It probably doesn't seem mysterious that mosquitoes come into your yard. They fill the whole world, right? They fly from property to property looking for people to bite. Why should you be interested in knowing what attracts mosquitoes? Because none of what we pointed out so far is true. Mosquitoes aren't found everywhere and they don't spend a whole lot of time flying. This is where we are going to start our conversation today. Let's take a look at why it is important to address mosquito attractants in your Pensacola yard, examine what attracts mosquitoes to your yard, and discuss what works to keep mosquitoes away.
What You May Not Know About Mosquitoes
Most of the time, mosquitoes are at rest. They are simple organisms that don't want to expend energy flying around in search of food—unless they really have to. While a mosquito can fly about 1.5 mph, most mosquitoes won't travel more than a mile in their entire life. In fact, many don't go more than 300 feet from where they hatched.
When you walk out into your yard and mosquitoes start buzzing around you, those aren't your neighbor's mosquitoes, they're your mosquitoes. They are living in your yard. The mosquitoes in your neighbor's yard can't see you when you come outside, mosquitoes have poor vision. If your neighbor's mosquitoes come into your yard, it won't be because they saw you come outside.
What Attracts Mosquitoes To Your Yard?
There are many things that can attract mosquitoes to your yard. Some of them may surprise you.
- Nectar. Female mosquitoes draw blood meals for the purpose of reproduction, but both females and males eat nectar and plant sap. If you have flowering plants in your yard, you'll attract mosquitoes.
- Moisture. Mosquitoes dry out easily. They're drawn to moist landscaping, the perimeter around your home, ponds, pools, and other sources of moisture or humidity. They'll also be attracted to moist organic debris such as leaves, cut grass, and dead branches.
- Light. Mosquitoes are drawn to exterior lights, as long as they're not yellow. Insects can't detect light in the yellow spectrum. They're highly attracted to UV light which is used in bug zappers. Unfortunately, studies have shown that bug zappers are inefficient at killing female mosquitoes, which are the ones that bite us.
What Attracts Mosquitoes To Humans?
It is important to throw this one in because it is possible to attract mosquitoes when you go out into your yard, but perhaps not the way you think. You alone won't attract mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can't detect you from a distance. But a backyard party can attract lots of mosquitoes. This is because the combined carbon dioxide of all your guests can be detected by mosquitoes. So it does matter a little bit what attracts mosquitoes to humans.
How Do You Keep Mosquitoes Away?
Many people use natural remedies for mosquitoes. This is becoming quite common. People use things like essential oils for mosquitoes. Spraying lemon, lavender or peppermint on your skin can deter mosquitoes for sure. But we don't recommend essential oils for mosquitoes because they don't last long. They're also not going to repel mosquitoes from your yard. The best way to protect your yard all year long, or to reduce mosquitoes in your yard before an outdoor event, is to invest in professional mosquito control.
Mosquito Control In Pensacola
If you live in Pensacola or the surrounding area, reach out to EnviroGuard for mosquito control solutions. We use industry-leading methods and products to repel mosquitoes and break the cycle of infestation. We can help you take your backyard back. Connect with us today!