If you love hiking, camping, or just entertaining friends and family in your backyard, you probably dread the mosquito bites you’ll be scratching for the next week or so after the fun is over. Mosquitos are an irritating pest, and the itchy bites they leave behind cause prolonged discomfort for many people. However, mosquitos are far more dangerous than just an itchy annoyance. Mosquitoes carry a number of diseases including the West Nile virus, Zika, malaria, yellow fever, dengue, encephalitis, and Chikunguny, which presents danger for you, your family, and your pets. 

Mosquitos in Central Virginia

Mosquitoes are attracted to Central Virginia because we are local to several highly wooded areas, including many state parks that are both highly wooded and contain bodies of standing water, which is where mosquitoes lay their eggs. While there are 42 different mosquito species in Henrico County, the Asian Tiger Mosquito is the most common. This mosquito is known as a “container breeder,” meaning that they will target any container of standing water that is left for 7 days or more, including bird baths, children’s toys, and flower pot saucers. They can even lay their eggs in just a couple tablespoons of water. Mosquito season in Central Virginia typically begins in April and lasts through October. 

How to Minimize Mosquito Breeding

You can take measures around your property to minimize mosquito breeding, such as:



• Emptying standing water out of any vessel where it collects at least once a week.
• If you have a pool or hot tub, treat it regularly with chlorine. Besides maintaining the quality of your water, chlorine turns your favorite outdoor water feature into an inhospitable environment for mosquito larvae. Also, keep the pool or hot tub covered when not in use.
• If you have a different type of water feature such as a small fountain or birdbath, change out the water once a week during mosquito season and sweep the interior surface with a brush to knock off any eggs that may be clinging to the surface.
• Keep mosquito repelling plants like mint, citronella, and catnip growing in your outdoor spaces.
• Mosquitos hate citrus, so keep lemon and other citrus fruits around the house.

Mosquito Treatment Plans

If you’re a homeowner in Henrico VA area with more mosquitos on your property than you can handle on your own and you’re sick of finding new itchy bumps every time you spend time enjoying the great outdoors, the good news is that there is help available in the form of your trusted and locally owned “mosquito control near me.” U.S. Pest Control recommends our seasonal Home Secure Mosquito Package, which protects you, your family and your pets from mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks so that you can get back to enjoying the beautiful summer weather with your loved ones. 

Don’t wait until you’re already “itching” for an effective mosquito treatment plan. Book your Mosquito Service appointment today!