May 30, 2023 | Mosquito
Summer is here, and so are mosquitoes. These pesky insects are known for their itchy, irritating bites, but have you ever wondered why mosquitoes bite in the first place? Let’s explore the reasons behind mosquito bites and share some tips for preventing and treating them.
Why do mosquitoes bite?
Female mosquitoes are the ones that bite, and they do it to obtain the protein they need to develop their eggs. Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide and other chemicals that humans and animals emit when they breathe and produce heat and moisture. When a mosquito lands on your skin, it uses its proboscis (a long, needle-like mouthpart) to pierce your skin and suck your blood. As it feeds, it injects saliva into your skin, which can cause an allergic reaction and result in itchiness and swelling.
How to treat a mosquito bite:
- Wash the affected area with soap and water to reduce the risk of infection.
- Apply a cold compress or ice pack to the bite to reduce swelling and relieve itching. Over-the-counter anti-itch creams and lotions containing ingredients like hydrocortisone, calamine, or menthol can also be helpful but always check with your doctor before utilizing one.
- Avoid scratching the bite, as this can increase the risk of infection and prolong healing time.
Mosquito bite prevention tips:
Preventing mosquito bites is the best way to avoid the discomfort they can cause. Here are some tips for keeping mosquitoes at bay:
- Use insect repellent: Apply an EPA-approved insect repellent to your skin and clothing before going outdoors. Look for products containing DEET.
- Wear protective clothing: Cover as much skin as possible by wearing long sleeves and pants.
- Avoid peak mosquito hours: Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, so try to limit outdoor activities during these times.
- Remove standing water: Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so remove any sources of standing water from your property, such as bird baths, clogged gutters, or flowerpots.
- Use screens: Install screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
If you have concerns about mosquitoes in your area, be sure to consult with your local mosquito control company for a customized mosquito prevention plan!
May 11, 2023 | Florida Mosquito Control
The humid, tropical weather of South Florida is the perfect climate for mosquitoes to thrive. These pesky pests are known to be a nuisance while we enjoy outdoors and to be a health risk. As summer approaches and the weather continues to get warm, it’s important for every homeowner to understand mosquito activity, the health risks they bring, and prevention tips to keep your family safe.
Why Are Mosquitoes Invading My South Florida Property?
Mosquitoes are searching for standing water and a blood meal for survival. Standing water provides them a place to lay their eggs to allow larvae to develop, and they only need a small amount of water to do so. Likewise, these pests do feed on blood, but only female mosquitoes. Females bite and feed on humans so they can lay fertile eggs. While most mosquito species breed continuously, a female mosquito will typically search for a blood meal every two days to lay another batch of eggs.
What Are the Health Risks Mosquitoes Bring?
Besides the itchy welt, there are many people who have been bitten by mosquitoes and experienced no side effects. However, these pests are known to be the cause of diseases. They will feed off a diseased host, leading to the spread of pathogens that can infect other hosts. In the United States, they are known to spread the West Nile Virus, dengue fever, and Eastern equine encephalitis.
How Can I Prevent Mosquitoes in My Yard?
There are several ways homeowners can deter these nuisance pests away from their yards. Check out our top do-it-yourself preventative measures to place in your yard to prevent mosquitoes from invading:
- Eliminate items that can hold water, including toys, buckets, pet bowls, tarps, old tires, and hollowed logs or stumps.
- Keep your yard well landscaped by mowing your grass often and cutting back your shrubs.
- If you have wood piles in your yard, keep it at least 20 feet away from your home.
- Utilize screens on all windows and doors if you keep them open.
- Clean your gutters of leaves and debris to prevent pooling and standing water.
- Keep your pools, ponds, and bird baths clean every few days.
Implementing these preventative measures will always help to keep mosquitoes away, but sometimes it’s best to call a professional for extra support. These professionals will provide you with a thorough inspection, source reduction techniques, prevention methods, and treatment methods to eliminate both larvae and adult mosquitoes. Contact your local pest control company for a mosquito control quote.
Mar 15, 2023 | Mosquito
Macon Mosquito Control: Preventing Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are small and annoying, easily taking over our yards during peak mosquito season. The hot, humid weather of Macon, Georgia is the perfect environment for mosquitoes to breed, making them a nuisance when we’re trying to enjoy our backyard. While it can sometimes feel impossible to avoid them, there are methods to help deter them away, so you can enjoy being outside again. Check out these tips to prevent mosquitoes this year.
Protect Yourself
Mosquito repellents containing DEET are a great way to avoid these pests when outside. Repellents with DEET block mosquitoes’ CO2 receptors, making them highly effective. They are also great to use when you know you’ll be outside for long periods. When applying the repellent, spray it onto your hands and run it on your skin instead of spraying it directly onto the skin.
Mosquitoes are attracted to clothes that are dark or have floral prints; consider avoiding these clothes if you’ll be outside during peak activity times for mosquitoes, between dusk and dawn. Likewise, consider wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and avoid wearing any sweet-smelling colognes or perfumes.
Protect Your Home
The last thing you want to deal with is mosquitoes inside your home, as it can be difficult to get rid of them if they’ve invaded. Regularly, inspect your windows and doors for holes or gaps that can let pests inside. Likewise, ensure that your doors and windows have screens and are in good repair, replacing any torn screens. During peak mosquito season, keep doors and windows closed as much as possible.
Protect Your Yard
Your lawn is the first line of defense against mosquitoes! Maintaining and placing preventative measures throughout your yard is essential to avoiding these pests during the spring and summer months. Mosquitoes are looking for standing water to breed, only needing a small amount to do so. Get rid of any potential breeding sites throughout your yard, including piles of leaves and debris, items that can hold water, clogged gutters, and poor drainage sites. Additionally, adult mosquitoes are known to rest in shady areas of your yard that are protected from the wind. Make sure to trim back trees and shrubs that are overgrown and continue to mow your lawn regularly.
If you have a mosquito problem or want to get ahead of prevention, consider calling your local pest control company which can provide a thorough evaluation and a comprehensive mosquito control plan.
Feb 16, 2023 | Mosquito
Spring is around the corner and so is mosquito season! Mosquito season tends to start sooner for those of us who live in the southeastern region of the United States. Mosquitoes are a major nuisance and can even be a danger to you, your family, and pets if prevention methods aren’t put in place. Keep reading to discover more about preventing mosquitoes.
Remove Standing Water
Mosquitoes only need a small amount of stagnant water to successfully breed. Identifying these areas around your home before it’s too late is one of the best ways to prevent mosquitoes in your yard. Start looking for items that can hold water, like toys, buckets, outdoor pet bowls, bird baths, and tire swings. Be proactive in removing or changing the water out daily in these types of items.
Utilize Mosquito-Repelling Plants
These pesky pests might seem impossible to remove but another way to repel them from your yard is to plant mosquito repelling plants. Some flowers and plants can keep these pests away from your house, especially citronella, marigold, lavender, rosemary, catnip, and peppermint.
Call a Pest Professional
If these tips aren’t helping in keeping mosquitoes away, then a monthly mosquito control service is another great option. You don’t have to keep battling mosquitoes alone and a local pest control company can have your back during this season with mosquito reduction programs that target both adult and larvae mosquitoes.
Enjoy your yard this spring and request a free mosquito estimate now!
Aug 16, 2022 | Florida Pest Control, Mosquito
Naples Pest Control: Mosquito Season
Having effective mosquito control in Naples, Florida is imperative. Without year-round support from your local pest control company, you are bound to confront many mosquitoes around your property. With warm temperatures nearly year-round, your yard is the ideal environment for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. It’s important to have a mosquito service plan working all year long. Let’s talk about how mosquito control can better help you!
Mosquitoes pose many health risks for you and your family. They are known to carry diseases like Zika virus and West Nile virus, which are both very serious. It’s important to work with your pest control company to determine what treatment plan works best for you.
The first step in figuring out which plan is right for you is to obtain an inspection of your entire yard to identify breeding sites and resting places that mosquitoes are using. Once these areas have been identified, larvicide and adulticide applications are used to control the mosquito population on your property. After the application is completed, it’s best to remove any standing water on your property, which can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The best part of the plan is that in between treatments a technician will come out for any issues that arise.
In addition to mosquito treatments, homeowners can also take steps to prevent mosquitoes around their homes by:
- Cutting away tall weeds around your property
- Removing any containers with standing water
- Making sure your property drains properly to avoid flooding and standing water
- Mowing your lawn regularly
If you think you have a problem with mosquitoes or any other pests, contact your local Naples pest control company to receive a free inspection!
