MOSQUITO CONTROL SERVICES
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MOSQUITO CONTROL
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Reclaim Your Yard
customized treatment plan
Each property is unique and as such we want to make sure we customize each mosquito service to your specific yard needs.
breeding sites
Mosquitoes tend to breed in the moist parts of the yard. Each treatment our Mosquito Professional will search out and treat any breeding site to prevent mosquitoes from breeding on your property.
nesting sites
Mosquitoes will nest around your property on the undersides of leaves in the lawn, bushes, and trees and other cool parts of the yard.
What are mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes are small flying insects that usually come out at dusk and dawn during warm seasons (above 50 degrees fahrenheit). Midday temperatures cause dehydration, so that’s why you’ll rarely notice mosquitoes out at that time.
They have long straw-like mouthparts that allow them to draw blood from unsuspecting mammals. While male mosquitoes enjoy drinking nectar, the females like blood meals from humans because that’s what they need to lay their eggs (in addition to flower nectar). Male mosquitoes live about 10 days, while females live longer (42–56 days). This is because females need that time to lay eggs.
Mosquitoes are very common at outdoor gatherings where there are lots of gathered people on which the females can feed. Not only are bites itchy and annoying, but mosquitoes are known to spread diseases to humans through their bites too.
How we prevent mosquitoes?
We also recommend the following mosquito prevention steps:
- Remove tree stumps that can collect water from your property
- Eliminate any standing water from your property.
- Keep gutters clear of clogs and debris.
- Fix leaky outdoor hoses and faucets.
- Keep the grass in your yard cut short.
- Fill in low-lying areas in your lawn that collect rainwater.
- Keep containers that collect water upside down when not in use.
What health risks come from mosquitoes?
- West nile virus
- Triple E
- Malaria
- Yellow fever
- Zika virus
What are common types of mosquitoes?
In the U.S., you can find over 200 types of mosquitoes. Within these types, there are 12 species that can spread disease to humans. Below are some of the most common mosquitoes found in the U.S.
Anopheles
These mosquitoes are also called malaria mosquitoes and can be found all over the country. As you may have guessed, they are linked to spreading malaria. However, there have not been many cases over the last 50 years in the United States of malaria from mosquito infection.
Dark in color, these types of mosquitoes can most easily be identified by how they draw blood from a person. Females stand at a 45 degree angle while taking blood whereas most other types of mosquitoes are completely parallel on the skin. After feeding, female anopheles lay individual eggs on top of shallow, still water. The eggs will hatch within 2 days to 2 weeks after they’re laid.
Aedes
There are two types of Aedes mosquitoes present in the U.S.: Aedes aegypti that typically feed on people and Aedes albopictus that feed on animals and people. The distinction of hosts is important because the subset that feeds on animals and people are less likely to contract germs and diseases that spread.
Aedes aegypti are more likely to contract germs because of their host exclusivity and preference for humans. Some viruses these types of mosquitoes contract include zika, dengue, and chikungunya. These types of mosquitoes are common in more tropical and subtropical climates.
Aedes mosquitoes can be black and white in coloring and lay groups of eggs in or near stagnant water. They tend to bite around the legs and feet of their hosts. They like to come inside homes as well looking for cool spots to rest during the day.
Culex
These mosquitoes can be found in a variety of colors including gray or white with silver, blue, or green iridescent scales. They are small in size and difficult to see. They typically like to feed off of animals, like birds, but if no animals are around they will feed on people.
Like other mosquitoes, they like to come out around dawn and dusk and prefer humid or moist areas around stagnant water. This is because Culex mosquitoes lay their eggs in these water sources. Like Anopheles mosquitoes, they lay one egg at a time on the water. The eggs then group together and form rafts.
What attracts mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes can often be found around standing water, which is where they need to lay eggs. This includes lakes, ponds, marshes, and even kiddy pools or bird baths.
A gathering of people is also attractive to mosquitoes because of the ample source of hosts and food. More specifically, the carbon dioxide emitted by a group of humans and animals is what signals to mosquitoes that it’s feeding time. Body heat and sweat are also indicators to these insects that hosts are available.
Why do mosquitoes bite some people more often than others?
The simple answer is blood type. Your blood type is determined by the level of proteins in your blood. Most people give off imperceptible secretions of their blood type that mosquitoes can pick up as they fly by. Research has shown that different species of mosquitoes prefer different blood types. So, depending on your blood type and the species native to your area, you might be a frequent host choice.
Why do mosquito bites itch?
When a mosquito bites you, it first pierces your skin with its long mouthpart (also called the proboscis). At the same time they suck your blood and feed, they also inject you with their own saliva. The saliva on the surface of the skin before they bite us also acts as a numbing agent so that they can keep feeding without us noticing.
Your body reads the saliva injected into your skin as an infected antigen (which it is, oftentimes, as this is what carries any disease the mosquito is hosting). Your antibodies address this threat by producing an itch and a red bump to alert you of the possible danger. Some people may have a more severe reaction to a bite than others, including children, people with immune disorders, and anyone who hasn’t been bitten by a mosquito before.
How to treat mosquito bites
Care and recovery for mosquito bites is luckily very simple. The best course of action is to first clean the bitten area. Then, apply an ice pack to reduce swelling and itching. You can also leave a mix of baking soda and water paste on the bite for 10 minutes if the itching doesn’t stop with ice alone. Aloe vera is another soothing option to stop the itch. Lastly, an over-the-counter antihistamine cream should help any extreme itching.
Don’t scratch a mosquito bite (easier said than done) because excessive scratching could cause the bite to open and create an infection.
What repels mosquitoes?
- Lavender oil
- Lemon eucalyptus oil
- Cinnamon oil
- Citronella
- Soybean oil
You can also use citronella candles at a party to keep mosquitoes away from your guests. Growing certain plants can repel them naturally from your yard, including lavender, marigold, catmint, or citronella grass.
How can Hawx help get rid of mosquitoes?
If your mosquito infestation is uncontrollable with DEET or the natural options listed above, then a professional pest control service may be your strongest option.
Our Hawx Outdoor Package is great for mosquito control (and it also addresses ticks). First, we inspect your yard to determine which areas need treatment. Then we use a backpack mister to apply products to these areas. This method also targets any areas with standing water by using a pest control solution that both eliminates and prevents further egg-laying.
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