Mosquitoes In Hampton Roads: An All-Inclusive Prevention And Control Guide
7/15/2023
Mosquitoes are annoying, dangerous, and pesky bugs that can invade your yard during the summer and warmer months. While they prefer warm temperatures, they don't like areas with a lot of direct sunlight. If you have ever taken a break in a shaded area during a hot summer day, chances are that you encountered a mosquito.
At PESTOUT, we have spent decades coming up with the perfect mosquito control plan that is effective and long-lasting. Our Hampton Roads pest control technicians know the exact steps to take to eliminate and prevent mosquitoes from swarming your property.
Understanding Mosquito Behavior: Essential For Effective Control
This may be surprising, but mosquitoes in Hampton Roads are not social creatures. While you may have seen large groups of mosquitoes around your yard, they only get together when it is time to mate. Another surprising fact is that only female mosquitoes take a blood meal, and they only consume blood during mating times.
When a female mosquito is ready to mate, she will search for a blood source. The blood gives her the extra proteins and vitamins to produce mosquito eggs. Once she is ready to lay her eggs, she will find a safe body of water to lay her eggs on. Usually, the eggs will float on the surface of the water. Once they hatch, the baby mosquito will submerge itself in the water. During this stage, the mosquito larva looks like a maggot with no limbs or wings. It will stay in the water while it goes through the larva and pupa stages.
When a mosquito has reached full maturity, it will fly away from the water and live on its own. All male mosquitoes and unmated female mosquitoes prefer to eat nectar from various plants.
Mosquito-Borne Diseases: How These Insects Pose A Serious Danger
When a female mosquito bites an animal and consumes their blood, it could become infected with any virus or disease the animal had. If that infected mosquito bites you, you can contract the same disease. Some of the most common illnesses people can contract from mosquitoes in this area include chikungunya, dengue fever, tularemia, encephalitis, and West Nile virus.
Mosquitoes are known to be some of the deadliest animals in the world because they can spread fatal diseases such as yellow fever, Zika virus, and malaria. While these diseases can be life-threatening, none of the mosquitoes that carry these diseases live in Hamptons Roads or the United States.
Mosquito Prevention: Eco-Friendly And Effective Tips
Many yards with abundant shade and water can quickly transform into a mosquito breeding ground.
If you want to keep mosquitoes away from your Hampton Roads home, some things that you can do include:
- Keep your yard cut short and reduce the amount of vegetation around your home.
- Clean out kiddie pools, bird baths, and other objects that hold water regularly.
- Store away unused lawn equipment, including wheel borrows, to ensure they don't collect water.
If you want to ensure that you don't have female mosquitoes around your property, you should make sure that your yard cannot be a breeding ground. Removing all water sources will make your yard inhospitable to mating mosquitoes.
Total Mosquito Control: How Professionals Ensure Long-Lasting Results
A mosquito infestation is an ongoing problem that must be regularly addressed to ensure its control and eradication. At PESTOUT, we have the perfect solution to your mosquito problem. Give us a call today for help with mosquitoes and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Hampton Roads.
