While it’s not unusual to notice more mosquitoes in warm weather, here’s some ways that you can tell if you have a full-blown infestation:

You frequently hear buzzing sounds

Due to the rapid beating of their wings during flight, mosquitoes give off a persistent, characteristic high pitched buzzing noise.

Although it can be very difficult to manage mosquitoes altogether without professional help, there are still some steps that you can take to make your home less inviting to mosquitoes. Here’s some of our top recommendations:

Install screens over windows and doors
Having a mesh or wire screen as a physical barrier is always helpful, but it’s best to avoid leaving doors and windows open if possible.

Remove breeding sites
Fill ditches and holes in the ground to prevent water from accumulating as this becomes a potential breeding habitat. Inspect your yard and ensure that there is adequate drainage for pooling water. Consider filling pot plant saucers with sand to absorb excess water.

Regular property maintenance
Make sure that the plumbing and water drainage system at your property is working efficiently, with no leaking pipes and blockages.
Keep your yard clean and tidy, taking care to trim trees and vegetation to limit overgrowth and hiding spots for mosquitoes. Dispose of fallen fruit and vegetables.

Prevent mosquitoes from following you into your home
If possible, limit outdoor activity during peak active times, or use mosquito nets to keep them out of your space.

When you’re heading outdoors, wear insect repellent that contains diethyltoluamide (DEET) or picaridin. You can also use natural alternatives such as eucalyptus or lemon oil, citronella, tea tree oil, but these will need be applied more frequently.
Wear protective clothing and a hat to limit any potential mosquito contact. Bright coloured clothing is known to be less appealing to mosquitoes than darker shades.
You can also consider purchasing electronic repellent devices that are available from hardware stores.

Avoid leaving potential food sources outside
Where possible, keep food items covered and consider using a water dispenser for pets instead of leaving an open water bowl.

Turn on the fan
The moving air current disrupts mosquitoes in flight and disperses carbon dioxide, which attracts them to human hosts.

The most effective way to control a mosquito outbreak is through chemical control. We use Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) approved products that are designed to target adult mosquitoes as well as their larvae.

After an assessment of the outbreak and the layout of your property, your Allstate pest control technician will often use a combination of the following treatment methods:

Larvicides
For ponds and standing or stagnant water areas which are common breeding sites for larvae, we apply highly targeted larvicides to prevente all mosquito larvae. You can be confident that these chemicals have minimal impact on other aquatic organisms.

Adulticides
When there are a large amount of active adult mosquitoes, we’ll need to use a different approach that covers a greater area, that may need to be applied multiple times. This can include:

• Fogging
  During active times (mainly dawn or dusk), we’ll apply an airborne spray that contains either a natural or synthetic pyrethroid chemical to the entire affected area. These chemicals disrupt the mosquito nervous system and cause paralysis. Fogging is usually effective for 2-3 days.
• Residual barrier treatments
  We use this for smaller, more targeted areas, aiming to stop adult mosquitoes from entering your home by lingering on surfaces where they may land. We commonly apply this treatment to fences, eaves, walls, vegetation or foliage and it is known to last for up to 6-8 weeks.