During the warmer months, it seems like mosquitoes are constantly on the hunt for their next blood meal, but do these pests really need a taste of your blood to survive? The answer is a little more complicated than you think. Here’s what you should know about the roles of mosquitoes in Atlanta’s ecosystem, why they bite people, whether they’re dangerous, and how you can keep them away.
The Role Mosquitoes Play In Atlanta’s Ecosystem
Mosquitoes may seem like nothing more than a nuisance, but they do play a bigger role in the ecosystem than you might think. While some species of mosquitoes feed on nectar and are important pollinators for the environment, these insects also serve as a crucial food source for fish, birds, frogs, and even bats.
In fact, most mosquito species don’t bite humans at all, and around only 400 of the world’s 3,500 species can transmit dangerous diseases to people through their bites.
Why Mosquitoes In Atlanta Bite People
If mosquitoes can eat nectar from plants, why do they bother biting humans? Well, not all mosquitoes bite humans. Male mosquitoes, for instance, don’t bite humans at all and survive purely off nectar.
Only female mosquitoes bite people, and they do so because they’re trying to supply their egg-bearing bodies with nutrients. Human blood is full of amino acids and proteins, which act as the perfect prenatal supplements for pregnant female mosquitoes.
When they’re not pregnant or trying to feed the next generation of mosquitoes, female mosquitoes will eat plant nectar just like male mosquitoes do.
How Dangerous Are Atlanta Mosquito Bites?
Mosquito bites may be itchy and irritating, but they also can be dangerous for people. Mosquitoes can transmit a large number of diseases to people and animals, such as:
- Zika virus
- West Nile virus
- Chikungunya virus
- Dengue fever
- Malaria
- Yellow fever
Not all mosquitoes carry disease, but whenever you’re bitten, there’s always a risk you may contract an illness.
Besides the diseases they transmit, there’s also a small risk that you could be allergic to mosquitoes, just like any other pest or bug. Some people are allergic to the protein that mosquitoes inject when they bite, leading to a severe reaction.
How To Keep Mosquitoes Away From Your Atlanta Property
Even if the risk of contracting a mosquito-borne disease is rare, no homeowner should have to put themselves at risk or constantly fend off mosquitoes. Fortunately, you can keep mosquitoes away from your Atlanta property by enlisting the help of the professionals at Tuxedo Mosquito Control.
With flexible services designed for your needs, our treatments can eradicate the mosquitoes around your property and turn your home back into a bug-free zone. If these pests are an ongoing problem around your Atlanta property, there’s only one effective way to get rid of them. Call us today at Tuxedo Mosquito Control for more information about how to get started ridding your property of these biting pests or request your free quote to prevent and eliminate mosquitoes in Atlanta.