Every person in the world has likely had a sleepless night due to an annoying mosquito buzzing around their face. Not only are they annoying, but mosquitoes are also extremely dangerous pests that carry various bloodborne diseases that can be fatal to you, your family, and your pets.
Most homeowners think beating back summer mosquitoes is an almost impossible challenge and will try nearly anything to keep them at bay. Unfortunately, many of these mosquito control programs use harmful pesticides that can also affect bees and pets and may even cause human health concerns.
At Bee Friendly Pest Control, we offer a safe, natural mosquito control solution that won’t harm the environment while delivering effective protection against mosquitoes and other pests.
What Are Mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes are small flying insects with slender bodies, large wings, and long legs. They can vary in size, and females tend to be smaller than males. Surprisingly, only females feed on blood, while males feed exclusively on plant nectar.
Mosquito bites are generally painless, but the female secretes a small amount of saliva into the wound that stops the blood from clotting during feeding. This saliva is what triggers the allergic reaction commonly associated with a mosquito bite and is also the most common way that mosquitoes transmit several deadly diseases.
Mosquitos Are More Than Annoying – They’re Dangerous
While most mosquitoes are simply a nuisance, some species can spread infections, including:
- West Nile virus: While most infections are asymptomatic, people that display symptoms often experience severe
headaches, neck stiffness, tremors, and extreme fever.
headaches, neck stiffness, tremors, and extreme fever.- Zika virus: This disease recently made the news due to the potential link between the virus and congenital disorders in infants. Most adult infections are mild and include joint pain, fever, and rashes.
- Dengue fever: Most people who get dengue fever once experience mild, flu-like symptoms. However, a second infection is often significantly more severe, resulting in internal bleeding, shock, and, potentially, death.
- Malaria: People with malaria experience alternating high fevers and shaking chills, which occur several weeks after the initial bite. Severe cases can be fatal if untreated.
- Heartworm: This parasitic worm burrows into the host’s heart, creating severe damage. Although heartworm predominantly affects dogs and other canines, it can also infect immunocompromised people who are less likely to fight off the larvae before they reach the heart.
Luckily, local malaria cases are relatively rare, with approximately 150 locally acquired cases in the past 50 years. However, several species of mosquito found in the United States, including Anopheles mosquitoes, are common vectors for malaria in other parts of the world.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, most mosquitoes in the United States do not spread germs and aren’t a public health hazard. However, large numbers can become a serious concern after disasters such as floods or hurricanes and can even interfere with recovery efforts. Keeping the mosquito population under control is essential in disease control and prevention while also stopping them from interfering with disaster recovery strategies.
What Causes Mosquito Infestations in Your Home?
Female mosquitoes often lay their eggs in standing water, such as shallow pools, birdbaths, and puddles in parking lots. They can lay 100 eggs every third night after mating, and these eggs can survive up to eight months before hatching. Mosquito larvae grow up quickly, and a single female and a tiny bit of standing water can be enough to start an infestation in your yard.
While mosquitoes have several natural predators, including bats, birds, fish, turtles, and dragonflies, they often breed faster than they get eaten, which is why most mosquito control programs focus on preventing the formation of a breeding habitat rather than adult mosquito control.
Bee Friendly Mosquito Yard Control Can Help Keep Your Yard Pest-Free
While the chances of catching a deadly disease from a mosquito bite in the United States are slim, you still have plenty of reasons to implement a mosquito control program. Mosquito populations can explode rapidly, leading to lots of irritation during summer nights. In extreme cases, mosquitoes can even follow you into the home and result in a sleepless night and constant irritation due to bites.
The proprietary Bee Friendly Pest Control mosquito treatment contains several essential oils that repel mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. It works immediately and is safe for the environment and your family. These natural oils are organic and do not harm bees, pets, or humans, making them ideal for families that want to enjoy their outdoor spaces.
At Bee Friendly, we believe in providing holistic mosquito control solutions. Our expert team will evaluate your situation and offer recommendations to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your yard while providing treatments that will keep them out. If you want to reclaim your yard in time for summer, call us at Bee Friendly Pest Control at 1-888-4BEE-LUV for your free quote today!
FAQ
What Are Three Common Methods to Control Mosquitoes?
The most common mosquito control methods include:
- Prevention: Eliminating any potential breeding habitat within the area helps prevent infestations.
- Source reduction: In areas where complete prevention is impossible, reducing the amount of standing water in an area can stop mosquitoes from becoming full-blown infestations.
- Treatment: Killing or repelling adult mosquitoes can effectively break the breeding chain in a particular area.
What Plants Get Rid of Mosquitoes?
Several plants produce essential oils that are effective mosquito repellents. As a bonus, most people think these plants smell fantastic. These plants include:
- Citronella
- Rosemary
- Catnip
- Peppermint
- Lemon thyme
- Cedar mulch
- Marigolds
Consider strategically placing these plants in areas where you like to spend a lot of time, like your porch, deck, or walkways.
What Smell Will Keep Mosquitoes Away?
Smells from mosquito-repelling plants will often keep mosquitoes away from your yard or home. Mosquitoes also dislike other smells, such as:
- Garlic
- Peppermint
- Grapefruit
- Thyme
- Pine oil
How Many Times Can One Mosquito Bite?
A mosquito will continue to bite until she is full. Since mosquitoes can consume up to three times their body weight in size and can suck up to 1mg of blood per bite, the average mosquito can bite you up to six times in a single feed.