It's not hard to pinpoint what it is about mosquitoes that makes them so annoying. From their high-pitched buzzing to their itchy bites, mosquitoes can transform a dream yard into a nightmare. If you don't want to be plagued by these insects, you need to take preventative measures.
Why Mosquito Prevention Matters
Before you start learning mosquito prevention tips, you might want to know why it matters. Are mosquitoes as bad as they seem? In reality, mosquitoes are worse than they seem. Female mosquitoes fly around in search of nutrients, which means they look for blood. For females to reproduce, they need to find human or animal hosts and suck out some blood. A long proboscis is used like a needle to suck out the blood. Just like sharing needles can spread diseases, a mosquito attack can spread disease. Mosquitoes can carry and spread several serious diseases. When a mosquito bites you, there's a risk you will become ill.
Sadly, there's only so much you can do to prevent mosquitoes from biting you. While you can wear light-colored clothing and long sleeves, doing so won't make you impenetrable to mosquitoes. They can still bite you. The only truly effective way to protect yourself is to keep mosquitoes away.
Mosquito Prevention For Indianapolis Homeowners
To keep yourself and your family safe, follow these few simple tips to prevent mosquitoes:
- Know What Attracts Mosquitoes: First, you need to understand what factors attract mosquitoes. They seek out stagnant water for breeding, human and animal hosts for feeding, and high moisture for water. Additionally, the male mosquitoes look for nectar as a source of nutrition.
When looking for a host, female mosquitoes look for heat signatures. The warmer an object is, the more likely it is to be a food source for mosquitoes. This is the reason pregnant women are often targets for mosquitoes - pregnant women have higher basal body temperatures. It's also the reason people who wear dark colors are more attractive to these pests. Because dark clothes attract more sun, they raise your heat signature.
- Remove Standing Water: One of the first steps you can take to prevent mosquitoes is to remove standing water from your property. Is there an old pond on your land? Do you have empty bowls collecting water? If you notice any stagnant water, you have a problem. Mosquito larvae could be in the water, ready to grow into adults and take over.
Often, standing water is a product of poor drainage. On a rainy day, take a look outside your home. Broken or clogged gutters could cause drainage problems. You may even need a new drainage ditch. In any case, assess the issue and come up with a solution.
- Reduce Vegetation: Too much vegetation will attract mosquitoes. Every week, make an effort to trim back your trees and shrubs. If necessary, move greenery away from your home. As much as you might like looking at flowers and plants, they attract mosquitoes.
- Check Your Screens: Do your screens have holes in them? If so, mosquitoes will find it easy to get to you. When your screens develop holes, replace them.
Work With Us
For the most effective form of mosquito control in Indianapolis, IN work with our team of professionals at Action Pest Control. We have years of experience with mosquito prevention. Our experts use the latest methods to treat your yard for mosquitoes. Furthermore, they can find out why mosquitoes are attracted to your yard and work on ways to make your property less appealing. You can trust us to get the job done. Call us today at Action Pest Control and find out more about our mosquito control services.