Mosquitoes are among the most troublesome pests. In addition to planting discomforting bite marks during their blood meals, they spread plenty of diseases. Unfortunately, mosquitoes can spread some serious diseases, such as dengue, malaria, and Zika fever!
Unfortunately, the environmental conditions in Singapore – including your home – are ideal for a lot of pests like mosquitoes to breed and multiply. Want to get rid of these pesky pests? Then, start by eliminating hiding spots and breeding spots around you.
If you are clueless about where to start, keep reading to learn about the most common spots where mosquitoes breed. Once you identify which places in your house encourage a mosquito infestation, you can take care of them.
8 Common Places Where Mosquitoes Breed
Stagnant Water Attracts Mosquitoes
Having still water around your house is an open invitation for mosquitoes to breed. Female mosquitoes love to lay eggs in stagnant water. While you might already know this, you actually need to understand how just a little amount of standing water can attract mosquitoes too.
It is not just pools and marshes in which mosquitoes breed it. Standing water in buckets, flower pots, stacks of tyres, bird baths, and even something as small as a bottle cap can attract mosquitoes.
You should eliminate any unwanted water sources you can find. For example, water in flower vases and pet food trays should be discarded regularly. For drums and buckets used for gardening purposes, you can drill some holes in the bottom to help the water drain out.
Drip Trays for Air Conditioners
Air conditioners are known to gather a lot of standing water. This makes the drip trays a comfortable spot for mosquitoes to breed. In addition, female mosquitoes will make use of AC (aircon) residue pans and drains to lay eggs.
Moreover, mosquitoes can also easily enter your home through air conditioner vents. To prevent this, ensure the air conditioner drain does not collect any water. Keep the AC drains clean and periodically check for drips.
Kid’s Outdoor Play Sets
Did you know your child’s outdoor play set could attract mosquitoes? These annoying creatures can breed in puddles near your kid’s play set during the monsoons. They might also take shelter in the gaps and crevices of the play set.
You need to take precautions to protect your family from these dengue-causing pests. To keep your children safe, you can build a concrete base for their play sets. This way, rainwater will not accumulate at the bottom, discouraging female mosquitoes from breeding there. Furthermore, you can use a netted canopy and mosquito repellents to safeguard your child.
Yard Debris
Backyards, in general, are very appealing to mosquitoes. The annoying creatures find comfort in everything in your yard that collects water. This includes hollow parts of trees, under wood piles, under the deck, grass clippings, compost piles, raked leaves, and thick vegetation.
Keep the yard clean by clearing the space under the deck, removing leaves, and discarding other debris immediately. You can fill hollow areas of trees with mud or sand to prevent water from collecting in them.
Garbage Bins
Garbage bins draw a range of insects into your home, and mosquitoes are no exception. In addition, if your trash can or recycling bin does not have a lid, it can collect water. This is especially a problem if it is placed outdoors.
If you do not want your bins to accumulate rainwater, you need to clean them from time to time. Flip them habitually, especially after heavy rainfall. Also, get garbage bins with tight lids and always keep them closed.
Toilets and Pools
Now let’s talk about some obvious sources of stagnant water. A female mosquito needs a very small amount of water to reproduce in. However, in your attempts to remove small containers and clean drip trays, do not neglect the big water sources such as pools.
Pools may be a fun way to get relief from the summer heat, but it can be troublesome if you do not maintain them well. Empty your pool regularly, especially if you are going on a vacation.
Toilets, too, attract a lot of mosquitoes. If you have damp bathrooms, consider keeping them dry. Moreover, do not store water in toilet buckets for too long. As the humidity levels in bathrooms are generally high, they can be a very attractive place for pests to breed. So, consider getting pest control done regularly to keep the pest situation in check.
Birdbaths
Who does not enjoy beautiful singing birds in their yard or balcony? Unfortunately, if you place bird baths to draw birds to your patio or yard, the water in them might attract mosquitoes. Don’t worry; you do not have to take the birdbath down.
Just be sure to change the water every day. You can also add a little waterfall or an aerator to keep the water moving. This will prevent mosquitoes from breeding in the bird baths. You can also add some bacterial insecticides to the water to deter mosquitoes. Thankfully, these insecticides are not detrimental to birds.
Gutters
Another common breeding spot for mosquitoes is the gutter. In fact, gutters are perfect for them. Not only do gutters have water, but they are also filled with debris. While the National Environment Agency (NEA) takes a number of measures to effectively control mosquito infestations in Singapore, including cleaning all the public drains, you need to ensure you keep the gutters in your premises clean too.
If you have been putting off cleaning the gutters for a long time, there is a high chance that they are already clogged. Clogged drains are ideal for mosquito breeding. Gutters are essential for discarding dirty and excess water, but clogged gutters can lead to mosquito infestation in your neighbourhood.
Mosquitoes can lay eggs and also hide in gutters. So, pay heed to proper maintenance and cleaning of the drains.
Conclusion
A mosquito problem is common in most households. While everyone complains, very few realise they can control the mosquito infestation in their area by making simple changes. The first step is to understand what attracts mosquitoes and where they breed. Then, simply try to maintain the breeding that is going on to keep mosquitoes from infesting your home.
This can be as simple as changing standing water in buckets, flower vases, bird baths etc. You will also benefit from keeping the yard clean. Don’t forget to change the water in toilet buckets regularly. Also, keep outdoor trash cans covered to keep rainwater from accumulating. With consistent efforts, you can have a mosquito-free home.
You can also consult a reliable pest control company to help you assess the situation in your premises and suggest the appropriate treatment to eliminate the mosquito infestation. Going for an eco-friendly pest control approach should always be your first choice, which only an experienced mosquito control company can advise and implement.
