MOSQUITO CONTROL

The mosquito is a disease carrier and irritant. But the mosquito is not impossible to control. Understanding the mosquito’s biology and breeding cycle can result in effective pest control for mosquito infestation. There are around three thousand species of mosquitoes worldwide.

A single mosquito will produce 16, 25, 00000 mosquitoes within a span of 52 days approximately.

Types of mosquitoes

Anopheles – Malaria
Culex – Filariasis
Aedes – Dengue
Male mosquito life span is 7 days and Female mosquito is one month.
Male mosquitoes are depends on plant sap and Female mosquitoes are depends on human/animal blood.

Breeding places

Mosquitoes can breed in as little as one inch of standing water, which means there are number of places that support them.

Open drains, cess pools, ponds, pits, marshy, swamy areas, tin-cans, buckets, barrels and old tyres.

Control measures

• Channelization, edge cleaning, removal of obstructions from the Nalas or water currents.
• shifting of garbage heaps away from the residential areas and all these pits are to be filled up.
• Unused wells are to be either closed or treatment with larvicide regularly.
• properly seal septic tanks, vent pipes, overhead water tanks etc.
• Discourage stagnation of water in any form
• do not store water in any open container more than a week and avoid pipe line leakages.

CHEMICAL SPRAY

• Anti larval spray
• Anti adult residual spray
  • Anti adult space spray (fogging)

Ant Control

How can I control ants?

Ants are a social insect that lives in colonies. Treatment plans should include killing the entire colony. Just spraying an ant with a typical ant spray, particularly a repellent spray will only kill a few at best.
Ants may enter your house foraging for food or seek shelter. They enter through the smallest openings, foraging for water or food. They are in search of either sweet based food or protein/grease based foods. Once they find a food source, ants will leave a pheromone trail for other ants to follow.

Difference between Flying Ants and Termites

Ants have segmented waists, and termites are approximately the same width along their entire bodies, without pinched waists. Ant antennas are bent whereas Termite antennae are straight.

Inspection

To get your ant problem under control, inspection is an important first step.

To find ant nests, follow their trails. Ants lay down a chemical pheromone trail along their established routes to and from a food source so other Ants can easily find the food.

Inside a house, inspect along the carpet edges, doors, windows, and all areas of the kitchen. The easiest way to find a trail to the nest is to watch where ants go after reaching the food source. If you are targeting Carpenter Ants, inspection at night is more effective since the larger Carpenter Ant is nocturnal. You can spot Carpenter Ants emerging from damaged wood inside the house, or foraging outside in woodpiles, rotted or water-damaged wood, and tree stumps.

Outside the house, inspect around foundation walls, areas of vegetation, and mulch. Any vegetation found near patios and walls may hide some Ant nests or their trails. Check under any item that is on the ground. Some ant nests are well hidden.

Ant Control Tips and Strategies

There are two main types of ant problems that are commonly encountered with an ant problem.

• Ants that live outside and forage inside
• Ants that already have a nest built inside

1. Ants that live outside and forage in the home.

Ants that live outside will travel inside your home to search for food. Some species ultimately reside and nest inside houses.

1. Caulk and seal cracks and crevices to eliminate passages into the home. Since Ants are extremely industrious in finding entry points, you may not be able to seal them all.
2. Clean around entry points with a detergent to remove the chemical trail pheromone.

2. Ants that live (nest) inside your home.

• Some ants don't just enter your home foraging for food. Some ants will establish a colony inside.
• Indoor colonization occurs year-round, especially in warmer climates. Ant species that live in homes include Argentine Ants, Crazy Ants, Odorous House Ants, Pavement Ants, Pharaoh Ants, Thief Ants, and Carpenter Ants. All of these ants may infest food products.

3. Special Considerations for Carpenter Ants

Carpenter Ants are most active in the evening hours when foraging for food, both inside the house and outside. By observing Ants at night, you may be able to tell where to spray or bait. Treating the nest itself is the last resort for Carpenter Ant control. Unless the entire nest is effectively treated, the colony may simply scatter. Use a non-repellent insecticide to minimize this risk.

To prevent further Carpenter Ant infestations:

1. Trim all trees and bushes so branches do not touch the house.
2. Correct moisture problems such as leaky roofs and plumbing.
3. Paint and/or seal exposed wood construction before it becomes wet.
4. Replace rotted, water-damaged, and previously Ant-infested wooden parts of the structure.
5. Eliminate wood/soil contacts.
6. Remove dead stumps on the property and store firewood off the ground and away from the structure.