Mosquito Control and Biology
In order to control Mosquitoes, it is important that we know about their biology and life cycle.
Let's take a look at the first two life cycle stages of the mosquito.
Many mosquitoes lay their eggs on the surface of fresh or stagnant water. This water may be in tin cans, barrels, horse troughs, ornamental ponds, swimming pools, puddles, creeks, ditches, catch basins or marshy areas. Mosquitoes prefer water sheltered from the wind by grass and weeds.
Mosquitoes often lay their eggs at night over a period of time sticking them together to form a raft of from 100 to 300 eggs. A raft of eggs looks like a speck of soot floating on the water and is about 1/4 inch long and 1/8 inch wide. A female mosquito may lay a raft of eggs every third night during its life span.
Tiny mosquito larvae emerge from the eggs within 24 - 48 hours.
Mosquito larvae live in water from 4 to 14 days depending on water temperature.
Larvae of almost all species must come to the surface at frequent intervals to obtain oxygen through a breathing tube called a siphon.
During growth, the larva sheds its skin four times. A larva reaches a length of almost 1/2 inch before it becomes a pupa.
As you can see from the above info, mosquitoes spend half their life under water. So how does Mosquito Tek use this information to control mosquitoes? Mosquito Tek does this in several ways. In particular they always:
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Assess the environment
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Identify and mitigate potential breeding sites
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Apply larvicide to any breeding sites that cannot be eliminated w/out treatment (i.e. emptying any vessel holding water)
Click here if you want to know more about Mosquito Tek's mosquito control services.
Controlling Fleas
Attempting to control fleas on our pets is a multi-step process. Adult fleas spend most of their time on an animal, but the flea eggs, larvae and pupae are found in abundance in the environment. For every flea that you see on your pet, there are likely to be hundreds of eggs and larvae in your home and yard. Therefore, a truly effective flea control program always includes treating the environment as well as treating your pet.
Here are some ideas on controlling fleas in the indoor environment.
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Vacuum thoroughly, especially below drapes, under furniture edges, and where your pet sleeps. It is estimated that vacuuming can remove up to 50% of flea eggs.Each time, seal your vacuum bag in a plastic bag and discard it immediately.
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Get a professional, Mosquito Tek like to kill any remaining adult fleas with on eof their approved products.
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Wash your pet's bedding weekly.
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Do not forget to also clean and treat any other place where your pet spends much time (eg. pet carrier or kennel)
Flea Control in the Outdoor Environment
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Flea control in the outdoor environment generally involves eliminating the habitat in the yard and kennel areas where fleas are most likely to occur. This is best left to a professional like Mosquito Tek because they know which products work and where to apply them.
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One thing you can do on your own is to prevent wild animals such as opossums, raccoons, chipmunks and other small rodents from entering your yard by NOT feeding them. These animals can carry fleas.
Why DIY Solutions Don't Work
There are many reasons why DIY solutions for pest control don't work. Here is a modified list which based largely on an earthkind blog:
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Underestimating the problem: When you see one flea or one tick, you can be sure there are more lurking where you can’t find them. The same is true for termites, ants, spiders, and other pests. Aside from being a bigger problem than it appears to be, the pests infesting your home are often smarter than you may think.
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Underestimating the pest: Lacking opposable thumbs, written language, and verbal skills, rodents and insects have developed a keen sense of smell which they use to navigate, organize, and communicate. Traps and bait stations often fail because pests can smell something fishy a mile away.
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Human error: People don’t always take the time to read instructions, in fact a lot of people seem to take pride in not reading instructions. However, outsmarting a little creature whose survival depends on dodging danger can be challenging, especially if you have trouble following directions.
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Treating symptoms, not problems: Even if you manage to get rid of the termites or fleas that you can see, or any other pests, they will probably come back. To prevent future infestations, you need to figure out where they came from and what they came for -- blocking entry points and removing attractants is always the first step to preventing future pest problems.
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Poor Information: You have to realize that anecdotes do not equal fact. Just because a particular pest control solution worked for someone else doesn't mean it will work for you. The bait that always catches rats in a restaurant’s alley may not work in your home due to localized taste preferences rats develop. However, using an integrated pest management approach, with the help of a pest control expert like Mosquito Tek,will give you multiple lines of defense against infestations.
The Solution: Mosquito Tek
Lack of experience in pest control is one of the key reasons that DIY solutions often fail. With experience comes knowledge and with knowledge comes success.
That's where Mosquito Tek comes in. Owner Brendon Cordell brings over 20 years experience in the horticultural and entomological services industry and has been active in the Mosquito and Vector Control Industry for the past 7 years.
Mosquito Tek LLC is not only a Mosquito Control Company, we are a full service pest management provider that operates year round. We are not a franchise and thanks to the year round operations of EcoTek Termite and Pest Control employ the same service technicians year in and year out. We do not employ contract labor and our friendly, knowledgeable staff are fully trained and certified in pesticide laws, regulations and safety. All employees are uniformed, insured and background checked.
Mosquito Tek also specializes in flea and tick control, which is provided as a complimentary service to customers that order mosquito spray services.
Mosquito Tek of Raleigh, Durham
2210 Page Rd
Raleigh, NC 27703
Phone: 919-813-6749
10926 Cattail Ct
Manassas, VA 20109
Phone: 703-659-0965
Mosquito Tek of Northern Virginia
Fairfax, VA
Phone: 571-781-1011
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http://www.pestcontrol10.com/Mosquito-Tek-of-Northern-Virginia-303-118.htm
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