Mosquitoes are one of those pests that we do whatever we can to avoid. After all, when we’re trying to enjoy time outside, nobody wants to worry about getting bit by nagging mosquitoes. Not only are they irritating, but they can also carry diseases that can be harmful to our health.

While “getting bit” is the most obvious sign of a mosquito infestation in your yard, there are other signs to be on the lookout for. Sometimes, you can get ahead of a mosquito problem before getting eaten alive.

Watching out for these signs of a mosquito infestation in the yard will help you get more enjoyment out of your Alexandria, Arlington, or Springfield, VA home without having to constantly worry about pests.

Signs of Mosquito Infestation in a Yard

As we mentioned, the most telltale sign of a mosquito problem is getting bit. One minute you’re sitting there enjoying a nice dinner on your patio or a drink with friends, the next you’re swatting at these pests or spraying bug spray on everyone.

Female mosquitoes bite because they need your blood (more specifically, its protein) in order to lay their eggs.

Besides feeling those bites (or finding welts later), we’ll detail some other potential signs of a mosquito infestation in your yard so that you can try to get ahead of the problem.

1. You Hear a High-Pitched Buzz

Besides actually getting bit by mosquitoes, a lot of people recognize they have a mosquito problem because they hear these pests buzzing.

Mosquitoes have a very high-pitched and distinctive sound. It often feels like they’re buzzing directly in our ears. That’s probably because mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide that we breathe out, which is why they tend to linger around peoples’ faces.

The high-pitched buzzing sound is actually the sound of their wings flapping rapidly. Research indicates that females make a higher-pitched sound than males and that most people can’t even hear a male’s buzz.

Since it’s also the females that feast on blood if you hear that sound, it’s time to get away.

2. You Have a Lot of Standing Water on your Property

Standing water is one of the major attractors of mosquitoes. That’s because the females need water to lay their eggs.

Even if you haven’t noticed a mosquito infestation in your yard yet if you have a lot of areas of standing water, you can be sure they’re coming.

Dirty gutters are one of the unexpected but common culprits of a mosquito infestation. That’s because a dirty gutter has everything that a mosquito needs to thrive: water, food, and shelter. Cleaning out gutters is a great way to reduce mosquito populations or even prevent some of your problems in the first place.

Of course, there can be other areas of standing water on your property, as well. Some other common culprits include:

• Children’s toys
• Kiddie pools
• Wheelbarrows or buckets
• Low spots or grading issues
• Tarps, woodpile covers, and pool covers
• Bird baths
• Flower pots
• Tire swings
• Low areas in landscape beds

Thinking about areas where water may be collected can make a huge difference in reducing the number of mosquitoes on your property.

3. You Have a Shady Property

If your Alexandria, Arlington, or Springfield, VA home is on a very shady property, you might also be at risk of a mosquito infestation in your yard. Mosquitoes enjoy being in shaded areas away from the boiling hot sun. If you live in a wooded area or on the border of woods, be aware that these zones are likely mosquito hot spots.

People don’t always realize that mosquitoes are weak fliers and they stop often to rest. When they do, they’ll definitely hang out in shady spots where they can rest in your shrubs.

4. You See them Hanging Around (at all Times of the Day or Night)

Mosquitoes are generally known to cause the most trouble during the evening hours. However, if you start seeing them even during the day, it’s pretty likely you have a full mosquito infestation in your yard.

Many species of mosquitoes typically follow a cycle of resting in the day and being active at night. However, for the Asian tiger mosquito, it’s flip-flopped (where they prefer to rest at night). Unfortunately, here in Northern Virginia, we do see a lot of activity from the Asian tiger mosquito.

How to Get Rid of a Mosquito Infestation

If you have noticed any of these signs or you just want to get ahead of a problem before it even starts, then you are likely thinking about what to do about a mosquito infestation (or, how to prevent one in the first place).

The truth is, there are a lot of mosquito remedies that don’t work.

These include products like citronella candles, mosquito coils, mosquito lamps, or various mosquito repellent sprays. While they may deter a few mosquitoes, overall, the mosquito’s determination to obtain blood is going to be enough for them to overcome repellent products and continue their quest for their next meal.

Fortunately, there are things that you can do.

For one, as we mentioned earlier, cleaning your gutters and getting rid of standing water can make a big difference since this makes major strides toward reducing or eliminating their breeding ground.

The other major step that you can take is investing in professional mosquito control. That means applying professional-grade mosquito spray to prime mosquito habitats like your shrubs, ornamental grasses, underneath your deck, and around your patio area (just to name some prime hangout spots).

As we mentioned, mosquitoes land often to rest and a mosquito control product will take care of them when they do.

We know that some homeowners worry about safety when it comes to mosquito control. At Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape, we use a safe product (the main ingredient is concentrated garlic oil!).

The key to success with a highly safe product like this is frequent applications during the mosquito season. The complete safety of these natural products also means their potency doesn’t last as long as synthetic materials would.

We typically perform nine treatments.

There are companies that perform a lot less but that might be due to the fact that they have a more potent chemical. In order not to have any questions about safety but to still prevent breakthroughs, we do need to perform regular treatments.

On top of applying products, we also perform professional gutter cleaning and help make recommendations for areas of standing water that can be remedied. We understand that going above and beyond is important when it comes to tackling a pest like the mosquito.

Take Back Your Yard and Get Back to Enjoying Time Outside

Whether you have stumbled across this article because you already have a problem and you want to know what to do about a mosquito infestation, or you just want to prevent mosquitoes in the first place, there are solutions.

At the end of the day, you should be able to enjoy your yard without worrying about these pests.

As an added bonus, you’ll be pleased to know that the product that we use also covers fleas and ticks—two other pests you certainly don’t want to worry about!

By investing in professional mosquito control in Alexandria, Arlington, or Springfield, VA, you can gain the peace of mind that your property is being protected. Instead of having to worry about mosquitoes lurking around, waiting for their next meal, you and your family can go back to enjoying time outdoors.

If you’re ready to stop worrying about the nuisance and dangers of mosquitoes, request a quote, get your customized plan, and sit back and relax as you get the royal treatment.