Despite a frigid winter, the extreme cold won't have much of an impact on the number of mosquitoes in the area.
"All of the eggs from last year are still there," Colin Philos, Operations Manager at Mosquito Squad said. "We had a bit of a cold winter but they survived for millions of years so they'll come back in full force again."
Philos runs tick and mosquito control for Mosquito Squad. He says he's already out spraying pesticides and laying down other preventative measures for this season of mosquitoes. Even though they aren't buzzing around quite yet, now is the time to nip it in the bud.
"You don't see them flying around but once that first weekend hits and they start to hatch, that's when everyone is coming through," Philos said. "It's harder to control it after you give them those first few weeks for their infestation to go crazy."
"Mosquitoes are so bad up here, you can't go outside sometimes," Mike Berry of Brookfield said.
Berry moved to Brookfield about two years ago but he's lived in the Midwest his entire life. He knows how precious time outside is during the fleeting Wisconsin summers.
"It seems like it's getting shorter and shorter," Berry said. "Because of the trees and how damp it is in here, it's a breeding ground."
"You have to snoop around on your own property," Philos said. "Trying to think like a mosquito."
Philos and Mosquito Squad recommend following the five T's:
- Tip: Tip over containers that could have standing water in them. Garbage cans, potted plant saucers, buckets, anything that can collect rain water.
- Toss: Toss excess grass clippings and other yard debris that can harbor mosquito eggs that thrive in dark, damp environments.
- Turnover: Turnover kid's toys in your yard like basketball bases, swing sets, baby pools, etc.
- Tilt tarps: Tarps can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes by creating dark, damp areas and preventing water from evaporating properly.
- Treat accordingly: Mosquito Squad says treatment can go a long way in preventing larvae from popping up.
Any amount of standing water can be a breeding ground for thousands of mosquitoes, so look hard at what could be lying around.
"A bottle cap is enough for a female to be laying a full thousand [eggs]," Philos said. "And those thousand grow and they go find other places. Mosquitoes don't fly far. They stay on your property."
