The worst pests are the ones that don’t just annoy but actually pose legitimate health concerns. Parasites like mosquitoes, which feed on the blood of animals and people, are just this kind of pest. They thrive in all kinds of environments and are common invaders of both commercial and residential properties. It's important to know how to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Common Mosquitoes In The Area
In Kentucky, we have two common mosquito species buzzing around our properties. Here is how you can spot them:
Asian tiger mosquito: So-called for their stripy white patterns on their bodies, these mosquitoes were introduced to North America through trade over the last several centuries. Some say their patterns look more spotted, and they also go by the name “forest mosquito".
Aedes aegypti mosquito: Also called the “Yellow Fever mosquito," these guys are well-known for spreading nasty illnesses like their namesake and dengue fever. While they also have white-spotted patterns, their markings are on their long, dark legs, rather than on their bodies.
Nature’s Most Dangerous Pest
Mosquitoes are considered one of the most dangerous animals on the planet, not because they are big and scary, but because they can quickly and easily spread diseases far and wide. The World Health Organization reports that more than 500 million cases of mosquito-borne illnesses manifest every year, particularly ravaging impoverished areas of the planet.
Below are just a few of the nasty diseases that mosquitoes transmit to humans:
- West Nile Virus: This disease made headlines during the turn of the new millennium for reaching pandemic proportions, and it’s particularly spread by migratory mosquito populations. Symptoms are usually mild, but it’s easily transmittable to vulnerable people.
- Dengue fever: Another illness that’s typically associated with mild symptoms, dengue fever resembles measles in severe cases.
- Zika virus: Probably the most current on people’s minds, the Zika outbreak is a perfect example of how mosquito populations can worsen pandemics and health crises.
- Malaria: One of the deadliest and most serious mosquito-borne illnesses throughout history, malaria symptoms don’t manifest until weeks after a bite. Serious cases can result in nausea, vomiting, and headaches.
Mosquito Prevention Tips & Tricks
There are two kinds of mosquito prevention steps to take: the kind that protects your property and the kind that protects you. Here are the big ones in each category:
Property Protection
- Landscaping: Mosquitoes are flying bugs, but they are lazy and typically only fly short distances to feed or lay eggs. Keeping grasses and foliage trimmed down will limit the landing pads that mosquitoes can take advantage of on your property.
- Moisture: Mosquitoes need areas of standing water to lay their eggs. Even small puddles or areas of buildup can attract them, so proper drainage is key. Also be sure to empty pooling rainwater collected in areas such as playground equipment, tarps, buckets, and birdbaths.
- Treatments: Seasonal or ongoing service by professionals can repel mosquitoes and a host of other outdoor pests.
Personal Protection:
- Clothing: Especially when venturing outdoors, covering yourself up will limit a mosquitoes’ access to skin. This reduces bites and can prevent contact when brushing up against foliage where mosquitoes might be waiting.
- Blood pressure: Higher blood temperatures and pressure attract mosquitoes, which search for heat signatures to find blood. Medications and intoxicants like alcohol can also attract more bites.
- Medications: Over-the-counter or store-bought products can repel mosquitoes for a limited time, and these methods are especially prudent when traveling to tropical places where diseases typically gather force. Not only can products work to protect the skin or clothing, but there are vaccines available to reduce the chance of transmission.
The Best Course: Decisive Action
Since the health risks of mosquito infestations can be so severe, proper control is about more than just being able to enjoy the outdoors. Effective and proper mosquito control can be a matter of life or death, so trusting ineffective or unproven methods can expose you to great risk. At Action Pest Control, our friendly staff can educate you on more mosquito behaviors and prevention tips. Our thorough property inspections can gauge your level of protection, and our proven yard treatments are guaranteed to repel and eliminate yard pests of all kinds.
Don’t leave a mosquito population alone to grow into an untamable problem, turn to Action Pest for total protection.