Nothing ruins a backyard gathering or barbecue like a swarm of bugs descending on you and your guests. And noticing more bugs usually means there are a lot more that you don’t see. If you’re wondering why your yard has suddenly been overrun with bugs and other pests, the reason could be hanging right over your head.
Clogged gutters are a perfect breeding ground and hiding place for pests like mosquitoes and gnats. If it has been a while since your gutters have been cleaned and inspected, it could be the reason why you’re noticing an increased number of uninvited backyard guests. In this article, we’ll explain why getting your gutters cleaned can reduce the number of backyard pest you have to contend with this summer.
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Ideal Breeding Ground
Gutters are designed to catch rainwater and direct it away from your roof. But when things like leaves, twigs and other debris also wind up in your gutter things can begin to backup. When this debris sits in the gutters, it clogs them up, makes them less effective, and allows water to accumulate, which can create an ideal breeding ground for bugs.
Standing water is the perfect environment for insects to lay eggs and larvae to develop. Clogged gutters with standing water keep insect eggs and larvae hidden from predators, creating the perfect nesting environment. Keeping your gutters free and flowing is a great way to get rid of this hatching environment and it will help reduce the number of pests around your backyard.
Mosquito Haven
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water and need an environment full of organic debris like leaves and twigs in order to successfully hatch them. Clogged gutters are the perfect environment for mosquitoes to lay their eggs and larvae to develop. Mosquitoes typically lay up to 200 eggs at a time, which hatch within 48 hours. The undisturbed water in a clogged gutter provides a breeding ground that if left unchecked, could quickly create a massive mosquito problem in your backyard.
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Flies Galore
Flies also hatch their eggs in standing water, but the environment created by a clogged gutter can prove to be even more ideal for them. Flies multiply quickly in an environment with rotting food, produce and other organic material because they need a fermenting liquid to lay their eggs. When debris such as leaves or twigs sit in the standing water of a clogged gutter, they begin to ferment. By unclogging your gutters, you eliminate any standing water and stop fermentation of organic material, which removes the environment flies need to hatch their eggs.
Gnats are Welcome
Gnats love to lay their eggs in areas that have a lot of algae and fungus. Fungus gnats are specifically attracted to overwatered plant life and any type of wet, or damp vegetation. A gutter that is clogged or obstructed with leaves, twigs and other debris will retain moisture longer, which will promote the growth of algae and fungus. When this happens, it’s like putting out the welcome mat for gnats.
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Bees in the Attic
Bees typically build their hives in areas where moisture is available, but also in areas where they are less likely to be disturbed. Your clogged gutters provide a great space for them to start and build a colony. The damp, undisturbed environment of your clogged gutters could also be attracting other stinging insects like wasps and hornets. Beehives can also add significant weight to your gutters, causing damage or collapse. And if not removed in time, a bee colony can expand, breach your roof and enter your home, which can cause a real problem.
Enjoy the Outdoors
Cleaning your gutters is probably not high on the list of things you want to do this weekend, but if left unattended for too long clogged gutters can develop into an even bigger problem. As the weather gets warmer, and in some cases wetter, maintaining your gutters is important. But if you’d rather spend your time doing something other than cleaning gutters, call the gutter and window cleaning experts at Window Genie. Keeping your gutters clean and free from debris could be the difference between enjoying some quality backyard time this summer or taking shelter from a variety of pesky insects.
