Elephants Don’t Typically Bite, But Mosquitoes Do!
Elephants don’t typically bite, but mosquitoes do!
This phrase contains some wisdom both metaphorically and literally. Often in life, it’s the cumulation of small things that throw us off track. Mosquitoes are small, hard to see, and very annoying- I have yet to find someone who enjoys their summer full of mosquitoes. The Twin Falls County Pest Abatement District wants to recommend five small measures you can take this summer to prevent the little mosquitoes from becoming a big problem!
1. Drain standing water around your property.
Buckets in our area don’t always catch a lot of rain, but they seem to catch a lot of sprinkler irrigation! Be sure to empty any buckets or other containers that might be around your yard or any field that has sprinkler irrigation. Buckets and other containers usually hold heat because they are small, and this helps mosquito larvae to grow rapidly. These containers are also predator-free, so on average, more larvae hatch into adults than typical ponds with fish. Other common items that have been found holding water and growing mosquitoes are tarps and tires. You can eliminate almost all habitat around your property by storing containers, tarps, and tires away from water.
2. Treat stock tanks and bird baths with BTi.
Stock tanks, like other smaller containers, create excellent habitats for mosquitoes. The water in stock tanks is usually warmer than water found in most ponds. The mosquito species that transmit West Nile Virus has often been found in stock tanks. These adult mosquitoes can easily feed on livestock, horses, and owners and then lay eggs nearby so that future generations will have an ample food supply close to home. A small Mosquito DunkⓇ can be applied to stock tanks and birdbaths without harming other animals that might drink from that water source. Mosquito Dunks contain a soil bacteria call Bacillus Thuringiensis israelensis (BTi). This soil bacteria specifically affects mosquitoes in the larval stage and is not harmful to fish, birds, or mammals.
3. Inspect window and door screens
Malaria, a terrible mosquito-borne disease that was very common in the United States until the 1950s, was largely eradicated from the US due to window and door screens. When mosquitoes could no longer enter homes at night and transmit malaria to sleeping victims- the disease presence in the United States started dropping. Screens on windows and doors, coupled with community members working together to eliminate mosquito habitat erased a disease that was largely present since before the American Revolutionary War. Malaria isn’t the only disease that screens on windows and doors can keep out of your home, which makes checking them for damage a worthwhile investment.
4. Dress for success when fighting the bite!
Mosquitoes that can transmit West Nile Virus are often active from early dusk until dawn. If you notice a lot of mosquito activity around your property at those times, be sure to wear long-sleeve shirts and pants to cover up. Use an EPA-approved repellant to help keep mosquitoes away. Mosquito nets when moving sprinkler lines may be helpful too.
5. Contact the Twin Falls County Pest Abatement District for help
The mission of the Pest Abatement District is to protect the health of citizens of Twin Falls County from harmful vectors and pests. Our team treats over 4,000 sites across the county to help reduce mosquito populations. If you are noticing more mosquitoes than typical or just have questions about keeping your property mosquito-free, please send us an email at manager@tfcpad.org
I don’t anticipate any biting elephants in our area, at least not this summer, but we have prime habitat for lots of biting mosquitoes. By taking a few simple preventative steps you can enjoy a summer with few or no mosquitoes.