Why Does My Backyard Have Mosquitoes in Lexington, KY?

The one thing that can quickly ruin a peaceful, outdoor barbecue is an invasion of mosquitoes! These pesky insects appear out of nowhere and leave itchy, red bites in their wake. Once mosquitoes arrive, it can be difficult to get rid of them. The best way to remove mosquitoes from your backyard is to understand why they are there in the first place.

Mosquitoes are a type of flying insect that disrupt barbecues and camping adventures with their itchy bites. There are more than 3,000 species of mosquitoes, but only a few varieties cause human diseases, such as malaria, encephalitis, West Nile virus, or yellow fever.

Although there are many types of mosquitoes, almost all of them rely on exhaled carbon dioxide, body odors and temperature to locate their prey. The females then use a proboscis to suck a blood meal from the host. Every time a mosquito bites, they rely on their two tubes: one to inject an enzyme to prevent blood clotting and other one to suck the actual blood. The enzyme that is injected into the blood stream causes an allergic reaction and the itchy bump. The blood meal is then used as a meal for their eggs.

Mosquitoes are attracted to your yard by two things: standing water and vegetation. Mosquitoes require standing water to reproduce, so any amount of standing water can serve as a breeding ground, including pet water bowls, clogged gutters, potted plant saucers, or large bodies of standing water. Adult mosquitoes are attracted to the vegetation in your yard because they feast on the plant nectar. Therefore, you will find adult mosquitoes in tall grasses, shrubs or bushes.

Mosquitoes are pesky insects that can be difficult to get rid of because they are attracted to the standing water around your home. Luckily, there are a few ways to get rid of these pests.