Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance—they carry parasites that can harm humans and animals. While the mosquito season in the Toronto area is still months away, it will never be too early to prepare.
What to Know About Preparing for Mosquito Season
What Months Are Mosquitoes the Worst?
Are you new in Toronto and wondering what months are mosquitoes the worst? You can expect these bugs from May to September. During this time, temperatures and humidity are high, providing ideal breeding and feeding conditions for mosquitoes.
But it is important to note that the severity of mosquito activity can vary yearly depending on weather conditions. Heavy rainfall, for example, can create more breeding grounds for mosquitoes and lead to higher populations.
To protect yourself against mosquito bites and reduce your risk of mosquito-borne diseases, it’s important to start your mosquito control today.
When Should You Start Treating Your Yard for Mosquitoes?
In Toronto, mosquitoes typically start becoming active in late spring, around May or June, and continue through the summer and early fall months. The exact timing can vary depending on temperature and rainfall patterns.
If you are asking when you should start treating your yard for mosquitoes, the answer would be before the mosquitoes become a major problem. So, the earlier you start mosquito control, the better.
Why Should You Prepare for Mosquito Season Today?
Summers have started getting warmer. While it might still be plenty cold up north, the hot days aren’t far away. An increase in the frequency of extreme events is one of the signs of climate change. But why does it matter?
Put simply, climate change can impact mosquito populations and their ability to transmit diseases. Rising temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns can lead to longer and more intense mosquito seasons and the expansion of mosquito habitats into new areas.
Warmer temperatures can also speed up the mosquito life cycle, allowing them to develop and reproduce more quickly. Added to that, changes in rainfall patterns can give mosquitoes more breeding grounds.
On top of changes in mosquito populations, climate change can also impact the range and prevalence of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. As mosquito populations expand into new areas, they may bring new diseases or increase the spread of existing ones.
Climate change can potentially exacerbate the already significant health risks mosquitoes pose.
According to a study, the changing temperatures will affect the number of a certain type of mosquito named Aedes Albopictus inhabiting various big cities, including Toronto, over the next ten years.
Mosquito-Borne Diseases: More Reasons to Start Mosquito Control Today
Mosquito-borne diseases are a significant public health concern worldwide and are responsible for millions of deaths yearly. Mosquitoes are carriers of several different viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Most of these can cause severe illnesses in humans, including:
Malaria
A life-threatening disease, malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were an estimated 247 million malaria cases worldwide in 2021, with over 600,000 deaths.
Dengue Fever
Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. It can cause high fever, severe headache, joint pain, and in severe cases, bleeding. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), there are an estimated 50 million cases of dengue infection worldwide every year, with 22,000 deaths. While cases might be relatively low in North America, it is still best to take preventative steps to minimize the risk of getting infected with the disease.
Zika Virus
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause congenital abnormalities in babies born to women infected during pregnancy. It can also cause fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. The cases of Zika virus in the United States are in decline, but this does not mean you should let your guard down. You still need to take preventative measures.
Chikungunya
Chikungunya is another viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes. While it is rarely serious, it can cause debilitating fever, joint pain, and muscle pain. It is not common in Canada, but there are reported cases of local transmission.
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted by a species of mosquito common in South America and Africa. It can cause fever, chills, headache, backache, and muscle aches. Serious cases may lead to life-threatening conditions. According to the WHO, there were an estimated 200,000 cases of yellow fever worldwide, with 30,000 deaths.
With all these diseases caused by mosquito bites, there is no reason to wait for the mosquito season before you start your preparations.
It Is Time for Mosquito Control: Preparation Tips
Mosquito control can be challenging once the number of these bugs increases, so it is important to act early. Here are a few tips to help with your effort to control mosquito infestation.
Get Rid of Standing Water
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water, so removing potential breeding sites can help prevent them from multiplying. Some common areas where standing water can accumulate include clogged gutters, flower pots, and outdoor containers. Be sure to empty and clean these items once a week to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs. If you have water storage containers, cover them or use wire mesh with tiny holes. Even septic tanks and pipes need to be properly covered.
Install Window Screens
Mosquitoes can easily enter your home through open windows and doors. To prevent this, install screens on all your windows and doors. Ensure the screens are in good condition and don’t have any holes or tears that mosquitoes could slip through.
Use Larvicides
Larvicides are insecticides that kill mosquito larvae and pupae so they cannot grow into adults. You can use this if there are large bodies of water outside your home that you cannot cover. Make sure to follow the label instructions for your safety.
Use Mosquito Repellent
Mosquitoes can be anywhere. So, if you are planning to travel, bring mosquito repellent with you.
Look for products containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. These are all effective at repelling mosquitoes, but they often contain ingredients that can harm your body and the environment. As such, be sure to follow the instructions on the label and only reapply as needed. You can also use mosquito-repellent clothing and accessories like hats and jackets for more protection.
Use Mosquito Traps
A variety of mosquito traps are available on the market, ranging from simple sticky traps to more advanced electronic models. These traps work by luring mosquitoes in with attractants, such as carbon dioxide, heat, or light, then trapping them so they cannot escape. While mosquito traps can effectively reduce mosquito populations, they may not eliminate all mosquitoes in your area.
Keep Your Lawn Trimmed
Tall grass and weeds can provide hiding places for mosquitoes during the day. Keep your lawn trimmed short to reduce the cover available to mosquitoes. It can also help improve air circulation and reduce moisture levels, making your yard less hospitable to mosquitoes.
Hire a Professional Pest Control Company
If you still have trouble with mosquitoes despite your best efforts, consider paying for mosquito control services. These services will give you access to more advanced treatments and equipment and can help significantly reduce mosquito populations. They can also advise how to prevent mosquitoes from returning in the future.
Unfortunately, many of today’s mosquito control companies resort to “chemical fogging” and other harmful, outdated techniques to address pests like mosquitoes. At LawnMart, we care about your health and the environment at large. That’s why we use the safest and most effective means for reducing mosquitoes. Our comprehensive mosquito control strategy helps get rid of your mosquito problem once and for all—without putting you or your landscape in harm’s way.
To start, we treat all of your property’s trees, shrubs, and grass with a safe, odourless, botanical insect control made from Chrysanthemums. This helps reduce the number of full-grown mosquitoes that are currently running rampant across your property. We go one step further by applying Bacillus Thuringiensis to any standing water. This natural bacterium attacks and kills larvae long before they have the opportunity to develop into the pesky mosquitoes that so often bother us. By addressing the root of the problem, we are able to reduce as many mosquitoes as possible—both immediately and also down the road.
We perform this process six times each season—once every three weeks. We even offer two free service calls that can be used if bugs return prior to our next scheduled visit. If you have not had your yard treated yet, now is the time. For the best mosquito control, call LawnMart today!