- A flowering garden can be attractive to both people and mosquitoes since mosquitoes feed off nectar.
- Certain types of plants that need standing water, like water lilies, water lettuce, water hyacinths, or Taro are also an attractant.
- Other standing water on your property, like decorative ponds, troughs that collect water, overflowing gutters, yard debris, or drainage issues, is likely to draw in mosquitoes since they need water to lay their eggs.
- Bug zappers, which some people may use to reduce mosquitoes, can lure them in and may only be effective at killing male (non-biting) mosquitoes.
- Tall grass, weeds, and dense foliage protect mosquitoes from the hot sun on summer days.
How To Repel Mosquitoes From You And Your Raleigh, NC Property
Whether you’re looking to reduce mosquito activity around your property or limit the number of mosquito bites when you go out, here are some steps you can take to repel mosquitoes from you and your property:
- Avoid wearing dark-colored clothing that attracts mosquitoes and opt for light-colored clothing that blends in better with the horizon.
- Try to wear clothing that limits the amount of exposed skin, like long pants, shirts, or even jackets, while you’re outside.
- Wear natural mosquito-repellent scents like lavender, citronella, or lemon eucalyptus.
- Avoid going outside or exercising during times of the day when mosquito activity is the most prevalent, like dusk and dawn.
- Keep your grass cut short, deal with overgrown weeds in your yard, and keep your shrubbery and foliage trimmed.
- Clear your gutters regularly and make sure they aren’t directing standing water toward your house.
- Remove standing water on your property, like troughs or debris that collects water, flooded gutters, or drainage issues that could be drawing water in.
- If you have standing water features, like fountains or birdbaths, make sure they’re cycling regularly and haven’t become a mosquito breeding ground.
The Best Way To Combat Mosquitoes In Raleigh, NC
While the tips above can help you prevent your property (or your skin) from becoming a hub for mosquito activity, they may not be able to reduce mosquito activity as much as you need them to. In that case, it may be time to leave it to the professionals – like those of us at Innovative Pest Solutions.
Not only can we reduce current mosquito activity around your property, but we’ll look for potential attractions that could be luring future mosquitoes in, too – if you’ve got a mosquito problem on your Raleigh, NC property, call us at Innovative Pest Solutions today for a free estimate or to learn more about our mosquito control program.
