It takes pest control technicians years to become experts in mosquito control. While you may not want to go through extensive training, you probably have an interest in learning the basics of mosquito prevention and elimination. With this guide, you can learn enough about mosquitoes to keep your home or business free from these annoying and dangerous Raleigh pests.
The True Danger Of Raleigh Mosquitoes
Most people think of mosquitoes as a nuisance pest that keeps them from enjoying their yard. However, they don’t realize that mosquitoes pose a threat to their family. Because female mosquitoes penetrate your skin to suck your blood, they have the potential to spread serious diseases.
Mosquitoes also have the potential to cause secondary infections. When a mosquito bites you, the saliva remains in your skin. Most people only have minor reactions to the saliva, but some individuals experience more discomfort than others. When the itching is severe, there’s a chance the scratching could open up the bite and introduce bacteria.
To avoid the dangers of mosquitoes, you need to work on keeping these Raleigh pests away from your property. And that’s easier said than done. As long as you have warm bodies on your property, mosquitoes will have a reason to invade.
What Attracts Mosquitoes?
As mentioned, mosquitoes are attracted to human and animal food sources. However, other factors attract them as well. For instance, all of the following could be drawing mosquitoes onto your property:
- Stagnant Water: When female mosquitoes are ready to lay their eggs, they look for stagnant water. Typically, dog water dishes, junk piles, and old planters hold enough water for mosquitoes to breed in. A yard full of puddles and other sources of standing water is a yard that will have mosquitoes.
- Thick Vegetation: When you have lush shrubs and tall grasses in your yard, mosquitoes will find the area appealing. The greenery makes the air humid, which is exactly what mosquitoes want. As much as you like having a verdant garden, this could be the reason you have mosquitoes.
- Flowering Plants: While female mosquitoes feed on blood, the males feed on nectar. A yard with flowering plants will be highly appealing to mosquitoes. One effective way to deter mosquitoes is to remove flowering plants from the yard and, instead, plant mosquito-repelling vegetation. Citronella plants, lemongrass, and fragrant herbs repel mosquitoes.
- Leaky Plumbing: If you have leaks in your yard, the excess moisture makes for the perfect mosquito breeding ground. You can limit the appeal of your yard by repairing leaks as soon as you notice them. As an added benefit, you also save money on your water bill and reduce your waste.
Preventing Mosquito Bites
When you’re outdoors, you can wear long sleeves and long pants to make it more difficult for mosquitoes to get to you. Another way to limit your bites is to wear a DEET mosquito spray. However, these tips won’t entirely protect you from these local pests. Mosquitoes can bite through clothing, and some bug sprays are ineffective. On your own, preventing Mosquito bites is nearly impossible.
If you avoid going outside at dusk or dawn, you are more likely to avoid mosquitoes. But you deserve to enjoy your yard at all times of the day. The only way to do this is to work with a pest control professional. Our team at Innovative Pest Solutions has access to the most effective tools for mosquito control. When you call us, we come out to your property and create a customized home pest control plan to prevent and eliminate mosquitoes. Call us today and receive ongoing mosquito prevention for your Raleigh home or business.
