Once cool weather sets in, we often forget about mosquitoes. But did you know mosquitoes and their eggs can survive through winter? Some mosquitoes have eggs that can remain frozen in water or attached to the sides of pots, gutters, and other places where standing water was present. Other mosquitoes can simply hibernate throughout the winter as adults and then emerge as soon as temperatures are warm enough. Here are some simple tips to help keep your house and yard free of mosquitoes during winter and get a head start on spring cleaning.
- Empty any standing water on the property.
- Scrub the sides and bases of anything that holds water or has held water at any point during the year like flower planters, gutters, downspouts, bird baths, toys, etc.
- Clean out places where water normally flows like ditches and gutters to allow for free flowing water. (Mosquitoes really love these places where the water is often the smelliest when left standing.)
- Cut back brush and tree limbs, but be sure to avoid disposing of them in ravines or other spots in the yard that typically hold water.
- Clean up any excess trash in the yard that could hold water, especially things like old tires, lids or buckets.
Act now and don’t let your yard become a refrigerator for mosquito eggs this winter! For more information on mosquitoes and prevention, click here.
