Mar 11, 2014 | Uncategorized
New Research is Helping Us Find New Ways to Control Mosquitoes
A mosquito’s ability to target humans seems a little mysterious, right? Not really. They are programmed to look for three things when looking for a blood meal to go lay their eggs: carbon dioxide, heat, and odor. Humans give off all three of these but the mosquitoes really only need two of these to decide we are a good meal.
Researchers have found that carbon dioxide is the most important cue for a mosquito choosing a blood meal. The researchers created mutant mosquitoes that could not detect carbon dioxide and when the mosquitoes were put in a situation with just heat or skin odor they would not bite.
The researchers took the experiment a step further and put a bunch of “regular” mosquitoes and some of the mutant mosquitoes, who could glow in the dark, in a greenhouse and then counted how many of each type landed on the humans. The mutants were still successful in finding a target, but not as good as the “normal” ones. When put in the room with a mouse the mutants really did not do well.
The mouse gives us some important information, the mosquitoes don’t want to waste their time on something that may not help them to lay eggs. This is important to us because it gives us a clue on how to make a better repellant for mosquitoes and control mosquitoes.
This is important to us because it gives the Pest Management industry a clue on how to create more effective products and treatment protocols for mosquitoes. The good news is Northwest Exterminating has an Integrated Mosquito Management program. IMM is an environmentally friendly way of managing mosquito populations at your home or place of business. Please visit the website under the Pest Control tab, or give your local Northwest Exterminating office a call to learn more about this program.
Kate King
Northwest Exterminating
[email protected]
Oct 2, 2013 | Uncategorized
Just because summer is over doesn’t mean that mosquitoes are no longer a concern. Mosquitoes can continue to be an issue throughout fall.
Be sure that you are continuing to take the proper steps to protect yourself and your yard from mosquitoes.
- Remove areas of standing water (gutters, plants, lawn decor, tires, playgrounds, debris, etc).
- Keep screens on windows and doors.
- Use insect repellant when outdoors.
- Wear clothing that covers arms and legs.
- Wear light colored clothing. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors.
- Hire professional pest management to treat your yard for mosquitoes and their breeding grounds.
Call Northwest Exterminating for mosquito control.
Sep 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
Conditions will soon be right for overwintering pests to seek comfort and shelter in homes and buildings. Overwintering pests are those pests that seek a warm place to live in the colder months. You want to avoid your home being that place!
As we’ve said many times before on this blog…prevention is key. It is much easier to prevent bugs from entering than to get rid of them once they are present.
Prevention Tips:
- Seal or caulk all cracks and crevices around foundation, siding, doors, windows, electrical, and plumbing.
- Use tight fitting insect screens on foundations and attic vents.
- Keep gutters cleaned out. Pests feed and make homes out of the built up debris.
- Keep a clean home. Vacuum, sweep, mop, and clean up spills that will attract pests to your home.
- Clean up yard by raking, keeping grass cut, and picking up debris in the yard.
- Get regularly scheduled pest control. Regular scheduled pest control will prevent bugs from coming in and will make it easier to control any pest problems that arise.
Common household pests that overwinter:
- Ladybugs
- Box elders
- Stink bugs
- Caterpillars
- Crickets
- Moths
- Flies
- Mosquitoes
- Rodents
Along with winterizing your home from pests, call Northwest Exterminating to help provide treatments that will reduce the number of pests this fall, winter, and even into spring.
Sep 4, 2013 | Mosquito, Pest Control, Uncategorized
Prevention is key in keeping mosquitoes and other pests away from your home. Making your property less appealing to mosquitoes is a huge step in keeping mosquitoes away. If they don’t have a place to lay their eggs, then they won’t stick around. One of the most important things you can do is to remove areas of standing water.
This can be done by eliminating areas in your yard where standing water occurs (gutters, plants, lawn decor, tires, playgrounds, items found in yard, etc.). Make sure that things such as bird baths, fountains, and plants are emptied frequently.
This is one simple yet effective way to keep mosquitoes away.
Mosquito Control by a professional pest control company can effectively eliminate mosquito habitats and work with you to ensure that your property is not a mosquito magnet!
Call Northwest Exterminating for more information on our Green Mosquito Control Program.
Aug 23, 2013 | Mosquito
Northwest Exterminating representative, Courtesy of AJC
Need tips on how to keep mosquitoes away?
- Remove standing water from your yard. These areas serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
- Keep screens on windows and doors to keep them out of your home.
- Use an insect repellant. DEET is highly recommended. Be sure to read the label and reapply as necessary.
- Cover up. We know it’s hot but items like hats, long sleeve shirts, long pants, and shoes that cover your feet will help keep the mosquitoes from biting.
- Wear light colors. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors so keep it light and bright to keep them away.
- Stay still. Movement produces a change in waves of light and acts as a signal to mosquitoes. Carbon dioxide is also an attractant, so the more you move, the harder you breathe and the more you attract mosquitoes.
- Plants. Certain strong smelling plants help keep mosquitoes away. Citronella, marigolds, and lemongrass are some of the plants you can use outdoors, while rosemary and basil are said to be helpful inside.
- Home remedies. There is no shortage of DIY remedies online. Some of these can be useful for short term effectiveness.
- Professional pest management. A trained pest control technician can inspect your property to identify what is attracting the mosquito infestation. The technician can then treat your property in an earth friendly and effective manner. They can also provide you with a plan to keep mosquitoes away.
These are just a few tips on keeping mosquitoes away. Mosquitoes are known carriers of diseases like West Nile virus, encephalitis, and heartworms in dogs. Make sure that you are protecting yourself and your loved ones. For more information, visit our blog or call Northwest Exterminating at 888.466.7849.
Why Do Mosquitoes Love Me So Much?
