Category Archives: Tips and Fun Facts

Did you know that mosquitoes only need as much as a bottle cap full of water to lay eggs (up to 300)? Mosquitoes spend their first 10 days in water, which is necessary for the eggs to hatch into larvae. It’s important to be aware of this after a rain or cleaning up your backyard.

We have compiled a list of items for you to check in your yard daily to be sure no mosquitoes are breeding in or around your yard.

1. Get rid of any old items that can hold water such as old tires, buckets or cans.
2. Be sure to empty any kids’ pools and toys. Turning them and leaving them upside down overnight can help drain any water.
3. Check for excess water in any air-conditioning drip pans
4. Clean out any standing water in flower pots.
5. Be sure your hose is not leaking. That’s a sneaky culprit!
6. Be sure your gutters are cleaned at least two times each year and have them checked more often if your area experiences heavy rains and winds.
7. Keep garbage pails covered tightly.
8. If you have a boat/canoe/ kayak in your driveway be sure it is covered or drained of any water.
9. Change or drain tarps for firewood or outdoor pools. And be sure to check your barbecue cover daily for any pooled water.
10. Avoid overwatering your lawn to prevent standing water and moist conditions in your yard.
11. Run a filter and use a pool cover to minimize any mosquito activity. Mosquitoes do not lay eggs in disinfected or filtered swimming pools.
12. We also recommend cutting your grass shorter. Short grass will help deter adult mosquitoes from hanging around, as they prefer to rest in cool, damp and shady places.
13. Change the water in bird baths daily. We also suggest purchasing a water agitator for bird baths which attracts birds but discourages mosquitoes! You can purchase one on Amazon for around $20-30.

Be sure to follow our Facebook page and blog for updated information about ticks, mosquitoes, special offers and more.

If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment for service, please contact us at wayne@mosquitojoe.com.

We wish you a safe, happy and mosquito & tick-free summer!

The topic of ticks has been all over the news in New Jersey the past few weeks. If you don’t have time to watch the news, look it up and you will find tons of news stories. The NJ Patch published this article a few weeks ago which talks about a new disease transmitted from ticks called Powassan (POW). 

The Centers for Disease Control is predicting this summer to be the worst tick season on record due to the mild winter we experienced. In addition to the population, the new disease called Powassan, a potentially fatal viral disease transmitted by ticks is on the rise. The same tick that carries Lyme disease has caused Powassan, also known as POW. It is a viral infection that can impact the nervous system, memory, thinking and balance. New York has had 16 reported cases, the second highest amount in the country. Other states that have reported cases are Minnesota with 20, Wisconsin with 15, Massachusetts with 8, New Jersey with 5, Maine with 2, New Hampshire with 1, Pennsylvania with 1 and finally, Virginia with 1. Symptoms of POW include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures, and memory loss, so be on the lookout!

Reducing exposure to ticks is the best protection against POW, Lyme disease, and other tickborne infections. There are several ways you can prevent ticks including avoiding wooded areas with high grass and using a repellent that contains 20 percent or more of DEET. We also recommend showering yourself and your children as soon you come home from being in wooded areas to easily find and ticks on your body.

It is important to check the following areas on your body for ticks:

1. In and around the ears
2. Inside belly button
3. Back of the knees
4. In and around the hair
5. Between the legs
6. Around the waist
7. Under the arms

Mosquito Joe sprays for mosquitoes, fleas and ticks and we take it very seriously. Our technicians are highly trained and our job is to make your yard a safe place to enjoy!

Now is the best time to book your appointment. Please contact us at 973-435-0747 or visit our website at www.wayne.mosquitojoe.com.

Follow our blog for more information about this topic.

We wish you a happy and safe summer!

Spring is here and mosquito season will be here shortly! Did you know mosquitoes only need consistent temperatures of 55 degrees to become active? It is important to understand the life cycle of the mosquito in order to prevent them. For those of you that are not familiar, the mosquito life cycle is composed of four stages: eggs, larval, pupae and adult.

Egg

The female mosquito needs protein to nourish the eggs. They get their food from the blood of animals, humans, mammals, birds and more. Only female mosquitoes bite. Male mosquitoes just feed on nectar of plants or honeydew to get sugar. After receiving the blood, either in one bite or several, the female finds a place to rest for several days until her eggs are grown.

Female mosquitoes can lay up to 300 eggs at a time and spend their first 10 days in water! Females usually lay their eggs during at night. Eggs can hatch in as little as a half inch of standing water (water is necessary for the eggs to hatch).  This is why it is very important to eliminate any stagnant water on your property- pool covers, children’s toys, pet water bowls, trash cans, buckets, bird baths (change daily) and gutters. Females often lay their eggs attached together to form “rafts”, which float on the surface of the water.

Larval & Pupae

The eggs then turn into larvae within 24-48 hours. Larva swim in jerky motions which is why they are commonly referred to as “wigglers”. The pupae can swim by flipping its stomach, which is why they are commonly known as “tumbler”. Usually, larvae and pupae cannot survive without water.

Adult

Several days later, the pupae will transform into an adult mosquito. Adult female mosquitoes live about 42 – 56 days and males live about 10 days. Females will lay eggs up to three times before they die.

Who knew such a tiny organism could have such a sophisticated lifecycle? Science is cool. But you know what’s not cool? Having these mosquitoes (in any part of their life stage) biting you, ruining your outdoor fun and invading your backyard.

Now is a great time to schedule your spring sprays. Contact us by filling out the contact form to the right or by calling us at 973-435-0747. To learn more about our services, please visit our website at wayne.mosquitojoe.com.