There are few things more annoying than laying awake at night, digging yourself raw to find relief from the itchy red welts left behind by vampiric mosquitoes. Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to make yourself less appealing to these disturbing pests. They are all relatively simple measures that you can use to reduce your risk of suffering a mosquito bite and to protect yourself from dangerous diseases that mosquitoes transmit.
What Is A Mosquito?
Mosquitoes are tiny flying pests. They have a long proboscis used for drinking plant nectar and blood. Males only drink plant nectar, whereas the females will feed on blood to produce eggs.
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in bodies of standing water, so homes near marshes or ponds are likely to have a mosquito problem. During the day, mosquitoes rest; they become most active at dawn and dusk. They are attracted to body heat and carbon dioxide, which makes people prime targets for these biting pests. They are also more likely to go after people who have been drinking alcohol or are wearing dark clothing, scented deodorant, or heavy amounts of perfume.
Are Mosquitoes Dangerous?
Mosquito bites usually result in a small, red, itchy welt. A mosquito injects saliva into its human host to keep blood from clotting, which causes a reaction. This can be dangerous because mosquitoes carry and transmit several diseases, including malaria, West Nile virus, and various strains of encephalitis. They also carry heartworm parasites which can prove deadly to beloved pets.
Three Simple Ways To Keep Mosquitoes At Bay
It is important to protect yourself, your property, and your loved ones from the dangers that mosquitoes carry. There are several simple steps you can take to mitigate your risk of acquiring a mosquito bite and to allow you to enjoy the outdoors without worry.
- Staying indoors during dawn and dusk is the most effective way to avoid the nuisance of mosquitoes buzzing around your head and ankles. They are most active during these times. If you must go out in the evening or early morning, you can protect yourself by wearing long sleeves, pants, and insect repellent.
- Mosquitoes are not strong fliers, so running small fans at outdoor gatherings will help to keep them away.
- Prevention is the best way to protect yourself from any nuisance or threat. You can help prevent a mosquito problem on your property by removing any standing water. This includes poor drainage from gutters, kiddie pools, tires, and anything that may collect water.
If you follow these super-simple steps, you may notice a difference in the frequency of bites. However, despite your best efforts, you still may find your mosquito problem unbearable. Though DIY mosquito prevention will reduce your population, they are still reproducing in areas that you can’t control, such as puddles, ponds, and marshes.
I Still Have A Mosquito Problem. What Do I Do Next?
Should you find yourself in need of professional pest control services to gain the upper hand in the fight against mosquitoes, our highly trained, professional technicians here at Green Home Pest Control are ready to help. We have a four-step mosquito control service that uses eco-friendly techniques and treatments to reduce the mosquito population on your property. As a family-owned business, we know how important your loved ones are to you and it is our priority to keep them safe, while also being kind to the environment.
To learn more about what Green Home Pest Control can do for your Chandler, AZ property, contact us today!
 21 years of pest control experience
 Founder and Owner of Green Home Pest Control
 13 year resident of Arizona
