Surviving those pesky mosquitoes

 It’s that time of year when a lot of folks start taking advantage of the beautiful weather and spending a little more time outdoors!  Come to find out, I really enjoy a relaxing evening on the back deck as the sun sets over the horizon.  However, the last few nights have been interrupted by pesky mosquitoes!  That got me to thinking…..where did they come from and how do I get rid of them!

One quick thing to remember is that all mosquitoes require water to reach the adult stage.  This transition from larvae to adult can happen within 7 to 12 days.  So, any pool of water left alone for that time period can become an active site for mosquito development.  Adult mosquitoes may be found seeking refuge in your backyard in wooded areas, shrubs, drainage areas and protected areas around buildings until it is time to seek a meal.  Another interesting fact is that female adult mosquitoes are responsible for biting.  They need a blood meal to ensure that their eggs are viable.  Male adults feed exclusively on plant juices and do not require blood. 

There are actually three types of mosquitoes in our area.  Permanent pool mosquitoes can be found in lakes, ponds and wetland areas that have water in place for longer than three weeks.  Floodwater mosquito eggs are deposited in damp soil at the water line and become submerged in water following a heavy rainfall.  The most common mosquito for White County is container mosquitoes.  For this type of mosquito, the homeowner usually provides a short-term larval habitat with standing water sites around the home!  If you want to eliminate larval sites around your home, clean up any sites that may provide the ingredients for larval development.  Here are a few suggestions to get you started.  Remove containers such as soda cans, tires, and buckets from around your home.  Clean gutters, downspouts, bird baths and even children’s wading pools!  Inspect animal water troughs and change water at least once a week. 

Remember that mosquitoes can be a pest but they can also harbor disease organisms and may readily pass them on to us and our pets.  The one mosquito-borne virus that we have all heard about is the West Nile Virus.  Tennessee had 15 reported cases of West Nile Virus in humans in 2023.  If you plan on being outside, you might consider a repellent such as DEET or Permanone applied to your clothing. EPA-registered repellents containing picardin or oil of lemon eucalyptus are also recommended.  You should also wear light-colored clothing and avoid shaded areas where adult mosquito populations might be high.  Plan ahead and continue enjoying the great outdoors!