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The Summer Nuisance: Everything You Need To Know About Mosquitoes
You’ve been there. You're enjoying the first taste of summer: a home-grilled hamburger on your back porch. You’ve endured the winter snowstorms and the spring thunderstorms just for this. Nothing could ruin this moment—nothing, except for the small blood-sucking bug on your arm.
Mosquitoes are the summer’s nuisance. They seem only to have one purpose: annoyance. One small bite can turn into a week of uninterrupted itching and distraction. What’s worse? Mosquito bites rarely come singularly. If you get bitten by one mosquito, the odds are high that you’ll soon discover more red, itchy bumps.
While thinking about these bugs is enough to make a person wonder about eradication, knowing what these bugs do, how they do it, why you shouldn’t ignore them, and how to best prevent them is beneficial. So, let’s jump right into the mosquito basics and understand our blood-sucking enemies.
Why Do Mosquitoes Exist?
Mosquitoes enjoy warm weather and still water, which provide the ideal breeding environment. Because of this, mosquitoes tend to appear in early spring and stay around until early fall. During winter, the bugs hibernate near or in still water; the springtime warmth wakes the insects and prompts them to begin a new season of life.
Like butterflies and honey bees, mosquitoes feed on nectar, which allows them to transfer pollen from flower to flower and tree to tree. They also enjoy consuming blood from animals and humans and make any summertime BBQ, campout, boating trip, and outdoor endeavor uncomfortable.
The Dangers of Mosquitoes
While you might be feeling a little more kind-hearted toward the species, after all, they make the flowers bloom; remember that we have honey bees and butterflies who do the same thing. Not to mention that honey bees and butterflies aren’t nearly as dangerous as mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can elicit allergic reactions and transmit diseases, including malaria, dengue fever, and the Zika virus.
How to Prevent Mosquitoes
There are several ways to combat mosquitoes. Each varies in intensity and coverage. But here are some of the most common and effective measures:
- Insect repellent: This is probably the most common mosquito deterrent. It works pretty well for a quick hike or outdoor outing, but it can quickly become impractical to wear repellant every time you want to have a backyard BBQ.
- Yard management: Water can gather anywhere after a rainstorm. You might look for dips in your yard, birdbaths, water-filled flower pots, and/or left-out yard tools or equipment. Eliminating these things can help prevent mosquitoes from having a place to nest and breed.
- Professional pest control: Mosquitoes are tricky creatures. Even the smallest amount of water can encourage their growth. Hiring a professional pest control company might be your best option in finding and identifying possible breeding areas and applying preventative pest control.
Call Insight Pest Solutions
If you are suffering from a mosquito infestation or have suffered from one in the past, don’t hesitate to contact Insight Pest Control Solutions today. Our team of exterminators knows how to treat your property for these dangerous insects. They can eliminate them so that you can enjoy your summer activities in peace without having to worry about bug spray or anti-itch cream.
