The last two weeks we have getting many reports of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes take about a week or two to develop from eggs to adults. The rain we received in May provided ample breeding areas for the mosquitoes. The larvae develop in water with some organic matter. Around homes they are often developing anything that will hold water, such as birdbaths, pet bowls, pails, old tires. Mosquitoes will develop in ponds, but often there are fish and other predaceous insects that keep populations in check.

For the homeowner, the best thing to do is avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk when the female mosquitoes are most actively feeding. Also, use a mosquito repellent containing DEET.

To control the larvae you can reduce the number if items in your yard that will hold water. Be sure to replace water in bird baths and pet bowls weekly, or when it is very warm every 4 days. There are products available containing a Bt bacteria that are effective at controlling mosquito larvae if the water cannot be easily replaced. These products are available in most stores that carry insect control products.

We are also receiving many calls about grasshopper nymphs feeding on gardens. The nymphs are hatching from eggs laid in grassy areas and moving into the gardens. These grassy areas include turfgrass, grassed waterways, fence rows and ditches. The nymphs are more sensitive to insecticides than the adults. For some control it is most effective to apply a liquid insecticide, labeled for grasshoppers, on the grassy areas that the nymphs are coming from.