What Are Mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes are very common all over the world. They’re insects that like to live near the water, and can occasionally make their way indoors. Mosquitoes are of particular note to humans, however, because they can easily transmit a number of diseases that are harmful to us, but not them.
Here are some facts about mosquitoes to help you familiarize yourself with their tendencies.
- Most mosquitoes have a lifespan of between 2-4 weeks, even the ones that make their way indoors.
- Mosquitoes can bite during the day or night, and do so to feed, not out of aggression.
- Female mosquitoes often live a bit longer than male mosquitoes.
- Despite their short lifespan, mosquitoes are so quick at reproducing that they can keep an infestation going over many generations.
As you can see, it makes perfect sense for humans to pay extra close attention to these bugs.
Are You Afraid Of The Dangerous Diseases Mosquitoes Can Spread?
Diseases carried by mosquitoes are probably the number one risk factor associated with these insects. You may recall that, a few years ago, there was a scare in America regarding the West Nile Virus. At the time, there was a lot of concern that mosquitoes were spreading the disease among the population.
Mosquitoes are particularly dangerous to humans because they can carry diseases like the West Nile Virus that are hazardous or even life-threatening to us, all without it taking a toll on their immune systems whatsoever.
Because mosquitoes tend to interact with our skin and blood vessels when they bite us, bloodborne illnesses are a serious concern. Here are some diseases that mosquitoes are known to carry:
- Malaria
- West Nile Virus
- Zika Virus
- Yellow Fever
While no mosquitoes are guaranteed to carry harmful diseases with them at all times, there is a serious risk associated with them. Mosquito bites may be more annoying than painful, but on the back end, they may transmit some seriously nasty parasites or diseases directly into your bloodstream.
Do You Have Water Features Or A Lot Of Standing Water?
There’s one huge trick to keeping mosquitoes at bay – standing water. Think of a bird bath or a slow-draining gutter on your property. Even areas that tend to pool up and drain slowly, like a dip in your lawn, can hold standing water long enough to spark the interest of nearby mosquitoes.
These bugs congregate around areas of standing (or very slow-moving, like a stream that is slow enough to have moss sitting on top of the water) water. If you’ve got a bird bath or anything that holds standing water, you can be sure mosquitoes will start hanging around.
Removing water features or keeping them as far away from your home as possible is an excellent way to keep an infestation from taking hold. If mosquitoes have already started an infestation, removing water features won’t be enough to get rid of them.
While it’s not a surefire solution, it is good discipline to keep bird baths and other water features as far away from your home as you possibly can.
Do You Want To Get Rid Of The Mosquitoes Around Your Property?
While it’s true that spiders eat mosquitoes and there are some smells mosquitoes hate, neither are effective enough deterrents for these pesky pests once they’ve found something desirable about your property. People often try to blend their lawn care duties with their attempts to eliminate mosquitoes, using fertilizers and other solutions. Unfortunately, the best lawn spray for mosquitoes is something only the professionals carry.
Whether it’s a roost to lay their eggs or a reliable source of food, mosquitoes can weather a lot of resistance once they’ve found something on your property that appeals to them. They can long overstay their welcome without professional intervention.
For that reason, we don’t recommend anybody try to tackle an infestation on their own. The average homeowner is unlikely to find much success in getting rid of mosquitoes on their own – these flying pests are remarkable survivalists.
Tuxedo Mosquito Control is East Cobb’s number-one solution for dealing with mosquito infestations. We use industry-leading techniques and equipment to help you take back control of your property. Give us a call today to get started!