How Do I Identify A Mosquito?
Crane flies, midges, mayflies, fungus gnats, and dance flies are bugs that look like mosquitoes but aren't. To determine if the flying pest is a mosquito, look for the following features:
- Humpback body: A female mosquito's body is curved upward at rest.
- Wings: A mosquito's long wings are covered with scales and have fringe-looking edges.
- Proboscis: This is a beak-like body part on the head of the mosquito that it uses to draw blood from the small blood vessels below the skin of its victims.
- Habitat: Mosquitoes are common in areas with stagnant water, so a prevalence of flying and biting insects in these areas is likely to be mosquitoes.
When these features are present, you are dealing with mosquitoes at your East Cobb home.
Are All Mosquitoes Dangerous?
Of the 200 mosquito species in the United States, only 12 spread disease; of those that carry infectious pathogens, three species are common in East Cobb. While not every bite will make you sick with a virus, diseases spread by mosquitoes in East Cobb include the following:
- West Nile virus
- Malaria
- Dengue
- Chikungunya
- Encephalitis
- Tularemia
Responses from an infection of these viruses spread by mosquitoes range from flu-like symptoms to brain and spinal cord swelling; in a few rare cases, death occurs. If you develop a fever, muscle aches, and other unusual symptoms after a recent mosquito bite, seek medical attention immediately.
What Is Attracting All These Mosquitoes To My Home?
Only female mosquitoes bite humans, and they bite to get the nutrients from your blood for egg production. They deposit the eggs in stagnant water, where the mosquitoes mature into adults. When they are mature, the females fly to find hosts to repeat the process.
Since mosquitoes need stagnant water for reproduction, the following will attract them to your East Cobb property:
- Baby pools
- Clogged gutters
- Drainage ditches
- Retention ponds
- Low-lying damp areas
- Shaded, moist leafy areas
Keeping your East Cobb property clean and dry will deter mosquitoes from breeding near your home.
What's The Best Way To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes Around My House?
While the preceding prevention tips will reduce the mosquito population around your house, they will not stop mosquitoes completely. To get rid of mosquitoes around your East Cobb property, you need help from our mosquito technicians at Tuxedo Mosquito Control.
We will inspect your property and determine hot spots and potential breeding locations. Once we ensure you understand our recommendations and how to manage our automated misting equipment, our technicians will install the system to stop mosquitoes from infesting your property. Contact us today to learn more.