Get Ready for Mosquito Season!
If you are the proud new owner of a mosquito trap or have used one in previous years, here is some useful information about preparing your mosquito trap for the biting season.
Once the temperature is consistently about 50F (10C), it is time to turn on your mosquito trap. At about 50F, female mosquitoes feel safe to start laying their eggs (see Mosquito for more information). Depending on where you are in the country, this time of the season varies.
Approximate times when the average temperature is above 50F:
- Early February: Hawaii, Southern Texas and mid to southern Florida
- Early March: Southern California, Northern Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Northern Florida
- Early April: Northern California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Southern Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Southern Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina
- Late April: Northern California, Southern Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Southern South Dakota, Iowa, Northern, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island
- Early May: Alaska, Washington, Northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Northern South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine
Look at This Map from American Biophysics for more temperature information about your state!
Once the daily temperature averages 50F, it is ready to start up your Mosquito Magnet. If you have used a Mosquito Magnet previously, now it's time to take it out of storage and take off the Trap Cover that has been protecting your Mosquito Magnet during the off-season.
After your mosquito trap has been setup you can follow these directions:
- Make sure your Mosquito Magnet Trap (or other trap) is clean. You should remove any dust that might have accumulated during the year. If the mosquito trap is damp, give it a warm place to dry out, such as leaving it in the sun for a few days, or wiping it down with a towel.
- Fill up your 20-lb. propane tank - if you are filling up your tank for the first time, BE SURE to have the tank purged by your propane gas supplier (they will know how to do this) to remove any contaminants. Failure to purge your tank may result in problems starting and running your Mosquito Magnet trap
- Make sure you have a New MagNet and a New Mosquito Attractant Cartridge ready!
- Attach the regulator hose from your clean mosquito trap to the propane tank
- Place your Mosquito Magnet in the correct spot - see Mosquito Magnet Trap Placement for more information
- Plug it in (if needed)
- Turn it on
- And enjoy a bug-free spring and summer!
If you are new to Mosquito Magnet, you should see significant results after about two weeks.
Useful bug biting season links:
- Mosquito Magnet Maintenance for tips of keeping your Mosquito Magnet running smoothly throughout the whole season
- Mosquito Magnet Off-Season Storage Procedures for information about putting your Mosquito Magnet away during the off-season
- Propane Tank Tips for important information about why purging your propane tank is needed, including interactive demos, from American Biophysics
- Spring Start-Up Instructions from American Biophysics
- Mosquito Activity Forecast - an excellent mosquito intensity forecast specific to your hometown! Brought to you by the Weather Channel.
