How to Prevent Mosquitoes

Install screens on your windows and doors to prevent mosquitoes in the Virginia area - Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor'sIt’s National Pest Month, and the pest season is only just beginning! This spring, it’s important to prepare your Virginia home for the onslaught of mosquitoes in the coming months.No one wants to deal with mosquitoes ruining their outdoor barbecues come summertime. Thankfully, there are a number of things homeowners can do right now to greatly reduce the risk of mosquitoes in your property.

From installing screens and fans to various yard work tasks, keep reading to learn how to prevent mosquitoes from the experts at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s.

Mosquito Prevention Tips

With the weather warming up, now is the time to learn how to prevent mosquitoes in your yard! Some of the things you can do include:

  1. Eliminate standing water. Dump out standing water in buckets, flower pots, bird baths, tarps, and more. Mosquitoes use standing water to breed!
  2. Install screens on your windows. Installing screens on your doors and windows can keep mosquitoes from getting indoors every time you try to get some fresh air.
  3. Add fish to ponds and agitate water. Certain types of fish will feed on mosquito larvae. In addition, adding an agitator will stop mosquitoes from laying eggs in the water.
  4. Trim vegetation. Regularly maintain your garden and lawn to keep the grass short. Also keep plants and bushes trimmed to prevent mosquito resting spots.
  5. Get the air moving. Mosquitoes hate wind and are not strong fliers. Use fans to help force them away from your outdoor areas.

Protecting Your Family from Mosquitoes

During mosquito season, it’s important to be aware of how to prevent being bitten by these pesky insects. Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn, and tend to gather in areas with standing water. When going outdoors, try to wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and pants. In addition, apply an EPA-registered insect repellent on areas of the body that are not covered. Always consult your pediatrician before use on children.

How to Prevent Mosquitoes All Year Long

For long-term mosquito prevention, it’s recommended to talk with your mosquito control experts. At Ehrlich Pest Control, we provide mosquito repellents that are proven to keep your property protected against these pesky and potentially dangerous insects. To learn more about how we can help you prevent mosquitoes in the coming months, call our team today!

Pros & Cons of DIY Pest Control

Mouse traps are a common DIY pest control method. Learn about the pros and cons of DIY pest control in VA from Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor'sFrom using a vinegar spray for ants to store-bought pesticides for roaches, we’ve all dabbled in DIY pest control from time to time. When many homeowners spot a pest problem, they’ll head to their local hardware store and arm themselves with chemicals, sprays, baits, traps, and more. Some even look into all-natural remedies. But do these actually work? DIY pest control is a gamble, and–unfortunately–unreliable. When you want to get rid of a pest problem fast–or perhaps avoid them altogether–your best bet is to hire a professional pest control company.

The team at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s, outlines the pros and cons of DIY pest control in our latest blog post. Keep reading to learn more!

Does DIY Pest Control Work?

For some very small pest problems, perhaps a few ants in your windowsill or house spiders in your tub, DIY or store-bought pest control products may help. However, do-it-yourself pest control is not a long-term solution:

  • Some types of pests, including rodents, termites, bed bugs, and carpenter ants are more dangerous and destructive. Getting rid of these infestations will be a challenge for any novice.
  • Many store-bought products are filled with chemicals that can be dangerous for you, your family, and your pets. Reading the label doesn’t always guarantee the product will be applied safely.
  • At-home remedies rarely work in the long-term and do not prevent future infestations.
  • DIY or store-bought products don’t come with a guarantee or warranty as often as professional services, meaning you often have to buy more products.

Benefits of a Professional Exterminator

Hiring a professional pest control company may seem like a bigger commitment of your time and money, but the payoff is tenfold that of DIY methods. There are many benefits:

  1. An experienced exterminator has the knowledge and experience to tackle any current infestation you have. They are experts in the behaviors and habits of pests, making it easier for them to control any problems quickly and efficiently.
  2. With a focus on IPM practices, they can also work to prevent future problems. As often as possible, a professional will use environmentally-responsible products that are always applied safely and effectively with little invasion or disruption to your daily life.
  3. When you decide to have regular pest control services, your exterminator will work with you to develop a customized pest control plan suited to the unique needs of your home.

DIY vs. Professional: How to Choose

If you have a pest problem, you probably want to get rid of it ASAP. To do so, a professional pest control company is always the way to go over DIY pest control. Our team is committed to keeping our customers safe from pests by preventing them in the first place. To stay pest-free 365 days of the year, Ehrlich is here for you.

Can Pests Transmit COVID-19?

Mosquitoes do not transmit coronavirus in Virginia. Learn more from Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor's

The team at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s is closely monitoring the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation. As always, we continue to focus on our commitment to protecting our communities in Virginia. As this current pandemic unfolds, there is a lot of information coming out each hour about the nature of this virus. One of the main concerns is, of course, how it is spread. We’ve received a lot of inquiry about whether insects can transmit COVID-19. Data and information is changing constantly, but to date, there is no evidence or proof that mosquitoes and ticks transmit COVID-19. These vector pests are infamous for transmitting diseases worldwide. Thankfully, coronaviruses are not included in these.

In this post, we’ll explore the differences between vector-borne diseases and COVID-19 with help from the CDC to help dispel myths about transmission of this dangerous virus.

Vector-Borne Diseases

Vector pests are organisms that transmit diseases to humans, typically through bites. The two most infamous vector pests are mosquitoes and ticks. Together, they are responsible for transmitting some of the most dangerous and deadly diseases around the globe. Diseases spread by mosquitoes include malaria, Zika virus, West Nile virus, chikungunya, and yellow fever, among others. Ticks are most known for the transmission of Lyme disease, which is the most common vector-borne disease in the country.

Is Coronavirus Spread by Mosquitoes and Ticks?

COVID-19 is not spread by vector pests like mosquitoes and ticks. Coronaviruses are different from vector-borne diseases in the following ways:

  1. All research points to the fact that COVID-19 is a respiratory virus likely spread through person-to-person contact.
  2. Coronavirus spreads through droplets from saliva or nasal discharge, often generated when an infected person sneezes or coughs. It is also able to be transmitted through contact with a contaminated surface.
  3. SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and now COVID-19 are all known as zoonotic coronaviruses – viruses that have jumped the species barrier from their normal animal hosts to humans.

Pest Control During a Pandemic

As the weather warms up, it’s understandable that people are concerned about disease transmission from insects. Even though information about COVID-19 is in constant flux, there is currently no scientific proof that vector pests can transmit coronaviruses. As always, it’s important to take caution in the presence of pests and to always enlist the help of a professional exterminator such as Ehrlich who can provide pest control services in these uncertain times.

With the safety of our communities and customers at the top of our priority list, we encourage everyone to seek more information on COVID-19 and follow guidelines released by the WHO, CDC, as well as your state and local public health agencies.