Another summer in Denton has us seeing some muggy days. And while the heat and humidity can be irritable, nothing is more annoying than mosquitoes, the perennial summer pests. Mosquitoes are swarming, and the Denton pest control experts at Mayco Pest & Termite Control want you to be on your guard.
What Causes Mosquito Infestations?
Mosquitoes seem to appear out of nowhere. That’s because they can sense our body heat and carbon dioxide with millions of years of honed hunting aptitude. Another way they sneak up on us is their initial week- to month-long stages of life, where they live in water and furtively feed on microbes. Add to this the females’ ability to lay up to 200 eggs at once, and you might begin to understand why one day an infestation seems to appear.
Mosquitoes look for:
- Sources of water or moisture to lay their eggs
- Body heat, carbon dioxide, and smells like perspiration
- Plants to pollinate, especially orchids
Female mosquitoes are the only ones that feed on blood and lay eggs. This means when they find any of the things they like, they might lay future generations of nuisances.
What Are the Ways I Can Prevent A Mosquito Infestation?
These insects can infest both the yard and home. You’ll want to deprive them of what they need to grow when they are larvae, which is for about a week.
Ways to repel mosquitoes and prevent infestations are:
- Remove all standing water in the yard and the house.
- Refill necessary water sources daily to discourage developing mosquitoes.
- Grow the best plants to keep mosquitoes away like geraniums, marigolds, basil, and lavender.
- Use heavy fans, as mosquitoes cannot fly against strong winds.
- Exert yourself less.
- Go inside after working out and shower immediately.
- Use oils and smells mosquitoes hate like tea tree, lavender, lemon eucalyptus, citronella, thyme, and Greek catmint.
- Wear light-colored clothing to avoid absorbing too much heat.
- Treat drains where water might still be providing growth environments.
- Chlorinate your pool and get freshwater filters.
Be sure to approach mosquito prevention on the level of both adults and young larvae. Water is what you mainly need to consider with mosquitoes. Larvae can develop for about a week, so by emptying and drying up water sources, you’ll deprive them of maturation. Mosquitoes can’t fly in strong wind, so strategize with fans.
What Are The Health Risks Of Mosquito Infestations?
Health risks aren’t limited to itchy bites. When mosquitoes suck our blood, six needle-thin styles of their complex proboscis penetrate our veins. This can inject some of their medley of contagions that were dormant in them. There are various diseases that mosquitoes account for. Texas goes big here, too, having reports of some serious maladies.
Diseases carried by mosquitoes in Texas include:
- Dengue
- West Nile virus
- Zika virus
- Chikungunya virus
Symptoms associated with these diseases are headaches, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, rash, and muscle tenseness. If you experience severe symptoms after a bite, get medical assistance. At Mayco Pest & Termite Control, we want you to put safety first.
How Can I Get These Mosquitoes To Get Away From My Property?
If you have an infestation, the best way to get rid of mosquitoes is to think about the larvae and the adults separately. As with our prevention tips, you should get rid of standing water to stop mosquito progeny. If you want to spray, the best pesticide for mosquitoes depends on the stage in the lifecycle. There are different chemicals for larval stages and adult stages. However, larvicides and adulticides can be dangerous and toxic to humans and should only be applied by trained professionals.
The pest control professionals at Mayco Pest & Termite Control bring eco-awareness, advanced technology, and same-day service and can see you through even the thickest of swarms. We tailor our services to your needs without jeopardizing efficacy. Don’t hesitate to call us and begin to enjoy your backyard again.