ATLANTA — All the rain we’ve had this winter means more mosquitoes, and now is the time to prepare.
Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Eboni Deon learned where they are already developing around your home.
All that rain means there are plenty of areas where mosquitoes can breed.
Some you might not even consider. Like an exposed pipe, standing water and leaves. That is the right environment for mosquitoes to lay their eggs.
“We can expect a rising number of mosquitoes as these waters, these new warm waters are left behind (from) the rains,” Arrow Exterminator field trainer Dave Lofquist said.
Lofquist says when we have heavy rains and flash flooding like what we have experienced, areas that are not typically wet, become new breeding grounds.
“You can see this cover on this Jacuzzi, as it’s fallen into disrepair it’s created a depression and this is an ideal habitat for mosquitoes to breed,” Lofquist said.
These shallow pools warm up quickly. The larvae can hide in the leaves and pine straw debris and develop into mosquitoes in as little as seven to ten days.
Lofquist says certain mosquitoes become active any time temperatures are over 50 degrees.
As temperatures rise, it is a good idea to inspect around your home to find areas that could present problems, like your gutters and extension pipes.
“There’s going to be some water that doesn’t drain out in these ridges here and that can hold enough water for some mosquitoes to breed in,” Lofquist said.
Lofquist suggests making sure your gutters along the home are clear of debris and can dry after a heavy rain within seven days.
Any extension pipes along your gutters need to be able to drain completely. Otherwise, there is a risk for standing water in the pipes.
“Mosquitoes can enter the pipe find the standing water and use that as a breeding source,” Lofquist said.
Mosquito season is just now starting but it will go through October in metro Atlanta.
Now is the time to identify the breeding sources around your home to get ahead of the mosquitoes.
Once the temperatures start to warm up consistently to 70 degrees and warmer, we will likely see more than usual.
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