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Summer Pest Control Tips

The summer months are some of the most fun-filled times of the year. During this popular season, your schedule will likely be filled with family picnics, beach trips, and other exciting outdoor activities. However, just as you’re stretching out in your lawn chair for a relaxing backyard tan, other tiny creatures are also coming to life, ready to suck out (literally) some of the fun.

The hot weather brings a rise in the number of pests around your home. In this article, you’ll learn summer pest control tips in Charleston, SC to keep out mosquitoes, ticks, wasps, hornets, spiders, rodents, and more.

Why Do Pests Love Summer?

Pests thrive in summer for several reasons:

  • Temperature Changes: Most pests love warmer temperatures. Therefore, the summer months herald an increase in their activities. On the flip side, some pests will enter your home to avoid the heat outdoors.
  • Higher Humidity: Many pests thrive in high-humidity environments, which is what we experience in the summer. Add the summer rains, and the pests have highly favorable conditions to thrive. When the outside air starts to feel dry, some of these pests will find their way into your home in search of moisture.
  • Longer Days: Summer means more daylight. It also means pests spend more time looking for food.
  • More Food Sources: Vegetation grows faster in the summer months. We are also likely to litter the landscape with edible waste (think leftovers from barbecue nights and poor trash handling). Therefore, summers are like an endless buffet for pests. Some of them will work harder during these months to store food away for winter hibernation. This increases the chances of running into them.
  • Breeding Cycle: Summer is the busiest portion of many pests’ life cycles. Therefore, they will reproduce rapidly around this time to increase their population before the winter freeze.

Top Summer Pest Control Tips

The summer season is filled with various activities, and our team wants you to fully enjoy it! The Anchor Environmental team is full of experts and here to help with pest control in Charleston, SC and surrounding areas. Below are ways homeowners can take action and control pests such as mosquitoes.

Keep Your Indoor and Outdoor Spaces Clean

A dirty environment attracts pests. Therefore, leaving plates in the sink or food waste lying around the kitchen or anywhere else around your home will draw the attention of pests like ants, rodents, roaches, and houseflies. Remember, it only takes one pest finding the waste to bring the others.

Remove All Sources of Stagnant Water Around Your Home

According to the CDC, standing water is a key part of the reproductive cycle for pests like mosquitoes. Their eggs need moisture to hatch. Therefore, eliminating standing water around your home is one of the surest ways to reduce the mosquito population.

Old tires, hollow furniture, outdoor HVAC units, toys, birdbaths, and play pools are some of the points where stagnant water can collect around your home. You should also look around your property after a storm to check for drainage problems. If you have standing water around low-lying parts of your yard, you should consider drainage solutions.

Check Your Outdoor Furniture

Pests like spiders and wasps can quickly settle into your outdoor furniture. Before you get back to using the furniture on your patio or deck for the summer, inspect it and spray it with repellents to keep pests at bay.

Plug Gaps

Pests are adept at finding entryways into your home. You should make it as hard as possible for them to do so. Replace the weatherstripping around your windows, fix all cracks and crevices on your walls, and ensure your windows and doors close tightly. Plugging these gaps doesn’t just keep out pests; it also keeps the cool air from your air conditioner from escaping outside.

Empty Your Garbage Bin Regularly

Pests like ants can sense food waste from far away because their sense of smell is four to five times stronger than other insects. Similarly, some of them can remember the smell of specific foods for the rest of their lives. Therefore, it’s a good idea to ensure your organic waste never sits in your garbage bin for more than a day or two. If you must store food waste for over two days, tie it off in an airtight bag.

Store Firewood Properly

Leaving piles of firewood carelessly across your property is a sure way to attract pests like termites and carpenter ants. These insects spread quickly. Once they establish a presence, they can grow well into the thousands by the next summer. Starve them of wood, and be sure to call our professionals the minute you notice them in your yard. Otherwise, they will progress to causing structural damage around your home. The Anchor Environmental team specializes in termite control in Charleston, SC and surrounding areas to help protect your home.

Mow Your Lawn

Since grasses and shrubs grow faster in the summer, creating a routine for keeping the vegetation around your property short is important. Overgrown foliage will only attract more pests to your home. Make it a habit to mow your lawn every two weeks. You should also trim shrubs, branches, and trees to ensure they don’t encourage the growth of insects and other pests.

It’s also a good idea to evaluate the types of plants you have in your yard. Some species are attractive to certain pests, so knowing the difference is key. You should also consider growing plant species known to prevent insects like mosquitoes from swarming your yard. These include catnip, lavender, basil, and peppermint.

Take Advantage Of Our Pest Control Solutions

Sometimes, the best approach to pest control is to call in the experts. While the above solutions work well, there’s only so much you can do if you already have a thriving pest population. In that scenario, it’s best to hire a pest control service in Mount Pleasant, SC like us here at Anchor Environmental.

We eliminate pests from all corners of your home by combining liquid and granular pest control treatments. We’ll remove existing nests, treat cracks and crevices, and treat your doors and windows. We offer both one-off and recurring pest control treatment in Daniel Island and surrounding areas. Visit our services to learn more about the pest control services our expect technicians at Anchor Environmental can offer.

Call Anchor Environmental today at 843-906-9457 for long-lasting summer pest control in Charleston, SC, and the surrounding areas.

Why You Need Mosquito Control In Charleston

The mosquito control in Charleston, South Carolina is growing rapidly.  Mosquitoes are quickly becoming a major problem in SC. Mosquitoes are known to spread diseases like Zika, West Nile virus, and malaria, so the health of all Charleston residents is at risk.

Charleston has been experiencing consistently warmer temperatures over the past few years, which is ideal for mosquitoes to thrive in. Additionally, the city has several areas of standing water, such as swamps and ponds, which provide ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

In response to this growing problem, various organizations are working together to reduce the mosquito population in Charleston. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has implemented a comprehensive mosquito control.

Why are mosquitoes prominent in Charleston?

Mosquitoes are a major problem in Charleston due to the warm, humid climate of the Lowcountry. As temperatures rise and rainfall increases, mosquitoes thrive and multiply quickly. Besides their annoyance factor, mosquitoes also can carry dangerous diseases like West Nile virus and Zika virus which puts the citizens at risk of contracting serious illnesses.

What is being done to help stop the spread of mosquitoes?

The City of Charleston, in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), has implemented a variety of strategies to reduce mosquito populations. These include using larvicide treatments to kill larvae before they mature, trapping adult mosquitoes, and spraying insecticides to control adult insects. Additionally, residents can help reduce mosquito populations by removing standing water from their yards, either by draining areas where water may collect or introducing fish that feed on mosquito larvae. Finally, the City encourages citizens to wear protective clothing and use insect repellent when outdoors to minimize bites. By taking these measures, we can work together to protect our community from the dangers of mosquitoes.

What are mosquitoes attracted to?

Mosquitoes are attracted to a variety of things, including the carbon dioxide we exhale and our body heat. They also rely on moisture and nutrients from standing water, so they tend to gravitate to areas where there is plenty of water such as marshes, ponds, and ditches. Additionally, they can be attracted to certain colors, such as dark colors like blue and black. To limit their access to open sources of nutrition, the city recommends regularly emptying any containers that may collect standing water and keeping yards free of debris. Doing so can help reduce the number of mosquitoes while also protecting us from potential illnesses they may carry.

Mosquito-borne Diseases

Mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting a number of serious diseases, including West Nile Virus, Zika Virus, and malaria. These illnesses can sometimes be deadly, depending on the individual’s health condition and type of infection. Prevention is key when it comes to avoiding mosquito-borne illnesses.

Symptoms of Mosquito-borne Diseases

The symptoms of mosquito-borne diseases can vary depending on the particular illness. For example, West Nile Virus may cause fever, body aches, and fatigue while Zika Virus may cause rash, joint pain, and eye irritation. Malaria, on the other hand, is more serious and can lead to severe anemia, coma or even death. It’s important for individuals to be aware of the signs and symptoms of mosquito-borne diseases so that they can seek medical attention early if necessary.

Mosquito Bites

Mosquitoes typically bite exposed skin, such as the arms or legs. In some cases, they may also bite around the eyes, ears, and neck. It’s important to wear protective clothing when outdoors, especially during peak mosquito season or in areas where there is a high risk of mosquito-borne illnesses.

What happens when mosquitoes bite you?

When mosquitoes bite, they inject an anticoagulant into the skin which prevents the blood from clotting. This means that when a mosquito bites you, it may take some time for the bite to stop bleeding. In addition, most people experience itching and soreness in the area of the bite. To reduce itching and/or swelling, you can apply a cold compress or take an over-the-counter antihistamine. It is important to avoid scratching the bite as it can lead to infection. In some cases, mosquito bites may also cause allergic reactions such as hives or anaphylactic shock. If this occurs, seek medical attention immediately.

Why do mosquitoes bite ankles?

Mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide that people exhale and perspire. They are also drawn to dark, moist areas on the skin (like ankles) because they can sense body heat.

How many times can a mosquito bite you?

Mosquitoes can bite multiple times in one sitting. However, they are not likely to do so unless they become trapped between fabric or clothing and the skin. Additionally, some people may be more attractive to mosquitoes than others due to their body chemistry.

Can Mosquitoes bite through clothes?

Yes, mosquitoes can bite through clothing. They are small enough that they can find tiny openings and bite exposed skin. To protect yourself from mosquito bites, it is best to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors in areas with a high prevalence of mosquitoes. Additionally, using insect repellent can help keep the insects away.

Where do mosquitoes go when not active?

When not actively searching for blood meals, mosquitoes will typically hide in dark and humid places. This could include standing water, under piles of leaves or debris, in tree cavities and inside attics and basements. During the winter months when temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, adult mosquitoes will try to find shelter to avoid cold weather and hibernate until the weather becomes warm again. During this time, they remain inactive and do not feed on blood meals. Additionally, some female mosquitoes may lay eggs in areas close to water sources where they will hatch when temperatures rise again. As such, it is important to eliminate standing water around your home to reduce mosquito activity and breeding grounds.

How to keep mosquitoes away?

Mosquitoes can be kept away by removing standing water, trimming back vegetation and trees near your home, using insecticides to kill adult mosquitoes, and installing screens on windows and doors.

What are mosquitoes afraid of?

Mosquitoes are afraid of wind, noise, and light. Since they typically feed at night, keeping your outdoor lights on can help keep them away. Additionally, using fans or other forms of windy conditions in outdoor areas can reduce the number of mosquitoes that congregate there. Making loud noises around your house can also help to deter mosquitoes from coming near since they are very sensitive to sound vibrations.

What smell keeps mosquitoes away?

Certain fragrances, like garlic, lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, and basil can help to keep mosquitoes away. These scents are said to have insect-repelling qualities that will prevent them from coming close to you. Additionally, certain plants in your garden may have properties that act as a natural mosquito repellent. Citronella is a good example of this. You can even buy citronella candles and plant them in your garden to help keep mosquitoes away. Finally, make sure that you don’t have any standing water around your house as this will attract mosquitoes looking for breeding sites.

What is the best mosquito repellent?

The best mosquito repellent is one that works for your specific needs. Different products contain different ingredients, and some may be more effective than others depending on the area you live in and the type of mosquitoes that are present. DEET is a common chemical found in many insect repellents, including those specifically designed to ward off mosquitoes. Other natural repellents that are effective include citronella, lemon eucalyptus oil, and lavender. Be sure to read the labels on any product you purchase to determine if it is suitable for your needs. Additionally, wearing light-colored clothing and long sleeves can help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

What kills mosquitoes?

Insecticides are often used to kill mosquitoes. Some of the most common insecticides used for mosquito control include pyrethroids and organophosphates, which are typically applied as aerosol sprays or misting systems. These products can be effective at killing adult mosquitoes but may not be able to target other life stages such as eggs and larvae. In addition to insecticides, other methods of mosquito control include the use of larvicides and biological control agents such as predators, parasites, and pathogens.

What state has the most mosquitoes?

The state with the most mosquitoes is Florida. The state’s warm and humid climate, along with its abundance of wetlands, marshes, and estuaries make it a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. In addition to Florida, other states in the southeast such as Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee are also home to large numbers of mosquitoes. To reduce mosquito populations in these states, public health officials recommend using methods such as insecticide spraying and releasing biological control agents.

Why should we not get rid of mosquitoes completely?

Mosquitoes are an important part of the ecosystem. They provide food for many animals, including birds and bats, and they help pollinate flowers. In addition, mosquitoes play a role in controlling populations of other insects that can be harmful to humans and animals. While it is important to control mosquito populations to reduce the risks associated with diseases such as malaria, completely eliminating mosquitoes could have negative consequences for the environment. Therefore, public health officials recommend controlling mosquito populations instead of attempting to eradicate them altogether.

Contact Anchor Environmental for Mosquito Control

At Anchor Environmental, we specialize in the safe and effective control of mosquito populations. Through our tailored approach to pest management, we can help you reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses while also preserving beneficial insect populations. Contact us today!

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