Rain brings more than flooding to The Woodlands area

THE WOODLANDS-Texas- This past week has brought The Woodlands heavy amounts of rain, flooding the streets and backyards.

Besides the flooding problems we have been experiencing, there is another issue arising that can be avoided.

Large amounts of mosquito eggs have been, and will be, hatching because of the large amounts of standing water in shady areas out in the community and in resident’s backyards.

“We have seen a tremendous increase of insects because of the drought last year and the high amounts of water this year,” said Jason Pitman, owner of Bio-Tech Pest Control. “If there is organic matter in standing water it is the perfect area for mosquito breeding.”

Mosquito eggs can lay dormant for months. The drought may have prohibited them from hatching earlier, but now they are beginning to hatch. The high amounts of rain The Woodlands has experienced this past month makes the breeding process for these insects easy.

“I am finding them in more areas than others,” said Lee Domino, technician for Bio-Tech. “Areas with shade and shrubs, gutters, flower pots, bird feeders, the little things that go unnoticed, are the perfect spots for mosquito breeding.”

Any drainage problems that residents have been experiencing because of the rain should be looked at. Areas that drain poorly create standing water, which in turn create mosquitoes.

“Mosquitoes look for stagnant water, not circulating water like pools,” said Freddie Mock, senior customer representative. “Make sure you don’t have containers like upside down trashcan lids lying around.”

If residents are having trouble with mosquitoes there are ways to kill those insects before it gets out of hand.

Bio-Tech offers a couple ways to get rid of mosquitoes. They give a monthly mosquito fogging along with a 30-day guarantee. If the lot is 5,000 sq. ft., it’s only $90 per month.

“The most important part is that there is no contract to sign,” Mock said. “This is for our wonderful clients here in The Woodlands.”

There is also the Automatic Mosquito Misting Machine, which is the more expensive option. It starts at $2,000, and there are annual maintenance costs that are $600 and up. However, it goes off about two or three times a day and keeps mosquitoes under control.

“We try and perform more inspections with more mechanical uses to prevent pesticides rather than using chemical products,” Pitman said. “We want to be honest with people and educate them with what’s going on in their property.”

If residents wish to try and get rid of the problem without calling pest control, there are ways.

“Go through your yard and look for low standing water, look at mulch and flower beds to see if there is a drainage problem because as the sun comes out the eggs hatch,” Mock said. “If the area doesn’t drain properly you can make improvements yourself or have landscaping come out.”

Mosquitoes can be a danger to any living thing. For humans, mosquitoes carry diseases such as the West Nile Virus, and can be irritating and uncomfortable. Mosquitoes also affect dogs and cats. These insects carry heartworm disease, which can be transferred to pets with one bite. Finally, mosquitoes affect wild animals such as birds because birds carry most of the insect’s diseases.

“I would look into a heartworm program for dogs and cats,” Mock said. “And make sure if you are going to spend time outdoors, especially if you are sensitive to bites, use mosquito repellent. Anything that contains Deet is the best mosquito repellent.”

Being prepared for the hatching of mosquitoes is important. Inspections can help educate residents of their home’s condition in case storms like these occur and help mosquito breeding thrive.

“We think it is important once a year to have an inspection on your home,” Mock said. “We search for evidence of termites around the house, evidence of rodents in attics, and evidence of insects in and outside the house all free of charge.”

The rain will continue to fall throughout the rest of the week. Residents are encouraged to survey their yards and look for those moist breeding grounds.

If you wish to ask Bio-Tech Pest Control questions about mosquito problems, please call at 281-296-6022 or visit their website.