Mosquito Control in Calgary - The City's Role & What You Can Do to Protect Your Yard

Ah, Calgary summers! The season of long, sunny days, clear skies, and, unfortunately, the uninvited buzz of mosquitoes turning your backyard dreams into itchy nightmares.

As the mercury continues to rise, so does the mosquito population. While these winged nuisances are a universal summer spoiler, there’s plenty you can do to make sure your yard remains mosquito-free this summer.

So are you ready to turn your yard into a no-fly zone for mosquitoes? Let’s buzz right into it!

Calgary's Mosquito Control Strategy

Calgary does what it can to minimize mosquito population and the annoyance they cause during the warmer months. It employs a comprehensive mosquito control strategy that involves careful monitoring of mosquito populations and strategic timing of interventions to disrupt their life cycle effectively.

Monitoring of Mosquito Populations

The cornerstone of Calgary's mosquito management is the rigorous monitoring of mosquito populations across the city. This involves setting up traps in various locations to collect data on the number and types of mosquitoes.

These traps help city officials gauge the density of the mosquito population and determine the optimal time for larvicide applications. By targeting the larvae stage with precision timing, the city can drastically reduce the mosquito population before they mature into bothersome adults.

Use of Targeted Larvicides

Calgary opts for environmentally friendly larvicides that are highly specific to mosquitoes. These products usually contain bacteria like Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI).

BTI is harmless to other wildlife and humans but deadly to mosquito larvae when ingested.

Strategies Based on Data

Leveraging environmental data is a critical aspect of Calgary's mosquito control strategy. By analyzing weather patterns, temperature fluctuations, and rainfall data, mosquito control experts can predict surges in mosquito populations.

This proactive approach allows the city to apply larvicides at just the right time, maximizing their effectiveness and efficiency.

But what can you do to keep your space secure from these blood-sucking insects?

Tips to Protect Your Yard

While the City is doing all it can, that shouldn’t stop you from making sure all your bases are covered. After all, mosquitoes aren’t just a nuisance, they can be carriers of quite a few serious diseases. Here are some ways you can deter mosquitos from making a home in your yard:

1. Integrated Pest Management with BuzzShield® Complete

If you’re looking for a comprehensive solution to keep your yards mosquito-free, BuzzShield® Complete is your best bet. This Buzz Boss service not only targets mosquitoes but also helps manage other common insects and rodents (think wasps, hornets, spiders, ants, ticks, and rodents), ensuring your outdoor environment is more comfortable throughout summer.

The service employs environmentally responsible treatments that are safe for both pets and children, aligning with the needs of families desiring a pest-free setting.

By establishing a protective barrier around your property, BuzzShield® Complete can disrupt the life cycle of mosquitoes, significantly reducing their presence and allowing you to enjoy your outdoor spaces with peace of mind.

2. Eliminate Standing Water

One of the most effective ways to combat mosquito populations is to eliminate their breeding grounds. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, so it’s crucial to regularly inspect your yard for any water accumulation.

Check for clogged gutters, empty plant saucers, and clean out water features or birdbaths every few days. Even small quantities of water, like those collected in a discarded tire or bucket, can become a mosquito nursery.

3. Maintain Your Yard and Vegetation

Tall grass and overgrown bushes provide ideal resting and hiding spots for adult mosquitoes during hot days. Regularly mowing your lawn and trimming bushes and trees can greatly reduce these resting places, making your yard less appealing to mosquitoes. We recommend keeping your grass to 3 inches in length to keep mosquitos away.

Additionally, consider using mulch in garden areas to help absorb excess moisture that might otherwise accumulate and provide a habitat for mosquito larvae.

4. Use Natural Repellents

At Buzz Boss, we’re all about safe solutions! Natural repellents are an environmentally friendly choice for managing mosquitoes in your yard. Made from essential oils such as citronella, eucalyptus, and lavender, these repellents emit scents that are unappealing to mosquitoes but generally pleasant to humans.

5. Grow a Mosquito-repellent Garden

Incorporating specific plants into your yard can naturally deter mosquitoes. Marigolds, lemongrass, and citronella naturally emit scents that are unattractive to mosquitoes. You can also add lavender and basil to the mix.

Position these plants around high-traffic areas such as patios and walkways, and close to window areas to effectively disperse their scents where needed most.

6. Set up Physical Barriers

Physical barriers such as mosquito nets provide a direct means to keep mosquitoes away from your personal spaces. Install these barriers around patios, decks, and even over windows to reduce mosquito intrusions. For optimal protection, consider using fine-meshed nets that are designed to block even the smallest insects.

Physical barriers are particularly useful during peak mosquito hours, such as dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active and looking for food.

7. Adopt Cultural Controls

Adapting your lifestyle and the layout of your yard can also play a significant role in reducing mosquito activity. Mosquitoes are most active during the cooler hours of dawn and dusk, so planning outdoor activities outside these times can decrease the likelihood of bites.

You can also add fans to your outdoor areas since the airflow disrupts mosquitoes’ ability to fly and locate people by CO2 and body heat.

8. Introduce Natural Predators into Your Yard

Birds, frogs, fish, and dragonflies can significantly decrease mosquito numbers by feeding on their larvae and adults.

Installing birdhouses can encourage these natural allies to take up residence near your home. Additionally, adding a pond that hosts mosquito-eating fish can serve as a long-term solution for mosquito control. Encouraging biodiversity not only aids in pest control but also enriches the local ecosystem.

Make Mosquitos Buzz Off for Good with Buzz Boss!

Fed up with mosquitoes swiping right on your yard? It’s time to swipe left with Buzz Boss!

Our pest control experts will match you with the perfect mosquito prevention strategy. Contact us for an estimate today and enjoy a swipe-free summer.

Remember, mosquitos are a stubborn species; they keep coming back if you allow them to. It takes the combined might of the City of Calgary and you to keep your yard mosquito-free season after season.

So, get ahead of the problem with BuzzShield® Insect or BuzzShield® Complete, and rest easy knowing your summers just got a whole lot more peaceful.

In addition to Calgary, our mosquito control services are also available in Edmonton, Red Deer, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and Okanagan.