The sun is out in full force in Dunwoody, and it’s the time of year when we all want to be relaxing by the pool, reading in the park, or having our picnics. But when we get there, the day turns sour when the number one pest shows up in droves.
Mosquitoes are most active in these hot, humid Georgian summers, and Dunwoody mosquito control specialists know that with them comes the threat of blood-borne diseases.
Common Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Mosquitoes are more than just annoying summer pests; they are also prone to spreading disease with their piercing bites. Malaria, dengue, Zika virus, chikungunya, and West Nile virus are all major infections the world has to watch out for.
However, mosquitoes in Georgia are known to carry:
- West Nile virus
- Eastern equine encephalitis
- Saint Louis encephalitis
- La Crosse virus
Mosquito-borne disease cases crop up each year in Georgia. And what’s worse, researchers have found infected mosquitoes were substantially more aggressive toward humans. Fortunately, researchers have not found any mosquito-borne transmissions of COVID-19.
Signs To Watch For If Bitten By A Mosquito
The viruses mosquitoes spread in Georgia are similar. Each has the potential of becoming a serious threat, even lethal. If a mosquito has bitten you, look out for:
- Fever
- Altered state of mind
- Light or sound sensitivity
- Headaches
- Body aches
- Pains in joints
- Diarrhea
- Rash
- Vomiting
The West Nile virus and the various encephalitis viruses carried by mosquitos can cause nausea, muscle stiffness, and severe headaches. Encephalitis can cause fever, confusion, and hypersensitivity. If you experience severe symptoms, it is important to consult your doctor immediately for medical treatment.
Simple and Effective Ways To Protect Yourself From Mosquitoes
Keeping mosquitoes away is difficult because they are attracted to our breath’s carbon dioxide emissions, body heat, and the scent of our excretions like sweat. Luckily, there are some simple ways to diminish the attraction:
- Wear tightly woven clothing.
- Wear light-colored clothing.
- Wear clothing with embedded repellent.
- Exert yourself less, so you produce less sweat.
- Use fans to make flying more difficult for mosquitoes.
Clothing can be a key way to protect yourself from mosquitoes. Try to cover as much of your skin as possible, especially with thicker fabrics. Mosquitoes can penetrate a lot of thin fabrics, but thicker ones will withstand their attempts to bite. Since mosquitoes are attracted to heat, lighter colors will absorb less and be cooler. Companies are manufacturing clothes with embedded mosquito repellent, too.
You will breathe more if you’re pregnant, overweight, or exerting yourself more than necessary. Keep mosquitoes away by exercising indoors and moving more slowly in the summer.
Lavender, cinnamon, lemon eucalyptus oil, thyme oil, Greek catmint oil, soybean oil, citronella, and tea tree are all good essential oils for mosquitoes. They hate these scents. Lastly, a strong enough fan with a strategic direction is sure to keep them away. Mosquitoes aren’t able to fly in the wind.
Unfortunately, none of this will stop mosquitoes from hanging around your property. Tuxedo Mosquito Control is there to provide professional-grade measures for mosquito problems.
The Best Way To Keep Infected Mosquitoes Away From Your Yard
There are a number of ways to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard. These insects need stagnant water to proliferate. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water, and it takes at least a week for those eggs to hatch into larvae before maturing into adults. This one week gives you time to clear any standing water that affords them breeding opportunities. Steps to keep them away include:
- Remove standing water.
- Remove debris and trim overgrown plants.
- Mow your lawn.
- Find and fix any pipes leaking around or in the house.
- Empty and refill pet water bowls or other necessary sources of water often.
- Clean your gutters.
- Keep mosquitoes away from your pool with chlorine and freshwater filters.
- Fill in any water-carrying nooks with sand.
- Grow mosquito-repelling plants.
The main thing to think about in your yard is how to treat standing water for mosquitoes. Don’t give any standing water more than a day to nurture new eggs or larva. For gardeners, planting lavender, basil, marigolds, and geraniums may help repel mosquitoes. Any nook mosquitoes find in your yard will become a place to lay eggs. So keep your yard simple to look after and deprive them of any water source.
At Tuxedo Mosquito Control, we know that mosquito populations can get out of control quite quickly in the middle of summer. We’ve specialized in ousting mosquitoes from Dunwoody properties for years and are always here for prompt responses. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact us today for effective mosquito control.