Pests are a headache overall, but flying insects are debatably the worst. They can get away from you more easily, spreading their populations. You can only do so much to impact their outdoor environment too. Not to mention that approaching them may mean bites and stings.
Even among flying insects, mosquitoes are one of the worst: their bites make your skin itchy and red, while their persistent buzzing can ruin any outdoor gathering. Worse, their take-overs are practically unavoidable in the southeast, making mosquito control in Atlanta important for homeowners.
These insects go back and forth between people and animals to ingest their blood, which can lead to some serious health concerns. With mosquitoes in Atlanta, you might contract an illness, but you’re much more likely to suffer severe annoyance. If you find out what makes them appear, you’ll have the information to block their intrusions in the future. In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the many ways to repel mosquitoes from around your Atlanta yard.
Where Do Mosquitoes Come From?
The life of a mosquito starts in the water. After hatching from eggs laid by female mosquitoes, young larvae feed on other small aquatic organisms. Once these insects reach adulthood, they’ll continue to seek out fluid to satisfy their hunger and allow them to procreate. This blood can come from a number of sources, but the main two are the nectar from flowers and the blood within your body. They need blood in particular to complete egg production, which is why female mosquitoes are attracted to people. Their bites cause itchiness and irritation because humans are allergic to their saliva.
Mosquitoes are very small: the majority are less than an inch long. They have scales on their wings and bodies, but you’ll have to look very closely to see them. Their well-defined proboscis (their needle-like mouths) are harder to miss, and their legs are skinny.
If you come across mosquitoes in your home, it’s usually because they’ve flown in an open window or door. Alternatively, they might have crept through holes in the foundation. Common interior areas where mosquitoes are found include any dark and silent spaces with available moisture, such as your garage, laundry room, or basement. Continued appearances and bites by these insects signal an infestation.
Are All Mosquitoes Dangerous?
You’re not bound to get a disease every time mosquitoes in Atlanta bite you, but it helps to have details about mosquito conditions and symptoms in the case of an adverse reaction. Some of the many diseases mosquitoes can carry include:
- Yellow Fever
- Malaria
- Dengue
- West Nile virus
- Zika virus
- Chikungunya
Luckily, while mosquitoes can be host to a number of diseases, you are not likely to get anything serious from ones living in our part of the world. However, that does little to remove the sheer annoyance that comes from sharing a living space with them.
What's Attracting Mosquitoes To My Yard?
There are two primary factors that attract mosquitoes to Atlanta yards: the presence of food, and the presence of stagnant water.
Mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide that animals emit, using their receptors and vision to pick up on the body heat we give off, as well as our perspiration and skin odor. If you have pets that stay outside, or wild animals that roam near your property, that could be enough to attract them.
Mosquitoes need stagnant water to breed, so this is another factor that attracts them. If you have a pool or water fountains that haven’t been cleaned and running, they could become a breeding pool for mosquitoes. They can also become attracted to objects in the yard that have collected rainwater, or to gutters that haven’t been cleaned out.
What's The Best Way to Get Rid Of Mosquitoes?
Our specialty treatments at Tuxedo Mosquito Control are more reliable than any independent method. The MistAway Gen III+ is an automated, tankless system that periodically sends a mist to form a protective barrier around your property and eliminate any lingering mosquitoes. On top of that, we’ll continue to visit your residence for scheduled sprays or single applications. Call today for a free quote!