When people think about mosquitoes, they tend to think about mosquito bites and the itchy red welts that they leave on the skin. In addition to their bites, mosquitoes are simply annoying pests to have around your Raleigh property as they swarm in large numbers and buzz incessantly around your head and face. Unfortunately, mosquitoes are more than just annoying; they are dangerous, too. In fact, mosquitoes are considered to be one of the most dangerous animals on the planet due to the number of harmful bloodborne illnesses they can spread. As such, it is important for you to take the proper preventative measures to lower the mosquito populations around your Raleigh property. Furthermore, there are also steps you can take to make yourself less attractive to mosquitoes. Ultimately, you should do everything in your power to keep mosquitoes away from you and your property. The health of your family could depend on it.
Mosquito Basics
Mosquitoes are fly-like insects that have small bodies, skinny legs, and tube-like mouthparts that they use for feeding. Although most people associate mosquitoes with their bites, it is only the female mosquitoes that feed on blood. This is because they require a certain enzyme found in blood to produce viable eggs. Male mosquitoes, alternatively, feed on plant nectar.
Although no one is immune to mosquito bites, there are certain factors that attract mosquitoes to some more than others. For instance, mosquitoes prefer to feed on the blood of pregnant women and people with type O blood. Furthermore, people wearing dark-colored clothing and who have been drinking lots of alcohol are more attractive to mosquitoes.
Threats Posed By Mosquitoes
As they feed on the blood of humans and animals alike, mosquitoes can transmit a number of harmful bloodborne illnesses. As such, mosquitoes are considered to be quite dangerous. Although these illnesses are more prevalent in developing countries, they have been transmitted by mosquitoes in the United States, as well. Some bloodborne diseases transmitted by mosquitoes include the West Nile virus, Zika virus, dengue, yellow fever, malaria, chikungunya, and various types of encephalitis.
Mosquito Prevention For You & Your Property
Because mosquitoes can transmit so many dangerous bloodborne illnesses, it is important to take all preventative measures at your disposal to make both yourself and your property less attractive to mosquitoes. This includes avoiding factors that attract them to your body and removing factors that attract them to your yard, such as areas of standing water that mosquitoes need to lay their eggs upon.
To make yourself less attractive to mosquitoes, you should:
- Wear bright-colored clothing.
- Avoid mosquito-heavy areas after drinking alcohol.
- Wear long sleeves and pants when venturing into mosquito-heavy areas.
- Stay indoors during dusk when mosquitoes are more active.
To make your property less attractive to mosquitoes, you should:
- Fill in any low-lying areas or holes in your yard.
- Keep containers and lids that could collect rainwater stored upside down.
- Keep gutters free of debris to prevent pooling and ensure drain spouts are working correctly.
- Keep your lawn well-manicured and trim back all vegetation around your property.
Effective Mosquito Control For Your Raleigh Property
Even with the proper preventative measures, mosquitoes can still swarm properties. As such, the most effective form of mosquito control for your Raleigh property is with professional assistance from the folks here at Innovative Pest Solutions. Here at Innovative Pest Solutions, we offer quality pest control solutions that you can count on to keep the mosquito population around your Raleigh property to a minimum. Don’t let mosquitoes threaten the health and safety of your family and keep you from enjoying your yard. Give us a call today.
