This weekend is Halloween, which crept up on us (perhaps due to Virginia Beach's near-80-degree temperatures), but judging by everyone's Pinterest boards and the coffee drink menu, the pumpkin has arrived! Yes, fall has here, and for many (but not all) of our locations, that means the season for treating mosquitoes is coming to a close. However, until you get your first frost and the temperature routinely drops below 55, you can still encounter those bothersome mosquitoes.

Those are who lucky enough to still be enjoying this warmth and sunshine should still rely on  24/7 Local Pest Control services to keep your yard itch-free, but if you’ve already switched from A/C to heat and you’re putting on your jacket in the morning, mosquitoes are probably fading from your mind. What you may not know is that there are still some precautions to take in the fall and winter months to maintain a mosquito-free yard, even after your last spray. Here’s what you should know:

In the autumn months after mating, male mosquitoes die. But did you know female mosquitoes actually hibernate? That’s right, they can actually survive the winter months. In the spring when the weather warms up, they seek blood to feed on so they can lay their eggs. All mosquito larvae (eggs) require water, even in winter, and mosquito larvae can last years. As the water temperature drops, it basically creates a dormant stage in the mosquito larvae called diapause, which stops further development. Development resumes when the water warms again. They’re just full of tricks, aren’t they?

So as you’re outside this weekend trick-or-treating, raking leaves, or just enjoying some cooler temperates, remove all standing water from your yard and remove objects like toys or flower pots that can collect rainwater. This will ensure that come springtime, you don’t have an early hatching.

And for all those customers who have seen the yellow 24/7 Local Pest Control van for the last time this season, we say  THANK YOU. We love making outside fun again and you allow us to do that. Happy Halloween from all of us at 24/7 Local Pest Control! We hope it is full of lots of treats, no tricks and no mosquitoes!