Everyone's been there - you are outside enjoying a wonderful summer evening and the dreaded mosquitoes come swarming in, forcing your gathering inside.
Are there any pet owners out there tired of scanning your beloved best friends for ticks?
Tick and mosquito control treatments can overlap in many ways. We will go over the differences so you can decide which is right for you.
When to Treat for Ticks and Mosquitos?
Ticks: If snow cover is low, ticks will pop their heads out when temperatures hit 35 degrees but they won’t be fully active until ground temperatures reach 45 degrees.
Mosquitoes: Some mosquitos hibernate through winter and reemerge when temperatures reach around 50 degrees F. Others hatch from eggs that were laid in spring. Mosquitoes thrive in warm temperatures. As temperatures rise, mosquito populations rise.
Read more about Mosquito Control specifically, here:
How to Reduce Tick and Mosquito Populations:
Ticks:
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Remove leaf litter, brush and weeds.
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Avoid plants with heavy ground cover like pachysandra in areas where family or pets frequently traffic.
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Move bird feeders and woodpiles away from house (ticks like these areas).
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Keep playscape/playground areas away from wood lines. The more direct sunlight a playscape gets, the better.
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Trim tree branches and shrubs along the woods line (ticks like shade).
Source: WebMd
Mosquitoes:
- Empty all standing water (bird baths, kiddie pools, etc).
- Plant basil, lavender or lemon grass. These plants naturally repel mosquitos.
- Set up bat houses in your yard. In one night, a single bat can eat over 1,000 mosquitos.
Where do I treat for ticks vs mosquitoes?
Ticks: Treatment areas for ticks include the woods line, around trees, flowerbeds, bushes, around the foundation, under bird feeders, any leaf litter, under decks, downspouts from gutters, and around the foundation of the house up to chest height.
Mosquitoes: Treatment areas for mosquitos include woods line (up to 12 ft high), bushes, flowerbeds, under decks, the underside of gutters, north side of the house, and around the foundation.
Diseases that Ticks and Mosquitoes Spread:
Ticks: Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Mosquitos: West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, La Crosse, Jamestown Canyon, Cache Valley and Trivittatus.
Products used for tick and mosquito control:
Ticks: One very effective Tick Control product is Bifentrin which is a safe product labeled for both indoor and outdoor use. It is effective on ticks and will also control a wide variety of insects and fleas.
Mosquito: A successful Mosquito Control product that I have used is Proflex which is also very safe and labeled for both indoor and outdoor use. This product is very effective long-term for fleas, roaches, flies, mosquitos, gnats, crickets, litter beetles and ants.
Overlap between tick and mosquito control programs:
You may only need one program.
Products and treatment areas are similar for ticks and mosquitos. Mosquito control will handle some ticks and Tick Control will eliminate some mosquitos but neither will control ALL pests.
When spraying for ticks, nothing above chest height is sprayed. When spraying for mosquitos, there are areas where ticks live (around tree stumps) that are not treated for mosquitos.
If you have issues with both, I recommend both programs.
Equipment needed for tick and mosquito control:
High Pressure Spraying vs. Backpack Mist Blower.
Ticks: A high-pressured sprayer with a sufficient amount of hose to reach all parts of your property is recommended. This allows for thorough coverage and targeted treatment where those naughty little ticks hide.
Mosquitoes: Back pack mist blowers spray a mist that enables product to reach higher areas and get better coverage where mosquitoes live and breed.
Recommended programs:
You make the call - that's the nice thing about working with a local company. Many of them will work with you to meet your needs!
6 Step Mosquito Program. 4 Step Tick Program.
Pressure threshold is based off of your wants and needs. If you would like all mosquitos and ticks gone, a good strategy would be a 6 step mosquito program and the 4 step tick program.
If you are looking to just reduce the population of mosquitoes and ticks and make them more manageable, most companies will be able to customize a more affordable program to fit your needs.
The Bottom Line:
If you are going to manage these pests on your own, be persistent. Mosquitoes and Ticks are very harmful (even deadly) and can be a huge nuisance. If you are going to hire a professional, hire someone you trust. Referrals from friends, family, or neighbors are usually a great way to avoid getting taken advantage of. Remember, check those reviews too!
If this article was useful to you, read some others similar to it:
- How Do I Get Rid of Moles In My Yard?
- How Do I Know if I Need Mosquito Control?
- Will Ants Damage My Lawn?
- Tick Control Methods [DIY vs Pro]
Since 2007, Green Meadow Lawn Care has provided homeowners throughout the greater Tolland, Connecticut area with premium fertilization programs, tick control, mosquito management, seeding & aeration and tree & shrub care.
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