The five “T’s” in mosquito prevention

Dread Skeeter of Mosquito Squad

I was talking to Dread Skeeter the other day, Dread is our Mosquito Squad mascot and he was telling me how proud he was of Russ Jundt, team leader of Mosquito Squad of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Russ was interviews by Fox @ 5 News on Memorial Day weekend and shared with viewers how they can better protect their families and pets from mosquitoes by practicing the very important 5 mosquito prevention “T’s”. You can watch the interview here http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/mosquito-squad-talks-pest-prevention-jun-1-2011 to find out more.

The 5 mosquito prevention “T’s” are…

• Tip
• Top
• Turn over
• Tarps (remove)
• Toss

Learn the 5 "T's" in mosquito prevention and tell those mosquitoes "bite me"

It is simply amazing how much moisture and rainwater can collect in the smallest of things, giving pesky mosquitoes a chance to breed and grow in numbers quite quickly. Be sure that dog dishes, children’s toys and playthings, empty pots and planters ( including the drainage pan underneath), and even water bottles and small bottles caps are removed when not “in use” or turned over to keep water from collecting. Hundreds of eggs can be laid by a female mosquito in an area as small as a bottle cap.

To See Russ’ tips “in person” you can see him on YouTube at http://bit.ly/squadnews053111

No Mosquitoes

Contact Mosquito Squad today to learn more helpful hints in mosquito and tick prevention and to schedule a barrier spray for your property to kill and prevent ticks and mosquitoes all season long and tell those mosquitoes “bite me”! 877-667-7823  http://www.mosquitosquad.com/

The Swarm of the 13-Year Cicada is a Rare Brood Indeed

Up close and personal with the 13-year cicadas

Here at Mosquito Squad our primary focus is to keep irritating and  dangerous insects out of your living space. These are insects such as mosquitoes and ticks which carry many diseases with their bite. Once in a while however, an insect is so interesting that we take a moment to reflect on it. This would be the case of the recent 13 year swarm of cicadas which have enveloped the southern and mid-western states of the US.

What is all the buzz about? The unusually loud mating call of the cicadas in recent weeks has left some homeowners going as far as to contact their local police departments to report “a disturbance in their woods”. These 13-year cicadas belong to what is called “periodical cicadas” there are also 17-year periodical cicadas as well. These swarms are a very rare event in nature.

Dread Skeeter of Mosquito Squad-kills mosquitoes and ticks dead!

The cicada itself is a harmless insect. They are not related to locusts, which is a common misconception. They do not sting or bite humans, and do not harbor any illness of disease. The red-eyed cicadas contain an extremely high amount of protein. In some cuisine the cicada is considered a delicacy, some people even freeze the cicadas and give them to their dogs as dog treats.

Within the next few weeks, an end will come to all the clamor of the 13-year cicadas. They will begin to perish in the forests and woods, having completed the mission they were destined to finish, which is mate and lay eggs that will lay dormant in the soil for the next 13 years only to emerge in the year 2024. Their bodies will decompose and produce nitrogen which will fertilize the soil – the circle of life continues once again.

Dead mosquito - Mosquito Squad kills mosquitoes dead

Call Mosquito Squad to find out about keeping harmful and irritating insects such as mosquitoes and ticks  out of your landscape this season . We offer an all natural solution to you mosquito problems as well as our original safe and effective barrier spray. Our rotation cycle leaves you bite free and worry free the entire season without giving it a second thought. Make sure your summer is bite free by contacting Mosquito Squad. 877-667-7823 or email us @http://www.mosquitosquad.com/SignMeUp.html

Do Blondes Really Have More Fun?

Dread Skeeter wants you to enjoy your season bite free!

We have all heard the old saying “Blondes have more fun”. Famous movie icon Marilyn Monroe even pushed the envelope further in her 1953 film “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”. When it comes to insects, such as mosquitoes, which color would you think they are more likely to strike upon, brunette or blonde?

In this scenario we use the terms blonde and brunette loosely to characterize dark colors versus light colors. The simple elements of design teach us that colors are formatted into dark and light by the way they either reflect or absorb light. We researched what the mosquito is attracted to most and we came up with some interesting facts.

Mosquitoes are actually drawn to dark colors such as deep greens, blacks, browns and similar colors. The reason for the attraction is it mimics the colors found in dark foliage and thus, they are attracted to dark foliage as a place of refuge. Mosquitoes are also attracted to bright lights, such as incandescent lights. This seems like a contradiction in terms compared with dark versus light, but when choosing lighting to deter mosquitoes studies show fluorescent is the best choice.

Dead mosquito - Mosquito Squad kills mosquitoes dead

Certain scents draw a mosquito in for the kill as well. Overly fruity or floral fragrances are attractive to mosquitoes, as well as sweat. The carbon dioxide we exhale when we breathe is the main allure that draws mosquitoes to us. Certain foods we ingest are also prone to give off odors that the mosquito likes. Foods high in potassium such as bananas and strawberries affect our bodies by giving off lactic acid after we ingest these foods, and the mosquitoes love the smell of lactic acid.

Within your landscape you can deter mosquitoes by taking care of any standing water or any items that could collect standing water. Even small amounts of standing water could end up as a mosquitoes nursery for her new brood. Keeping your lawn mowed and tidy is a plus as well. Mosquitoes are drawn to unkempt lawns and property. Avoiding being outside during the feeding frenzy will help discourage unwanted bites. Mosquitoes generally feed from dusk until dawn. These common sense safeguards will help keep you safe and happy when entering untreated property and lawns.

No Mosquitoes

Another formidable deterrent to avoid mosquitoes bites all together is to contact a licensed professional such as Mosquito Squad. We can apply a barrier spray every 14-21 days to kill and prevent mosquitoes from entering your property.We realize however, that while enjoying all your favorite activities you will enter untreated areas and have to deal with mosquitoes during this season. We recommend using the knowledge and awareness you gain about mosquitoes to keep you bite free.

So, to answer the age-old question “do blondes have more fun”, the answer is YES, and so do brunettes, redheads and so forth, especially when they have their property taken care of by Mosquito Squad. Call us to find out how to keep the mosquitoes out and the fun in this season.

Spray Your Yard Not Yourself This Season With Mosquito Squad

Dread Skeeter Mosquito Control

Hopefully, by now all of us are aware of the dangers that mosquito bites can cause. Not only do mosquito bites itch like mad and cause severe discomfort in our lives,the bite from that pesky mosquito can be carrying a disease or bacteria that can make us very ill and in some cases even prove fatal.

I am sure you want  to keep yourself and your family happy and healthy during the mosquito season, and free of mosquito bites. Here is the question I ask you…

Would you rather spray yourself ( meaning your body) every time you have to go outside OR spray your property to control those pesky mosquitoes?

I am sure most of you would answer the latter. Having to continuously apply topical insect repellent every time you venture outdoors can be time-consuming, irritating and if you live in an area of the country where mosquitoes are extremely bad, quite expensive. Not only do topical insect repellents such as DEET, pose health risks when used excessively, they are sticky, and most smell bad. Do you want to host a backyard graduation party for your son smelling like bug spray? Some chemicals in common topical insect repellents can even keep you from sleeping well at night and affect your mood.

Children enjoying a mosquito free backyard

Mosquito Squad has the right answer to keep you and your family healthy, happy and free of mosquitoes this season. We can apply a safe and highly effective barrier spray to your property this season. Not only will it keep those mosquitoes away it will prevent more mosquitoes from entering your treated property. We even offer an all natural mosquito barrier spray made with garlic. This natural garlic spray is a wonderful alternative to our already safe barrier spray, especially those of you who have small children and are going with a “greener” lifestyle.

If you are tired of constant trips to the store to purchase topical insect repellent and feeling sticky and icky this season, give us a call. Our licensed technicians can meet with you to discuss treating your property and giving you peace of mind to enjoy your summer.  So, go ahead and host that backyard graduation bash and enjoy the scents of the season minus the bug spray.  877-667-7823

The Hunter is Sometimes the Hunted

Go ahead, try to bite me you little bugger. You'll be sorry...

Mosquito.The name itself strikes fear in most of us and makes us begin to itch and cringe but, did you know there are benefits of having the mosquito among us? The mosquito plays a very important role in our ecosystem. To a variety of different animals mosquitoes are a primary source of protein in their diet. The beautiful dragonfly consumes mosquito while in the nymph stage. Lizards, spiders, fish, other insects and bats also eat mosquitoes. Many insect-eating birds, such as the Purple Martin are prodigious consumers of the mosquito.

Mosquitoes are also key pollinators. Mosquitoes actually don’t need our blood for food their nutritional needs are met primarily by ingesting flower nectar. The blood they steal from us with their painful bite is actually used to provide protein for the female mosquitoes eggs during development, this is why only the female mosquito bites. Not having the mosquito around would leave many flowers without a pollinator, and in some cases a predator without prey.

Mosquitoes have been on earth for 100 million years, and are a part of our biology and our ecosystem. Some researchers ponder a world without mosquitoes. Would the niche they leave from being eradicated heal? Some experts say that the world would recover, for the better without the annoyance, painful bites and diseases the mosquito spreads. For the moment wiping out the entire classification of the mosquito species seems pretty far off, but with the advancements in pesticides and science we are getting closer each day to the prospect of this actually happening. For now, all we can do is exercise our knowledge in preventing disease and destruction caused mosquitoes.

Dead mosquito - Mosquito Squad kills mosquitoes dead

Even though it might be good to keep these little buggers around, that doesn’t mean we have to “share the pain”. The best way to keep mosquitoes out of your yard is to spray your yard. Enlisting the help of a licensed professional and exercising common sense can help you avoid the mosquito on your own turf. While the negative outweighs the positive when it comes to mosquitoes, it is good to know they aren’t always on the prowl for our blood, in some cases they are the hunted instead of the hunter.

http://www.mosquitosquad.com/