Lowcountry Weather and Summer Insects (spiders)

Mosquitoes, roaches, fleas, flies, chinch bugs, wasps, spiders, spittlebugs, and mice have become much more visible with the hot weather. Localized pop up thunder storms have dominated our weather, so there is no telling how much rain we are getting across the area as a whole.

With three Possum stores in the area, I get a regular dose of how crazy our weather is in the Lowcountry. Possum’s West (West Ashley) might get an inch of rain, Possum’s North (North Charleston) might get a “spit” and Possum’s East (Mt. Pleasant) nothing at all. It is amazing how the waterways affect the weather patterns.

The Lowcountry is one area that a rain gauge is a must. Rain gauges come in all shapes and sizes. Some are very expensive and record your rainfall, and others are very basic and are less than five dollars. You can make your own “rain gauge” very easily from anything that has an equal top diameter and bottom diameter. Soup cans, tuna fish cans, a coffee cup, or an empty can of canned possum (the other white meat) make great rain gauges. Be sure to place your rain gauge in an area where your house or trees are not going to skew your results.

Over the weekend while I was smoking some vittles on my grill, I was surveying the yard for potential mosquito breeding sites. We have this roll around basketball hoop in the driveway that requires water in the base to stabilize it. Of course someone lost the cap to the place you add water and now there is a great place for mosquitoes to breed. The slightest dent on my trash can lid also collects water where there were mosquito larva. Then there is the obvious tire that needs a rim to become a spare tire. I keep 3 sizes of measuring cups on a window sill near the hose where I mix up my “solutions” for killing weeds, fungus, and insects around the house. Rainwater had got in them, and you guessed it – more mosquito larvae. Oh yeah, the rain gauge had mosquito larvae in it as well. Always empty out your rain gauge!

With all the insects that are active in the yard Cyonara Lawn and Garden Concentrate is an excellent product with a very broad label and a low price point. Cyonara is labeled to spray the outside of your house to keep roaches in check and even your vegetable garden, so you know it is safe. If you prefer organic products, EcoPCO WP-X might be more to your liking.

Always read, understand and follow product label. The product label is a Federal Law.