What are mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes are a type of fly-like insect; they are well-known pests that feed on the blood of people and animals. Mosquitoes have narrow bodies, a pair of wings, and long, thin legs. Most mosquitoes are dark brown or black, and some have white markings or iridescent scales covering their bodies.
An interesting fact about mosquitoes is that only the females bite and feed on blood. They use a proboscis, an elongated mouthpart, to pierce the skin of a person or animal and then suck out the blood. Males do not require a blood meal because they do not produce eggs. Both male and female mosquitoes feed on plant nectar as their primary food source. Mosquitoes are never a welcome sight.
Are mosquitoes dangerous?
Despite their unassuming appearance, mosquitoes certainly are dangerous pests, and having contact with them should always be avoided. They are blood-feeding pests, and during the feeding process, they pick up and transmit a wide variety of serious diseases to both people and animals, including the West Nile virus, Zika, and encephalitis.
Another health risk associated with mosquitoes is related to our pets. Mosquitoes are carriers of parasitic heartworms. Pets that are not on a heartworm preventative treatment and get infected with heartworms will get very sick and, in many cases, death results.
Why do I have a mosquito problem?
If you have standing water, you are going to have mosquitoes! Mosquitoes love nothing more than a property with multiple areas of standing water — drainage ditches, flood plains, ponds, and wooded areas. Even a small amount of water collecting in gutters, flower pots, trash cans lids, or tarps will attract mosquitoes.
The reason for their love of standing water is because that is where females lay their eggs. Properties with mosquito breeding grounds, in turn, have large populations of mosquitoes buzzing around.
Where will I find mosquitoes?
You can find mosquitoes living in almost any outdoor space, whether in the city, country, or suburbs. Mosquitoes thrive in wet, hot, humid weather. In the Midwest, mosquito season usually begins sometime in April or May when the temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees. Mosquito season then lasts until sometime in October or November. Their numbers and activity level peak during the middle of the summer.
Most species of mosquitoes are active at dawn and dusk when temperatures are low. During the day, when the heat is at its highest, mosquitoes like to take a break and rest. Unfortunately, our yards often provide lots of hiding spots for mosquitoes, such as tall grass, trees, fence lines, and dense vegetation.
How do I get rid of mosquitoes?
Get rid of mosquitoes from your residential or commercial property with the help of the local experts at All Star Pest Control. We will eliminate mosquitoes and other pests from your home or business and provide the follow-up services needed to prevent them from returning. We work closely with our customers to ensure that we meet all their pest control needs.
All Star Pest Control offers exceptional mosquito control services, using the most modern technology and products available. If you are ready to protect your Omaha, Nebraska home or business from pests, reach out to All Star Pest Control today. Our results are guaranteed!
How can I prevent mosquitoes in the future?
The best way to prevent future problems with mosquitoes is to partner with the professionals at All Star Pest Control. It is also important to implement the following prevention tips:
- Standing water acts like a magnet to mosquitoes, quickly drawing them to your property. Get rid of any amount of standing water from your property.
- Store any buckets, wheelbarrows, and other containers that collect rainwater either upside down or inside.
- Another attractant for mosquitoes is outdoor lights. Replace white outdoor lights with yellow lights that are less attractive to insects.
- Make your property less attractive to mosquitoes by getting rid of some of their favorite hiding spots.
- Keep these biting pests out of your home, by keeping doors and windows shut whenever possible.
- Replace or repair any screens that have rips or tears.
- When spending time outside during mosquito season, use an appropriate mosquito repellent to help limit the number of bites you receive.