Mosquito Attractant

Summer is the perfect time to just sit outside when you get home from work and just enjoy a cold one.  But did you know drinking beer may cause mosquitoes to be more attracted to you?  Researchers have recently done a study on if mosquitoes really are more attracted to people who are drinking beer than those who are not drinking beer.  There have been some articles posted that say there might be a link to drinking beer and mosquito attraction, but here is a study that proves beer drinkers may have to be more careful when they are outside.

Researchers took a group of 13 volunteers to be hosts and compared them with one man, who was the control group.  It was found that after the volunteers had consumed 350 ml of beer, mosquitoes were significantly more likely to to land on them then before they consumed the beer.  If you want to read more about the research article, click the link here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12083361

This study shows that those people who drink more beer should be cautious of the mosquitoes around them, as they may be more prone to get bit by mosquitoes infected with diseases.  If you still want to enjoy a beer outside on the deck, then give us a call!  Our barrier spray treatments eliminate up to 85-90% of mosquitoes, and this means that you can enjoy your beer worry free on your deck all summer long!  Give us a call today to start enjoying your yard and beer again!

Preventing Mosquitoes at Home

Want to learn effective ways to start eliminating mosquitoes right in your own home and backyard? We have a list of tips for you to follow to start to be mosquito-free:

- Limit Breeding Habitat: Mosquitoes don't travel very far after they are hatched, and they need standing water to breed and hatch, so start by eliminating and turning over anything that can hold standing water in your yard.  Make sure to drain buckets, bird baths, and kids toys regularly so water can't build up in these areas.  

- Prepare Indoor Defense: Make sure your screen doors do not have holes in them where mosquitoes can easily fly in and bother you inside as well.  Also, make sure your indoor plants don't become breeding grounds for any mosquitoes that might sneak in your house.  Make sure your plants are draining well and not producing standing water. 

- Call in the Squad: There are so many ways that people have developed to keep mosquitoes away, from citronella candles to heavy bug spray, but no matter what you use, the infestation may be so bad that nothing will work.  This is when it is time to give Mosquito Squad a call, where we know what to treat and what works best.  We want to help you and your family stay mosquito and disease free all summer, so give us a call today at 507-367-2529 and don't forget to start practicing these tips right away to get a mosquito free yard! 

What Type of Chemicals Do You Use and Are They Safe?

Of course, everyone who is getting their yard treated with chemicals wants to know if they are safe to use, especially around kids and pets.  All products used by Mosquito Squad are used according to the label and are registered with the EPA.  Our class of products can be found in many household products like head lice shampoos, pet flea sprays and many agricultural applications such as standard treatment for fruit and ornamental plants.  We use only enough product to target a 2.5 milligram mosquito.  Unlike mammals, mosquitoes lack enzymes to break down the product, which means we can use a very small amount strategically placed to achieve control of nuisance pests.  In comparison, a small pet is about 6 kilograms, which is 6 million milligrams or 2.4 million times as big, and all we ask is that the product is allowed to dry for 30 minutes and you and your kids and pets can go about playing normally without having to worry about mosquitoes. 

If this sounds like a product that you would like to try, give us a call today! We would be more than happy to explain our barrier spray program to you or if you have a special event coming up, we want to help protect you and your family in a safe way!

What Does Mosquito Squad Treat?

Another questions many people ask is what do you treat, the grass? The trees?  Here's the answer: Mosquito Squad's trained technicians treat areas where mosquitoes and ticks breed, feed or rest.  Treated surfaces include shrubbery, gardens, underneath decks, fences, the foundations of houses, tall grasses and low hanging vegetation.  Not only are our technicians trained in accordance with local and state requirements, but our in-house program educates them on conditions and situations that are specific to mosquito and tick breeding.  Due to this specific training, they are experts in mosquito and tick elimination.

As you can see, when we treat your yard we are experts.  And all of our chemicals are registered with the EPA and friendly to use with pets, kids and plants, but if you don't want something sprayed, just let us know and we will happily oblige to what you want.  Give us a call today to learn how the experts can help treat your yard!

Cost of A Vacation vs. Mosquito Squad Cost

Of course, everyone wants to go on a vacation, but why not have your own vacation right in your mosquito-free backyard for less than the cost of a vacation?  Let's look at traveling to Wisconsin Dells for a weekend and a family of 4:

With gas as expensive as it is, that's going to cost you about $40-$45 alone.
Hotel for Friday and Saturday night.............................. Around $80 a night
Admission per person for Waterpark...................................... $30-$40
Average Cost for Breakfast Saturday and Sunday morning........ $45
Average Cost for Saturday Lunch................................................ $40
Average Cost for Friday & Saturday Supper................................$70

Total of Entire Trip Before Tax............................................ Around $495

Now, for the price of 18 weeks of protection from adult mosquitoes AND ticks for a .5 acre yard or less................. $399 before tax

I don't know about you, but having a mosquito free yard for that kind of price would definitely make me want to stay at home!  And you can save almost $100, with that you could build your own vacation in your backyard!! So give us a call today and let us bring the vacation to your backyard!

How Does Mosquito Squad Control Ticks?

This is a common question we get from many of our customers, so here is the answer.  Our barrier spray applications used to treat for adult mosquitoes is also effective in controlling adult ticks.  Additionally, we also provide an extensive tick management system with tick tubes for extra tick control.  Tick tubes eliminate nymphal stage ticks and are most effective when placed in the spring and summer. 

As you can see, Mosquito Squad provides much more protection against different kinds of insects and pests than just mosquitoes.  We want to help protect you from not only mosquitoes but also ticks, since they carry dangerous diseases as well.  Give us a call at 877-239-BITE (2483) to learn more about mosquito and tick control, or visit us online at http://southeast-minnesota.mosquitosquad.com/

Mosquitoes Everywhere

Everyone knows by now that the mosquito population has been terrible this year.  With all the extra rain and then the humidity that comes after, mosquitoes are loving this weather, although we definitely are not.  The first step to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard is to get rid of any standing water you have, in buckets, kids toys, and anything else that holds water.  This is where mosquitoes breed, and once they start hatching, they usually don't move to far from where they are born.  The second step is to protect you and your family from these annoying mosquitoes.  Using bug repellant is a step, but not everyone wants to smell like bug repellant.  That's when it's time to give us a call! We can help eliminate those mosquitoes from your yard so you can start to enjoy it again.  Another reason you want to give us a call is the mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus and other diseases is coming.  This can potentially be a very dangerous disease, and can be hard to diagnose since the symptoms resemble sicknesses that can happen at any time.  Check out this article on how heavy rains are leading to more mosquitoes: http://www.communitynewscorp.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=94&ArticleID=9242 and give us a call today so we can protect you and give you a yard to enjoy!

West Nile Virus is Coming...

Just what everyone wants to hear... West Nile Virus is coming.  The virus usually doesn't show up until mid-July and August, which is quickly approaching.  The mosquitoes that are out before this time are just pest mosquitoes and everyone knows they have been out in full force.  Since the pest mosquitoes have already been terrible, don't let the mosquitoes that carry the virus come after you.  In Minnesota, it has been found that the West Nile Virus has been present in batches of mosquitoes, just found in the past week.  There has not been any recorded human case of West Nile Virus yet in Minnesota, but it could happen soon due to the virus found in mosquitoes.  The article from Minnesota Public Radio can be found here with more information: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/07/04/health/west-nile-virus-mosquitoes

Mosquito Squad wants to help protect you from West Nile Virus and other diseases mosquitoes may carry.  The first thing we recommend is to get rid of any water in your yard, this will get rid of breeding grounds for mosquitoes and get them out of your yard.  The second thing we recommend is giving us a call or visiting us online at SE MN Mosquito Squad.  We provide a barrier spray that can eliminate mosquitoes from your yard and keep you and your family disease free for the summer.  We want you to stay safe and have fun the rest of summer, so give us a call today and we can tell you how we can help!

 

Happy 4th of July!!

Everyone's favorite summer holiday is almost here!  4th of July is tomorrow and everyone is excited to get off work and spend time outside!  The weather will be perfect to spend it on a lake, camping, or by a bonfire.  But don't forget about those pesky mosquitoes that are sure to bother you if you don't stay protected.  Make sure to get rid of any standing water where you are, since that is where mosquitoes breed, and make sure to wear bug repellant with DEET in it.  Also, make sure to wear loose, light colored clothes when spending time outside, especially around dawn or dusk.  But most importantly, just have fun spending this holiday with family and friends, eating good food and wearing red white and blue!! Mosquito Squad and Dread Skeeter want to wish all of you a Happy and Safe 4th of July!!

Mythbusting Mosquito Repellants

I'm sure many people have heard of a bunch of different items they have sitting around the house that double as a mosquito repellant.  Most people have the same question... Do they really work?   Researchers have been looking into this, and have found not a lot of these products have been scientifically proven.  Some examples of these are bananas, which have been tested and no real results have came from it, people think eating bananas will make you
more attractive to mosquitoes, while the scientific test found there is no real correlation.  Another example is if you put a dryer sheet in one of your pockets, this will repel the mosquitoes.  This has not been tested in a lab, but people think it repels the mosquitoes because of it's strong smells.  One thing that has been studied in a lab over time is if alcohol plays a factor in making mosquitoes more attracted to people.  There have been results that people who are drinking beer are more likely to attract mosquitoes, but this could be due to the rise in body temperature.  Check out more of the myth busting repellants here: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/mosquito-mythbusting-real-repellents-stand/story?id=10543307

Experts say to be smart when you are outside and to use DEET spray to repel mosquitoes and this is the most effective way.  At Mosquito Squad, we also provide an effective way to keep mosquitoes away with our barrier spray programs.  These barrier sprays last 21 days, and eliminate up to 85-90% of mosquitoes in your yard.  We want to help protect you for a long time, so you can enjoy your yard with a satisfaction guarantee, instead of giving those household items a chance.  Give us a call today at 877-239-BITE (2483) so we can start protecting you today!

Mosquito Activities for Kids

With it being Mosquito Control Awareness Week, why not get the kids involved and teach them early on about mosquitoes and how to avoid them.  Check out the website provided to view activities for kids from coloring pages to crossword puzzles to all kinds of information on mosquitoes.  http://www.mosquito.org/assets/AwarenessWeek/educationalpacket.pdf

This packet could not only be informative to the kids, but also adults and parents!  There's so many things about mosquitoes don't know about, like how they are the deadliest animal on earth and they need standing water to breed, and when there's standing water, there's going to be loads of mosquitoes.  To get even more control over the mosquitoes in your yard, contact us today at the SE MN Mosquito Squad, where we offer a season of barrier protection, extra tick protection, all-natural choices, and protection for your special events.  So check out the fun activities and give us a call today so you can be mosquito free!

Mosquito Control Awareness Week

June 23-June 29 is Mosquito Control Awareness Week sponsored by the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) and the goal is to "educate the general public about the significance of mosquitoes in their daily lives and the important service provided by mosquito control workers."  Living in Minnesota, we know how annoying mosquitoes get when the weather gets hot and we want to enjoy our time outside.  Mosquitoes bother us and leave itchy, red bites that are annoying for a few days.  But mosquitoes also pose a bigger problem that many people are unaware of.  Many people are unaware that mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on earth, which surprises most people considering how small they are.  But they carry dangerous diseases such as West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Dengue Fever, and Malaria.  Although Malaria is not a problem in the United States anymore, around the world this kills millions of people each day.

To help protect you and your family this week and the rest of summer, we want to give you some tips to help control mosquitoes and protect you.  Mosquitoes are active around dusk and dawn, so try to wear mosquito spray that contains DEET and long sleeves and pants that are light colored.  Also, dump any standing water you have in your yard, as this is prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes and they usually do not travel far from their breeding areas. 

Finally, give us a call to give you the ultimate protection.  We offer a professional barrier spray that protects you and your family all summer long if you sign up for a season. These sprays last for 21 days and eliminate up to 85-90% of mosquitoes. Please give us a call today at 877-239-BITE (2483) so we can help control your yard during this Mosquito Control Awareness Week!!

Summer Is Here!

I think some people thought it was never going to come and get warm, but it is officially the first day of summer today! Summer came in with a bang today, I'm sure many people were woken up by the thunderstorms we experienced early this morning.  With the storms arriving this weekend and the temperatures really starting to warm up, it's time to look out for mosquitoes.  The rain from the storms is sure to make some standing water in your yard, so help get rid of mosquitoes first by tipping over any standing water, especially after big rain storms.  Mosquitoes love standing water and this is where they lay their eggs and if you have a lot of standing water in your yard, you better be ready for lots of mosquitoes. 

With the storms and rain and humid, warm temperatures, don't let those mosquitoes keep  you out of your yard.  Give the Southeast Minnesota Mosquito Squad a call! We can help eliminate those pests from your backyard so you can enjoy summer! Mosquitoes also pose the risk of carrying dangerous diseases, like West Nile Virus.  We want to help protect you and your family, so you can enjoy your backyard worry free.  So give us a call today, at 877-239-BITE (2483) and let us give you the perfect, bug-free backyard for summer!

4th of July is Coming!

Everyone's favorite summertime holiday is coming... 4th of July! This means grilling outside, playing fun games, and sitting around a fire at night.  No other holiday in summer is like this, and there's even fireworks bursting with beautiful colors at night as well!

But being outside all day and night does have a downfall - mosquitoes.  These pests don't realize that we don't want to invite them to our parties, and there's no way to tell them to leave once they arrive! That's where Mosquito Squad comes in! Invite us before you have your fun summer gatherings so we can eliminate those mosquitoes so they don't crash your party at all.  We offer a barrier spray that will help keep you and your guests comfortable and to not worry about those pesky mosquitoes and the diseases they may carry. 

Want some ideas on how you can celebrate 4th of July? Here are some of our ideas!

Food:Easy dishes are what most people look for, so try some of these - put watermelon in a patriotic plastic or paper cup with some crumbled blue cheese for a healthy red, white, and blue treat.  For dessert, use star shaped cookies and cut out the middle.  Bake them halfway, then take crushed up red and blue hard candies, such as jolly ranchers or life savers, and put them in the middle of the cookie and finish baking.  You'll have red, white, and blue treats for everyone to enjoy!

Decor:Of course, everyone knows the perfect decor for 4th of July is anything red, white, and blue and sticking flags anywhere, but why not mix it up a bit with some cool ideas?  For a fun table cloth, put down a big white plastic table cloth, and grab strips of red and blue crepe paper and weave them together, then tape them on the white table cloth for a fun, cheap tablecloth.  

Last, But Not Least: Don't forget to invite us at Mosquito Squad! We want you to be able to enjoy this summer holiday to the fullest, so give us a call at 877-236-BITE (2483) and we can help eliminate those pesky mosquitoes! 

For more fun 4th of July ideas, check out the website here!   http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/4th-july-ideas/fourth-of-july-decorations#slide-6 

Warmer Weather Means Playing Outside More!

The warm weather is finally here! Need some ideas for things to do outside? We have a whole list for you! Why not go outside and toss a baseball around or get a fun game of bean bag toss going, pretty soon you will probably have the whole neighborhood over wanting to join in on your fun! There's so many ideas you can try with your family and kids.  Check out a list of outdoor lawn games and activities here! http://outdooradventureyardgames.com/

Don't forget to invite us before you start playing these games!  No one wants to be getting bit up while they are playing outside, so let us take care of the mosquitoes so you can enjoy your yard!  Give us a call today at 877-239-BITE (2483) for more information on how we can eliminate mosquitoes from your yard, so you can enjoy your yard at any time!