Mosquitoes

A mosquito is a tiny flying insect known for their diet of blood and the fact that they leave itchy little bumps on the people they bite. What people might not know is that mosquitoes are considered one of the deadliest creatures on the planet thanks to their notorious habit of carrying and transmitting disease.

Mosquitoes are all over the world and there are approximately 3,000 known species. They first start to emerge during the spring months when things start to warm up and continues through to the fall. However, in some areas where it remains warm year-round there can be mosquitoes all the time. Their favorite time to dine is during dawn and dusk hours, when mosquito control can be prove most effective.

Have mosquito questions? Contact us online or call us at 800-937-8398.

Mosquitoes require blood to live, but only the females bite because they require the blood to lay eggs. Since they are small, they do not require a lot of blood from their hosts, but mosquito saliva is what causes the itchiness. It’s also this pest saliva that can transmit a number of potentially dangerous diseases.

Some of the disease attributed to mosquitoes include:

• West Nile Virus 
• Eastern Equine Encephalitis 
• St. Louis Encephalitis
• La Crosse Virus 
• Malaria 
• Yellow Fever 
• Canine Heartworm

One of the major concerns for people and mosquitoes is that they have now been proven to transmit the Zika virus to humans. The Zika virus, when a person is first infected, often causes mild cold or flu-like symptoms that most people get over quickly. The problem is that the virus can cause serious problems down the road, particularly when it comes to birth defects.

Initial symptoms:

• Fever
• Rash
• Red eyes
• Headache
• Joint pain

The treatment is generally rest, drinking plenty of fluids and visiting your health care provider

The Zika virus has been linked to:

• Birth defects such as microcephaly in infants
• Guillain-Barre syndrome

The best way to avoid this is by using mosquito nets, covering yourself during peak mosquito times and using mosquito deterrent methods.

Mosquitoes love to snack on humans and they are attracted to humans by the carbon dioxide in our breath, as well as the sweat we give off during the warm months.

House mosquitoes breed in standing water, water-filled containers such as empty plant pots or clogged gutters, or in moist soil in flood-prone areas. All of these breeding sites could be in your backyard!

Mosquitoes are prolific breeders. It takes between 10 and 16 days for a mosquito to complete its lifecycle. In warmer weather, this cycle can progress even quicker.

The best way to control mosquitoes is to prevent or minimize mosquito breeding sites. Your dedicated Western technician can inspect areas in your yard where mosquitoes could be breeding and provide tips on preventing future problems.

Western technicians have the latest methods to find where mosquitoes like to rest and treat those areas to kill off the adult mosquitoes from around your home. The treatments can last for weeks and we can find places that might have eggs or larvae and eliminate them, too.

Call 800-937-8398 to schedule an appointment or fill in our online form.