Getting to know Mosquitoes
While the warm temperatures of spring aren’t here just yet, it is important to start thinking about the pests that accompany the upcoming season change. From mosquitoes to ants, there are many pests that come out of hiding after the cold temperatures disappear.
One thing that all of these warm weather pests have in common is how annoying their presence is to homeowners. But when it comes to mosquitoes, not only are they annoying but they can also cause serious health issues. So let’s get to know these pests a little better!
The History of Mosquitoes in Virginia
When traveling to other places around the world you may be shocked when a mosquito lands on your arm and bites in, but don’t worry, they aren’t following you! There are many different species of mosquitoes found throughout the world and within the United States.
There are about 50 different species of this insect found throughout the state of Virginia alone, however the species that residents of Virginia encounter the most is the the Asian Tiger Mosquito.
The Asian Tiger Mosquito is an invasive species of mosquitoes that is known as a container developer because their habitat consists of both artificial and natural containers that hold water. These “containers” create the perfect environment for the female mosquito to lay her eggs. Once the weather is warm enough, the eggs will begin to hatch and these baby pests will soon become a nuisance in and around your home.
The best way to control the Asian Tiger Mosquito species and to protect your home from invasion is to eliminate any possible breeding places in and around your home. This is why we recommend quarterly pest control services to help keep your home protected. During these inspections, our technicians take the time to locate suitable development sites for mosquitoes and other pests. Some spots that are common for these insects to lay their eggs in include, buckets, flower pots, tree holes, birdbaths, rain gutters, tires, wading pools, and any other area that can accumulate and hold water.
What do Mosquitoes Look Like?
Mosquitoes are very long and small insects that have six legs and an extremely long mouth part that is called a proboscis. A proboscis is an elongated appendage that extends from the head of an animal, it is usually used to refer to a mouth piece that is tubular and used for feeding and sucking (how do you think these tiny insects have the ability to feed on you!)
The color of mosquitoes varies based upon species and location, but for the most part mosquitoes vary from grey to black with some having white, green or even blue markings. Because of their small size mosquitoes are hard to spot when they are flying around and usually only make their presence known by landing on your skin.
Attracting Mosquitoes
Let’s be honest, we have all heard someone say “Gosh I guess the mosquitoes just love me,” on a warm summer evening but is there any truth to that? When it comes to feeding, only female mosquitoes will bite humans. This is because they need a blood meal in order to lay eggs that a fertile. Most species of mosquitoes breed continuously meaning that their need for a blood meal is stronger and more frequent in order for them to lay another batch of eggs.
So if you are being eaten alive by these insects you may be a more attractive food source for them and their much needed blood meal. There are certain factors that can increase the level of attraction that mosquitoes have towards you some of which include:
- Wearing Dark Clothing
- Wearing Strong Perfume
- Blood Type
- Body Temperature
- The Presence of Naturally Occurring Bacteria on the Skin
Some of these traits can be easily avoided however, some are just in your biological nature, making you inherently appealing to mosquitoes.
The Dangers Associated with Mosquitoes
Most people believe that the only ailment that mosquitoes will leave behind are those itchy red bumps, but that isn’t the case. Mosquitoes act as vectors, or carriers, for many dangerous diseases. If a mosquito feeds off of another mammal that is carrying a disease there is a possibility of pathogens being transmitted to the next person or animal that the mosquito bites.
Throughout the United States mosquitoes are known for spreading diseases such as West Nile Virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, and dengue fever. However, worldwide mosquitoes are known to transmit diseases such as yellow fever, malaria, and even chikungunya. There is one thing that all of these diseases have in common is that they do not have specific treatment and symptoms can vary from person to person. It is because of this that mosquitoes are considered to be incredibly dangerous insects.
How to Avoid Mosquitoes
Many mosquito problems involved with your home happen outside, and unfortunately our team at Sigma Pest and most homeowners can’t control the natural elements. Despite that, there are a few things that you can do at home and that our team of experts can do to help keep your home and family safe from mosquitoes.
Own your Own
We first want you to know that most DIY projects pertaining to pest control are band-aid fixes. This means that they are temporary and don’t fully solve your problems. However, there are some things you can do to help keep mosquitoes at bay and away from your home including:
- Avoid going outside during dusk and dawn
- Dump out any areas of standing water. This can range from kiddie pools to tarps left out in the rain, and even trash can lids.
- Avoid strong perfumes and sweet smelling objects while outdoors
- Wear light weight clothing and avoid loose and baggy clothing while outside
- Use a mosquito repellant
With Sigma Pests Help
While some of those methods above do work to avoid mosquitoes, they are only effective when used in conjunction with professional pest control services. Sigma Pest’s Mosquito Control Program focuses on keeping you and your family safe from these dangerous insects. This program helps us control mosquitoes, and the best way to do this is to eliminate ways that these bugs can cool. We do this by creating a barrier called a hot zone, that traps the mosquitoes until they overheat and eventually die off.
One of our trained technicians will create this hot zone around your home, to help break the life cycle of mosquitoes. We also utilize a combination of monthly treatments applied during mosquito season to ensure your protection as well as inspecting your property to make sure the area is free of any potential breeding areas for mosquitoes.
Mosquito season is slowly creeping up, don’t wait to take these steps in protecting your home and loved ones, give us a call today for more information about our mosquito treatment packages.