Mosquitoes and the Cold
Mosquitoes are a pest that are most commonly associated with the warm humid temperatures of summer, but just because the heat goes away doesn’t mean that they do.
A common misconception that most people have about mosquitoes is that they vanish during the winter seasons, but that’s not the case. When temperatures begin to fall below 50 degrees, female mosquitoes begin depositing their eggs, creating a whole new generation of mosquitoes that can potentially enter your home. This is why preventative pest control is important when it comes to ridding your home and the surrounding area of mosquitoes.
Overwintering with Mosquitoes
In order to best understand where mosquitoes seem to vanish too during the winter, it is important to first understand the stages in a mosquito’s life cycle.
Believe it or not, most mosquitoes don’t actually die off during the winter. How they survive the cold weather depends on the species. For example, the species that is responsible for transmitting the Zika Virus go through the process of overwintering. Overwintering refers to the process that some insects go through to make it through the winter.
Some mosquitoes can overwinter as adults, making sure to hibernate in places like hollow logs, burrows created by other animals, and even inside small cracks and crevices within your home. Other mosquito species will go through winter in their larvae and pupa stages and remaining in a state of diapause (this is the suspension of development during the cold). This process allows mosquitoes to stay dormant during the winter making their presence undetectable to homeowners.
We mentioned before that when temperatures drop, female mosquitoes begin to lay their eggs in water-holding items (this can even be small puddles of water throughout your home because they only need about half an inch of water to lay their eggs in).
These adults will eventually die, and this is when the eggs enter the period of diapause.
Preventing Mosquitoes
We’ve said it before, and we will say it again- the best pest control is preemptive pest control. Regularly scheduled pest control services along with some at home maintenance will help ensure that these mosquitoes don’t even have a chance to enter your home.
Along with your regular pest control treatments there are a few things you can do to ensure your home has every defense against pests. It is important to consistently inspect your property for items that could hold enough water for mosquitoes to lay their eggs in. These items can include bird baths, flower pots, grill covers, and any other item where water might collect.
You should also make sure to unclog your gutters regularly, repair leaky pipes and faucets located outside of your home, and take the time to drill holes in the bottom of anything that may collect water.
During your regularly scheduled pest inspection, your inspector will pay attention to these places where mosquitoes can gather and let you know what areas may pose a threat for infestation.
Calling in the Experts
We’ve said it before, and we will say it again- the best pest control is preemptive pest control. Regularly scheduled pest control services along with some at home maintenance will help ensure that these mosquitoes don’t even have a chance to enter your home.
Along with your regular pest control treatments, there are a few things you can do to ensure your home has every defense against pests. It is important to consistently inspect your property for items that could hold enough water for mosquitoes to lay their eggs in. These items can include bird baths, flower pots, grill covers, and any other item where water might collect.
You should also make sure to unclog your gutters regularly, repair leaky pipes and faucets located outside of your home, and take the time to drill holes in the bottom of anything that may collect water.
During your regularly scheduled pest inspection, your inspector will pay attention to these places where mosquitoes can gather and let you know what areas may pose a threat for infestation.
Heading into Spring
Once the temperatures begin to rise and rain levels start to pick up again in the spring, these eggs will begin to hatch and bring the next generation of mosquitoes into the world. These newly hatched mosquitoes will then begin to seek out a food source…you, but some of these pests may be infected with the Zika Virus. This disease is just one of many that mosquitoes can carry, and symptoms can last for up to several days to a week. People don’t typically get sick enough to go to the hospital when infected with the Zika Virus, however, symptoms of this disease include rashes, fevers, headaches, joint pain, red itchy eyes, and severe muscle pain. Being vigilant and taking measures to prevent mosquito infestation around your home is important in protecting you against this virus along with other diseases that these pests carry.
Stopping these Pests
At Sigma Pest we take pride in keeping you and your family safe from pests during each and every season. When it comes to mosquitoes the best way to ensure that they don’t encroach upon your home is preventative treatment throughout the various seasons. This works to ensure that during the colder seasons mosquitoes are unable to lay their eggs in and around your home and works to prevent mosquitoes from hibernating in warm hidden areas in your home.
As the spring season approaches it is important more now than ever to have your home inspected. Call us today for more information about our pest control packages and our pest control inspections!