KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Summer is a popular time for mosquitoes in East Tennessee and the warm temperatures are helping their population grow. East Tennessee experts told 10News not taking preventive measures to avoid infestations could cause big problems.
Gary Saunders, a senior service center manager with Arrow Exterminators in Maryville, said mosquitoes are keeping them busy. Aside from the hot temperatures, he explained all the rain East Tennessee got earlier this year helps mosquitoes reproduce.
"They need water to reproduce and to breed," Saunders added. "So that helps their life cycle and it helps them get started."
Saunders shared with 10News some advice on how you can prevent mosquito infestations in your home this summer:
1. Get rid of standing water. Look for standing water in places like flower pots, bird baths, and buckets. Those tend to be good breeding sites for mosquitoes.
2. Clean your gutters. Saunders said this is an area people tend to forget about. You want to make sure water is flowing regularly there to avoid more standing water.
3. Take care of your yard. Trimming bushes and shrubs helps eliminate potential hiding spots for mosquitoes.
4. Use citronella candles, eucalyptus oils, lavender, marigold, and catnip. Saunders explained those are some natural deterrents to mosquitoes and could keep them away from your home.
According to Saunders, mosquitoes tend to be most active during the early hours of the morning or late in the evening. He said that means you need to plan your yard work time accordingly.
"We want to be out working in the yard in a little bit of a cooler area, either in the early morning or the late at night before it gets dark, but those are also the times that the mosquitoes are going to be most active," he emphasized. "So I would definitely wear long sleeves, pants and shirts if you are going to be out working during those time frames."
Mosquito bites can be very dangerous in some cases. They can spread diseases like the Zika Virus, the West Nile virus, and malaria, for example.