Mosquitoes are pests that almost everyone has heard about as they live throughout many parts of the world, including in Atlanta, Georgia. The weather in our area, with its humidity and heat, especially in the summer, is perfect for many mosquito species in Atlanta to thrive.
Mosquitoes are often found in areas near water sources, particularly standing water such as lakes or ponds, as this is where they lay their eggs. They are also attracted to places and properties with overgrown vegetation as they will rest in the shade of leaves during the hot hours of the day.
While most people know about mosquitoes, not everyone is aware of just how dangerous they really are. They can also be difficult to identify from other flying insects. In this guide, you’ll learn how to identify and prevent dangerous mosquitoes.
What Mosquitoes Look Like
Mosquitoes have long, narrow bodies, and they also have skinny, long legs. They have translucent wings and are usually grey in color, but their markings and base color can vary greatly.
However, one of the best ways to identify mosquitoes is by the long nose-like appendage they have called a proboscis. This is what they use to drink nectar from plants or, in the case of females, blood. It’s only the females of the species that get blood meals because they need the extra protein to lay their eggs.
Just How Risky Are Mosquito Bites?
While mosquitoes might be tiny, they are extremely dangerous. They are considered the deadliest animal on the planet because mosquitoes can spread so many serious diseases from host to host.
Some of the illnesses they transmit include Chikungunya, Zika virus, dengue, West Nile virus, malaria, and yellow fever. This makes them much more of a risk than bees or spiders or even big animals like sharks. In fact, they are estimated to cause around one million deaths each year around the world.
And, while mosquitoes are more likely to cause serious illness or death in some areas of the world than others, it’s always best to avoid bites and take precautions to prevent these pests.
Six Mosquito Prevention Tips
Mosquitoes can be difficult to completely keep away because they can be endemic to certain areas and some of the things that attract them are outside of your control such as living near bodies of water. However, there are still some measures you can take to help prevent them and also to protect yourself from bites.
Here are six of the best mosquito prevention steps:
- Remove standing water from your property including areas where it might pool.
- Clean gutters to ensure rainwater can drain.
- Keep your yard well-maintained and regularly trim vegetation.
- If you have pools, hot tubs, or other water features, keep them cleaned and use cycled water.
- Avoid going outdoors at dusk as this is when mosquitoes are most active.
- When outside, don’t drink alcohol as the smell can attract mosquitoes.
The Best Way To Handle Mosquitoes
While mosquitoes are dangerous and difficult to control, there is one effective way to keep them away from your property. The experts at Tuxedo Mosquito Control have over 20 years of experience in eradicating these flying pests, and we specialize in providing residential and commercial mosquito control plans.
Get started protecting your property today by requesting a free quote or calling to learn more about our mosquito misting system.