Nothing can ruin a pleasant evening out on your deck like hungry mosquitoes. Even if those pesky bloodsuckers don’t bite you and leave behind itchy welts, their habit of incessantly buzzing around may soon have you heading back inside for some peace and quiet.
What attracts mosquitoes to your yard (and your bare skin), though? And how can you get rid of them? While you might not be able to eliminate every single insect, these suggestions from Spruce Up Tree Care, a top-ranking tree service in Millington, TN, can make a big difference.
Why Mosquitoes Find You Irresistible
Have you ever wondered why some people can’t seem to escape mosquitoes? Some folks attract them, no matter how much bug spray they put on, while the insects don’t appear to bother others. In many cases, what attracts mosquitoes relates to what you’re wearing and your natural scent.
Mosquitoes swarm your yard looking for a meal. They use their senses to sniff out anything that promises to deliver fresh blood. Using scented products can make you a target, but mosquitoes will also head your way if they detect body heat or smell sweat.
Other human-centric things that attract mosquitoes include:
- Dark clothing
- Sweet foods
- The carbon dioxide you breathe out
These buzzkills also seem to really like the smell that beer gives off, which is why relaxing on the deck in the evenings often seems overwhelmingly attractive to blood-thirsty mosquitoes.
What’s Bringing Mosquitoes to Your Yard?
We’ve explained why these bugs make a beeline (or is it a mosquito line?) for you, but how do they get to the yard in the first place? They seem to show up even when you use bug spray and wear light-colored clothing, right? The answer to what attracts mosquitoes is simple.
The following places in your yard may serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes:
Standing Water
Like many insects, mosquitoes breed in water. Do you have any areas in the yard with standing water? You might be setting yourself up for a mosquito infestation in rain barrels, pet water dishes, and puddles from overwatering plants.
Flowers
Hanging baskets of flowering plants around your deck or patio looks amazing. It might also be drawing mosquitoes to your dinner parties.
Overgrown Grass and Foliage
Mosquitoes hide in tall grass and plants because they’re moist, shady, and safe from predators there.
Gutters
Lastly, look up. A gutter chock-full of leaves and debris isn’t just a danger to your roof – it’s a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes that’s wet and protected!
Keep Uninvited Pests from Swarming Your Yard
Keeping up with yard care and taking care of what attracts mosquitoes to your property can keep them under control. You’ll want to eliminate standing water, especially after storms, cut the grass, and trim hedges and shrubs to reduce your local mosquito population. Service providers like Spruce Up Tree Care can help.
If you’re in Millington, Tennessee, and want a natural mosquito control approach, contact us at 901-833-8242 for professional yard treatments that repel mosquitoes and spruce up your property, too.
