Does Florida Have a Mosquito Season?
Mosquitoes are extremely annoying and can be very dangerous because they carry diseases like the West Nile Virus. These blood sucking pests can quickly descend upon you at night and start feeding on your blood before you realize what’s happening. Many Floridians want to know, When do mosquitoes go away? In other words, is there a mosquito season?
That’s what we’re going to discuss today, along with some tips on how you can fight back against these dastardly insects.
You’ve probably heard of the dreaded “mosquito season.” Since mosquitoes often die out or hibernate during the colder months of the year and then return when the climate warms up, they definitely exist. But when this occurs, it depends on where you live.
In order for mosquitoes to become active, the temperature needs to reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Given the fact that Florida has a temperate climate, this typically means that our mosquito season begins as early as February and continues throughout the summer months and into the fall.
So, When Do Mosquitoes Go Away?
If you’re referring to mosquito season in particular, then you can expect mosquitoes to go away sometime in the fall. They’ll actually start disappearing a bit after the summer, but many stragglers will hang on as long as they can. Once the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, they’re out of here.
However, if you want to know when mosquitoes go away each day, we’re afraid we have a bit of bad news. Mosquitoes stick around all night and into the wee hours of the morning. Once the sun comes up, they’ll disappear. But unless you’re a night owl or work the graveyard shift, you might not notice too much.
Why Do Mosquitoes Come Out at Night?
It’s kind of funny that mosquitoes love warm weather yet will typically only come out at night when the weather’s a bit cooler. Despite the fact that they’re blood suckers, they don’t come out at night because they’re related to vampires in some way. Rather, it’s because direct sunlight can dehydrate and kill mosquitoes. Oh, wait, maybe they are vampires… Either way, when the sun starts to go down, look out!
How to Fight Back Against Mosquitoes
There are several ways to fight back against mosquitoes by either eliminating or repelling them.
Here are some of our favorite techniques:
Hang a Few Bug Zappers
Yes, your grandmother was absolutely correct—bug zappers really do work! All you have to do is hang a few outside and let them work their magic. The only problem with this solution is that you’ll probably want to clean off the dead bugs every once in a while. Plus, zappers don’t typically work against a high mosquito population.
Set Up Mosquito Traps
Mosquito traps are very simple devices that you can pick up at department stores, home improvement stores, and even some grocery stores. These traps attract mosquitoes and capture them, eliminating them fairly quickly. You can also find instructions online on how to make your own trap using sugar and yeast.
Remove Standing Water
Like other insects, sources of water attract mosquitoes. If you have any standing water in your yard, such as puddles after a rainfall, clean it up quickly. If you have any water structures, try to keep them as far away from your house or social areas as possible.
Seal Any Entry Points
Mosquitoes will get inside your home through small cracks, gaps, and holes in your foundation and other areas. The most common place is around the edges of your doors and windows. You can easily seal up any entry points with either caulk, spray foam, or weather-stripping.
Set Up Mosquito Nets
If you have a tendency to hang out with friends in your backyard or otherwise outside, then you may want to purchase a mosquito net. The netting material can be installed around certain areas to prevent mosquitoes from getting to people. This doesn’t eliminate the mosquitoes, but it’s an effective way to keep them at bay.
Mix Up Essential Oils
Essential oils can help repel mosquitoes. All you need to do is mix a few drops of lavender, lemon, or eucalyptus into a cup of water. Then, put it in a spray bottle and apply the mixture to areas where you’ve seen mosquito activity or where you don’t want them to go.
Contact ProHealth Pest Control for Mosquito Control
ProHealth Pest Control can help you control mosquitoes no matter what time of year it is. If you have any questions about these blood-sucking insects or would like to hire us for any other residential or commercial pest control needs, reach out to us at (727) 308-3470 today.