This has been a strange summer. It is STILL raining – with forecasts showing that there is more rain coming in the next few days. We do sometimes get rain here at different times of year, but this constant rain, sun, rain sun – combined with flooding that we haven’t seen in years, all over New York City – has been different and challenging.
As a Staten Island pest control company, our team at Fillmore Pest tends to find these types of seasons very unique. Rain can cause spiders to run indoors, for example, or make it so you find cockroaches or rats congregating in areas of your home that feel safer, especially since this rain makes it easier to access water.
But, of all the problems we have here, one of the worst has to be mosquitoes, and this year has made mosquitoes especially challenging.
Look at this chart from Accuweather, for example (taken as a screenshot on 8/14/2024):
This is prime, *extreme* mosquito weather. It is hot. It is humid. There is rain everywhere, leading to flooding and excess moisture. It is the type of weather that mosquitoes thrive in.
And when mosquitoes thrive, you get bit.
We are lucky that the city does regular mosquito treatments. Without them, our mosquito issue would get out of hand. But as we all know, their treatments do not help with the pest control of our houses. We still need to make sure that we’re taking care of our home and making sure it is inhospitable to pests.
How to Keep Mosquitoes Out
First and foremost, there is no substitute for high quality pest control. You should be working with a pest control company, ideally our team here at Fillmore Pest, and having us come to your property and make sure that you are getting professionally treated not only for mosquitoes, but all the many pests that may come inside.
Still, there are some things you can do to make sure that all this rain does not cause significant issues for you and your family. These include:
- Dumping Any Standing Water – If you notice any water, anywhere, that has gathered as a result of the rain (even if it is as small as a tiny cup) make sure the water is dumped out into the ground.
- Improving Irrigation – Make sure that your landscape is draining water and, if it is not, make sure that you contact a landscaper to see if there are ways you can reduce how much water pools during rainy seasons.
- Mow Your Grass/Trim Bushes – Keeping your landscape clear doesn’t cure mosquitoes but it can reduce their numbers. Mosquitoes like to hide during the day in tall grass and bushes. If they do not have places to hide, they may not stay on your property.
You can also try some DIY methods of mosquito removal, like installing plants they do not like around your yard, but these are debatable in their effectiveness. You should also talk to your neighbors about their own mosquito prevention, because mosquitoes do not have to live on your property to bite you – they can travel from your neighbor’s house as well.
Long Term Mosquito Control
Still, none of these are a replacement for professional pest control, and if you are looking for professional pest control, then the best place to turn is Fillmore Pest. We are based on Staten Island and service most of NYC and parts of New Jersey, and are here to help make sure that your pest control needs are met. For more information, or to get started, please contact Fillmore Pest today.