Mosquitoes are important pests because their irritating bites often interfere with outdoor activities and can transmit disease to people and domestic animals. I lost a good friend a few years ago to complications from West Nile Virus as a result of a mosquito bite.

Most mosquitoes are active during twilight hours and at night. Around our homes, the mosquitoes that breed in standing, stagnant water can be active during the day. Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle.
Some mosquito species, such as the Asian tiger mosquito, may only fly short distances, other species can fly several miles. Because of this, efforts by individuals to control mosquitoes on their property often have limited success. While pesticides are often seen as a quick solution to a mosquito problem, they are only a short-term solution and should be a small component of an integrated mosquito management approach.

To really be effective, a community-wide effort is needed to "clean up" and (preferably) eliminate mosquito breeding sites. Around your home and neighborhood, natural tree holes, man-made objects such as bird baths, boats, canoes, discarded tires, and plant pots collect rainwater and allow mosquitoes to breed literally right in our own backyard.

The Union County Department of Environmental Health is distributing free Mosquito Dunks to residents from their office at the Union County Government Office, 500 N Main Street in Monroe, during normal business hours of 8 am-5pm.

Join the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers for the June 1, Successful Gardener program at 7 pm either in-person or online. The speaker will be Nils Nordstrand, from North State Hosta. He will be discussing steps we can take to Grow Better Hosta. The program is free, but registration is required. Click here to register for the upcoming Successful Gardener class.