Monthly Archives: June 2017

A child dies from Malaria every two minutes. That is a stark reminder of just how deadly mosquito-borne diseases are, and just how much work we need to do. While we at Mosquito Joe are focused on making your outside fun again, we also want to raise awareness and give back. During Mosquito Control Awareness week, we will be partnering with Nothing But Nets to do just that.

Nothing But Nets is a campaign created by the United Nations in 2006. Inspired by sports writer Rick Reilly, this campaign has raised over $60 million to help provide mosquito nets for families in need.

The first step in our partnership was reaching out to our customers for donations to this worthy cause, setting a goal of 500 nets. With each $10 donation, an insecticide-treated bed net will be provided to a family in sub-Sahara Africa who are at risk for the disease and lack the resources to protect themselves. Mosquito Joe promised to match donations to deliver 1,000 nets and boy did you guys come through! We have already surpassed our goal and our customers are continuing to give. If you would like to donate please visit this page to do so.

The second part of our partnership happens during Mosquito Control Awareness Week (6/25 – 7/1) when we will be donating $10/one net for every customer who signs up for service. If you have ever considered a mosquito service for your yard, now is a great time!

If you would like to learn more about Nothing But Nets, please visit them at www.Nothingbutnets.net. 

Every year the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) designates a week in June as Mosquito Control Awareness Week. This year that week runs from June 25^th to July 1^st. This will be the 21^st annual MCAW and there is a great need to bring awareness to mosquitoes. From West Nile to Malaria, Dengue Fever to, most recently, Zika, mosquitoes are responsible for several dangerous and deadly illnesses worldwide. In fact, as noted by the World Health Organization, more than half of the human population is at risk to mosquito-borne diseases.

Mosquitoes are ranked as the world’s deadliest animal (at least if we take humans out of the mix). With over 3,000 species located on every continent of the world other than Antarctica, they collectively affect an estimated 700 million people and are responsible for over 725,000 deaths worldwide per year.

Mosquito Joe of NW Houston wants to take this opportunity to help educate our community both about the importance of mosquito control and help guide you on how to combat the mosquito population in your yard. Mosquito control plays a huge role in managing the spread of these diseases.

The AMCA simplifies their recommendations into the “3 D’s” – drain, dress and defend. Check out the cheat sheet to the right! Part of what Mosquito Joe does in every yard we service falls into the category of “drain” and we have become well versed in locating some unexpected spots of stagnant water. Remember that mosquito eggs need water to hatch! While they can sit dormant for over 5 years until a drop of water hits them, the less water you have in your yard the better:

• Make sure your gutters are clean – those leaves can cause water to accumulate up there and make a very nice place for mosquitos to lay eggs.
• While French drains help move water off your roof and out of your yard without leaving trenches in your mulch, the corrugated pipe makes a terrific spot for eggs. Just one capful of water is enough for 300 eggs!
• Aerobic septic systems are another favorite spot. Make sure that your caps are on correctly and fully shut.  Spot check for cracks that might enable a mosquito to crawl through (they don’t have to be very big).
• Tires, recycling containers, trash cans without lids – these are all great places for water to accumulate and create an issue.
• If you have a kid’s play area in your backyard make sure that any toys are left upside-down (or better yet bring them inside) and that kiddie pools are dumped and filled regularly.
• Many of our customers like to leave water out for the deer. Make it a point to dump and refresh the water once a week.
• Finally, remove piles of leaf and yard debris when they are created.  The more potential homes you give these guys the more they will likely make their home with you.

Finally, we don’t want to let June go by without a mention of the “World’s Largest Swimming Lesson” happening at the Conroe Aquatic Center on June 22^nd at 10am. Created to bring awareness to the importance around making sure all our kids know how to swim, this free event is great fun for the whole family. The lesson is held in conjunction with other sites worldwide simultaneously! Head out and participate and help break the Guinness Book of World Record (that they achieved last year) of over 40,000 people. That’s 40,000 people all taking a swimming lesson together! Visit the City of Conroe website for more information.