The Purpose Of Mosquitoes
Believe it or not, mosquitos actually serve substantial ecological purposes. Mosquitos are both pollinators and part of the food chain. Mosquitos feed primarily on nectar. They transfer pollen from flower to flower as they feed on nectar. This cross-pollination fertilizes the flowers, allowing them to grow, produce seeds, and ultimately reproduce.
Mosquitos, in both their larval state and adulthood, are an important part of the food chain. They are important prey for birds, bats, and turtles. While mosquitos are a disturbance to us and present substantial danger, they in fact play important roles in the proper functioning of our ecology.
Mosquitoes Are Considered The Most Dangerous Animal
Did you know that mosquitoes are considered the most dangerous animal on earth? There are a number of diseases carried by mosquitoes that are particularly transferrable from bites, including:
- West Nile virus
- Zika virus
- Chikungunya virus
- Dengue virus
- Malaria
- Yellow fever
Mosquitoes certainly serve important purposes. However, pregnant female mosquitoes are in constant search of protein. The nearest, most accessible source of this required protein is our blood, which they get from biting us.
Mosquitoes have a particularly fast breeding cycle. The complete life cycle, from egg to fully-formed adult mosquito, takes only 8-10 days. A female mosquito can lay upwards of two hundred eggs at a time. There is also no limit to how many times a mosquito can bite you.
Mosquitoes are particularly troublesome pests due to their short life cycles, the number of eggs a female lays, their ability to bite us an unlimited number of times, and the potentially hazardous viruses mosquitoes spread. That’s why it is of the utmost importance to keep mosquitoes away from our yards.
The Many Factors That Attract Mosquitoes
It is vital to know what attracts mosquitoes if you want to be able to repel them. Consider the following factors when attempting to mitigate the degree to which you and your property serve to attract mosquitoes:
- Nectar: aside from blood, mosquitoes' primary source of nutrition is nectar. The more flowers, the more attracted mosquitoes will be.
- Grass, weeds, bushes: overgrown and tall flora are a natural attraction for mosquitoes.
- Water deposits: gutters are common places where water collects; any other place on the property where water pools serve as a magnet for mosquitoes.
- Blood and perspiration: especially when mating, mosquitoes are attracted to our blood and sweat. The blood serves as the protein needed for the female mosquito, and the sweat mimics the humidity that makes for hospitable hatching spots.
- Dark colors: clothing dark in color tends to attract mosquitoes.
- Floral scents: mosquitoes are drawn to floral scents found in perfumes and soaps.
Mosquitoes are drawn to anything and everything about us and properties that represents a hospitable habitat where they can breed, live and feed. Mitigating the above factors deters mosquitoes by making your home as inhospitable to them as possible.
The Key To Total Mosquito Control For Marietta Properties
It is important to understand what mosquitoes are attracted to so that you can make your property less desirable to them in your attempt to get rid of mosquitoes. You can achieve this by:
- Cleaning your gutters regularly
- Keeping your grass short and plants trimmed
- Preventing water from pooling
- Setting mosquito traps
In addition to these action items which make your property less hospitable to mosquitoes, your best bet is to call in the professionals. We will come in, assess your current level of infestation and devise a plan to rid your home of mosquito problems.
We offer a MistAway Gen III+ automated and tankless misting system, as well as a variety of mosquito spraying services.
Tuxedo Mosquito Control is family owned and operated since 2003 and services the following markets: Atlanta, Georgia; Charleston, SC; and Nashville, TN.
Call us today to take care of all your mosquito control needs. From automated mosquito misting to a variety of mosquito spraying services, we do it all!