Starting Your Mosquito Trap in the Spring
Be sure to start running your mosquito trap before mosquitoes start propagating. Perhaps you're wondering "when does mosquito season start?" Once the temperature reaches 50°F consistently, mosquito eggs that remained dormant during the winter will begin hatching. Female mosquitoes that have spent the summer in protected areas like basements and trees are now ready to come out and lay their eggs. Make sure that you're ready!
This map shows you the average start time for your area.
Mosquito Magnet® Start-Up Tips
- Remove the trap cover or bag from the Mosquito Magnet®, and let the trap fully dry out before starting your mosquito trap. If there is a lot of dampness, place the trap in the sun for a couple of days before starting.
- Reattach regulator hose to tank.
- Reattach the power adaptor (if applicable).
- If your Mosquito Magnet® is equipped with the Quick-Clear valve (for traps manufactured in 2003 or after), we recommend that this preventive maintenance be performed prior to starting.
- Turn the propane tank on, and proceed with the standard startup instructions. Be sure to start the season with a new net and new attractant cartridge.
Factors Affecting the Start of Mosquito Season
When does mosquito season start? With the increase in overall temperatures, mosquitoes are hatching earlier in the spring and the length of the “mosquito season” has become extended. One particular mosquito species has shortened the time needed for it to develop and reproduce, making more mosquitoes in a year – this is a result of the Northeast region of the United States warming by only 1°F!
Not only are mosquitoes emerging earlier as warmer weather arrives sooner, they are also staying around longer as the first frost is delayed. The first frost, which usually kills the mosquitoes or sends them into hiding for the winter, has been occurring later than usual in some regions of the country.
Mosquitoes can be particularly troublesome when a drought occurs resulting in street drains and water sources shrinking and becoming stagnant. Mosquitoes love this type of situation for their egg laying.
To further exacerbate this problem, a rainfall after a drought allows for mosquito eggs to hatch and larvae to emerge. Larvae that are found in recovering smaller ponds often do not have any predators to limit their numbers. Fish that normally eat them have either died during the drought or do not live in such ponds.
These weather conditions can affect mosquito emergence in your region. Being prepared for mosquitoes before they arrive in your neighborhood is the best preventative method for any homeowner. With outdoor mosquito control equipment, you can be ready when mosquito season starts to combat those infectious vectors so they don’t make a fun summer season miserable for your family, pets, and visitors.
Protect your family, pets and guests from disease-carrying mosquitoes with a Mosquito Magnet® trap - the leading long-term, scientifically proven mosquito control solution