Are Your Inquisitive Actions And Playful Curiosity Affecting the Mosquito Population?

You may not realize it, but seemingly innocuous activity on your part may be impacting an increase in the mosquito population.

Yes, it's true. Here's an example where mosquito control can run amok.

While exploring the beauty and wonders of nature, you may have noticed those mini stone hedges – rocks stacked into towers – along river perimeters and lake shores. These are commonly referred to as cairns.

Painstakingly handcrafted by aspiring artists and fascinatingly beautiful to look at, the rocks used to build them serve a more important purpose than creative self-expression. These stacks of stones were once home to many insects and bugs at the waterside, who get their primary food source from mosquitoes. Natural mosquito control, if you will.

The problem is, if you are participating in this seemingly harmless and fun activity of stacking rocks – you could very well be making mosquito infestations worse as mosquito-eating insects rely on these wet rocks IN the water to reproduce. Once their habitat is disturbed, that's where the problem occurs.

If the rocks are taken from the water to build cairns, that's a problem as it can worsen the mosquito population. When too many stones are removed from the water's edge, it creates a more difficult time for plants, insects, and small animals to survive.

Aquatic Insect Habitats Need To Remain Undisturbed To Continue Effective Mosquito Control​

It is interesting to note that climate change and warmer temperatures make these waterside rock towers much more common this year, attributable to lower river flow.

When the river is high and swift, fewer people wade into it. This year has been more low and slow, drawing more people to take the plunge.

Please be mindful that touching the rocks from the river beds and lake water streams reduces the habitats of critically essential insects that help control the mosquito population.​

What Insects Are In Danger By Disturbing Stacks Of Rocks?

Two flying insects that dwell by the water's edge that like to eat mosquitoes are dragonflies and damselflies.

Dragonflies, also known as mosquito hawks, love to dine on mosquito larvae and their parents that use water as their mating ground and nursery.​

As we have discussed before, mosquitoes need standing water to lay their eggs and breed, making them easy targets for hungry dragonflies and damselflies.​

Dragonflies can fly at a higher speed than mosquitoes and catch adults easily. Damselflies look like smaller dragonflies and also enjoy eating pesky mosquitoes.​

Reduce The Mosquito Population Around Your Home With Mosquito Squad Barrier Sprays And Proactive Behavior

Now that you know how having fun building rock towers can affect the mosquito population, are you ready to reduce the mosquitoes in your backyard?

You can start by following the 7 Ts of mosquito control. Once you have done that, call the pros at Mosquito Squad of Greater Atlanta. Our traditional mosquito barrier treatment can reduce backyard mosquitoes by up to 90%. Call our team today to request a free quote for Atlanta mosquito control services.