Whats the most deadly creature on earth?
Its not the lion, the tiger or the Great White Shark.
It’s the Mosquito!
As possibly the most destructive and damaging pest in the world, the mosquito is quite infamous. This is especially true in regions within which they spread deadly diseases. Mosquitoes spread diseases to hundreds of millions of people, and billions of dollars are spent in efforts to combat their spread each year.
But how do mosquitoes spread, and how do they cause so much destruction?
There are over 3,500 identified species of mosquitoes. They are spread across every continent other than Antarctica. Female mosquitoes of most species will survive by feeding on the blood of humans and other warm blooded mammals.Taxonomically speaking, mosquitoes are members of Diptera, the group of all true flies. Thus they have one pair of wings, and a long thin body that is usually less than 1/4 inch in length.
Mosquitoes use their sucking mouthpart, the proboscis, to feed on blood and nectar, with the females using these nutrients to create eggs. Female mosquitoes can lay up to a hundred eggs in one reproductive cycle, and due to this an area population can rapidly grow in some instances.
This behavior makes them an effective vector of deadly diseases, and in fact many of the most infectious diseases in the world such as Zika, Malaria, and West Nile virus can be spread by mosquitoes. It is in fact believed that mosquitoes spread many of these diseases from animals to humans in the first place in a process known as zoonosis.
When a mosquito pierces the skin of an infected human or animal, and then it lands on you and pierces your skin, the possibility exists for the disese to be spread to you. While they are tremendous danger in tropical regions of the world, mosquitoes tend to serve as more of a nuisance pest here in the United States. However, West Nile virus, encephalitus, Zika and Dengue fever have been reported in our area.
Mosquitoes often infest large areas of property, especially starting the springtime and contiuing all summer. These pests lay their eggs in standing water, and due to this times of increased rainfall will often lead to the spread of mosquito activity. The mosquito population, left unchecked, will continue to grow all summer. Mosquitoes stay active and feeding until the first hard freeze of the fall. At this time they do not die. The merely go dormant until warm weather returns in the spring.
The nuisance caused by mosquitoes is typically due to the large number of mosquitoes located in the area. A severe infestation could result in millions of new mosquitoes on your property, and this can make outdoor activities unpleasant due to the biting pests.
Mosquitoes can lay eggs in even the smallest amounts of water. Even shallow puddles can provide a breeding ground for thousands of new mosquito larvae. They can infest small bodies of water such as a cupped leaf, a bird bath or in buckets as well as larger bodies such as ponds or lakes. In general, larger water features result in a more severe infestation if not properly treated.
What preventative measures can homeowners take to protect themselves from mosquitoes?
Treatment of mosquitoes is a multistep process requiring proper inspection, elimination of conducive conditions and application of pre-treatment products. The first step homeowners should take is to call a licensed pest control service to inspect their property. A thorough inspection can reveal the risk of mosquito infestation on your property and identify potential problem areas that should be dealt with.
When reducing favorable environmental conditions, the name of the game is moisture control. Steps should be taken to reduce and remove any pockets of water that are unnecessary, and more permanent bodies such as lakes, ponds or bird baths should be treated with a larvicide, so as to make them unusable by mosquitoes.
While some DIY mosquito treatment options are available, we strongly advise against this option. While these treatments can work for some pests, mosquitoes often require a more precise application using specialized equipment. These types of treatments are often only available from licensed pest control professionals, and due to this any pretreatment is best left in the hands of the experts.
At Volunteer Rid-A-Pest, our Mosquito-Guard division has decades of experience in eliminating these pests! We want to be your ONE CALL solution to any pest problem! We provide a wide range of treatment options designed to target and eliminate pest problems safely, quickly, and effectively! All of our treatments are offered at fair prices, and backed by an industry leading, 100% Satisfaction Guarantee that will let you rest easy!
So if you are dealing with mosquitoes, or simply have a question, call us today at 423-698-7205 OR 423-472-7736!
By: Erik
