Tips

How bad will the bugs be after the mild winter?

How bad will the bugs be after the mild winter?

You may have loved this winter’s unusually warm weather, but guess what—so did many insects. The winter warmth (this was the sixth-warmest winter and second warmest February on record in the United States according to NOAA) was pure buggy bliss. Add a warm, wet spring to the mix, and 2017 is creating the perfect breeding ground for some of our least favorite insect pests, including ticks and mosquitoes.

“Most of the pest insects that we're dealing with are not migrating,” said Fredericks. “They have to find a way to make it through the winter. When it's a mild winter, they tend to do a little bit better.”

It's pretty straightforward: when the weather is milder, more insects survive the winter, which means there are more insects around to bite us and breed come springtime. Fredericks and his colleagues made their 2017 predictions based on the winter and spring weather coupled with predictions for the rest of spring and summer.

More adult mosquitoes live through a warm winter, and more of their larvae survive as well. And since mosquitoes breed in standing water, a wet spring gives them plenty of romantic enclaves to keep the population boom going. Moreover, warm weather speeds up a mosquito’s reproductive lifecycle—she can lay more eggs and have them hatch more quickly. If this is making you itchy, it should.

What should you do with this information?

“Do a self-assessment of your property of areas that could potentially breed mosquitoes,” said Fredericks. “You should look for anything that is going to hold water. A lot of people hear about flower pots and old tires, and sure, those are places where water can accumulate. But these mosquitoes can breed in the volume of water that can be held inside of bottle cap. It's time to be mindful debris and trash and children's toys. Make sure that rain gutters are clear and not clogged.”

Also, Fredericks recommends wearing any repellant that appears on the CDC approved the list, which includes DEET, Picaridin, Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or (PMD) (which isn’t to be confused with the lemon of eucalyptus essential oil). And while dawn and dusk used to be the primetime biting period for mosquitos, newer species such as Aedes aegypti are day biters. As for ticks, donning repellant and covering up—light colored, long-sleeved pants and long shirts—is key in tick areas. That means woods and grassy areas, but even the wild edges of your  property can be perilous when you're out doing yard work.


Published

Stats

438 words
2 minutes, 11 seconds reading time

Share


Recent reviews from your neighbors.

AUG 28

Awesome product and great people to work with

Donald Grant

AUG 27

“Michele’s Hide-Away Screens and Awning did an amazing job on our garage screen! The team was professional, punctual, and very knowledgeable. The installation was quick and seamless, and the screen looks fantastic — it gives us shade, privacy, and keeps the bugs out while still allowing airflow. We’ve already had compliments from neighbors, and we love being able to use our garage like an extra room now. Highly recommend this company for quality work and great service!”

Tonya Steals

AUG 27

I couldn't be happier with the screen the service and the process. I will be passing Micheles Hide-Away on to anyone that's in need.

Robert Nolan

AUG 26

Very professional and extremely helpful techs. Five stars in every aspect.

Renee Bass

AUG 25

Fantastic product, fantastic sales and installation team, showed up exactly on time! Highly recommended.

Robert

AUG 21

Just had Michele’s put in a retractable garage door screen. They weren’t the cheapest, but in my opinion had the best product. Price was fair and service was excellent. Jack, the installer, put the screen up in two hours, cleaned up everything and left the area clean. He explained operation, warranty and product care. Given the price and service, I would highly recommend this company.

Robert Bell

AUG 21

We are very satisfied with Michele‘s Hideaway screens. They arrived on time, very respectful. And answered all our questions meticulous work highly satisfied.

Teana Adams

AUG 20

We are ABSOLUTELY SO SATISFIED with Michele's Hide-Away Screens & Awnings! They did a FANTASTIC job and when they came out for measurements they told us they would be back in 6 wks for installation and they were right on time with the call to let us know they were ready for installation. They kept in touch and when a time was given for their arrival it was almost accurate to the minute. They are very professional as well as friendly. We would highly recommend their services and we will continue to tell all our friends and new neighbors moving into our neighborhood about them. Thank You Michele's Hide-Away ❣️ GREAT JOB from a FANTASTIC COMPANY😃

Nancy Raia

AUG 20

The salesman Al who came out to do the quote was amazing. Very detailed, professional, and knowledgeable; verified his measurements and explained what we should expect. Timing for the availability of the unit was spot on and installation was scheduled promptly. Jack the installer was fabulous as well. He came ready to work, did the installation efficiently and in less time than anticipated. He obviously knew what he was doing and provided excellent and clear instruction on how the screen worked.

T N

AUG 19

This company is awesome. Started when David came and showed us the product and we lived what we saw. Then today Jack came to install and went over everything with me. Both were very knowledgeable and professional. Anyone looking to replace a garage screen this is the company to call

Donna Winston