When you think of dangerous insects, do mosquitoes come to mind? Most residents don't see mosquitoes in Atlanta as a threat. One reason for this is that mosquitoes and mosquito bites are common. Super common. We would be impressed if you live in Atlanta and have never had mosquito bites. Do you know the phrase, familiarity breeds contempt? The idea is that extensive knowledge of someone or something can lead to a loss of respect for them or it. You deal with mosquitoes all the time, you've never gotten sick from mosquito bites, so why should you worry about mosquitoes? While we don't want you to live in fear of mosquitoes, it is wise to have respect for them. Join us as we look at some not-so-fun facts about mosquitoes, diseases you can get from mosquitoes, and how mosquito control in Atlanta can protect you and rid your yard of mosquitoes.
Mosquito Means 'Little Fly'
A mosquito is ¼ to ⅜ of an inch in length. As its name implies, it is a little fly. We would probably ignore these little flies entirely if they didn't make that annoying buzzing sound, right? But one little mosquito buzzing in your bedroom at night is enough to get you out of bed to frantically search for that mosquito. You're not motivated to do this because you're afraid of mosquitoes or because you have respect for the danger they pose. You do it because you don't want to wake up with an itchy, inflamed bite. If you develop a respect for mosquitoes, you won't wait to get rid of mosquitoes indoors. You'll work to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard before they get into your home.
Mosquitoes Are Considered The Most Dangerous Insects
There are a lot of dangerous insects in the world. You would expect Africanized killer bees to be on this list, or maybe army ants, but why mosquitoes? Because mosquitoes transmit malaria and other deadly diseases which claim more than a million lives each year. Experts agree that mosquitoes are not only the most dangerous insects in the world; they're the most dangerous of all animals. Sorry sharks and lions, you don't stand a chance.
If mosquitoes are so dangerous, why don't Atlanta residents get sick from mosquito-borne diseases all the time? They actually do. It is not widely understood, but mosquito-related sickness is common. Here are a few facts that might surprise you:
- You can get sick from a mosquito bite and have no symptoms. We refer to this as being asymptomatic. When you are asymptomatic, you can carry a virus and spread a virus without experiencing harmful symptoms.
- You can get sick from a dangerous mosquito bite and have mild symptoms. People commonly get sick from mosquito viruses but mistake the symptoms for the common cold or influenza. If you get sick and have a headache, mosquitoes may be the cause. Several common mosquito-borne viruses in the United States are associated with encephalitis (aka swelling in the brain).
- The number of reported cases does not reflect the number of actual cases of disease transmission, as most people don't go to the hospital when they get sick from a mosquito-borne disease.
There is good news in the facts we presented. You may not have dangerous symptoms if you get a mosquito-borne disease—in fact, you may not have any symptoms at all. If you fear diseases carried by mosquitoes, this should be a comforting thought. Many factors determine how sick you'll get. Unfortunately, there is bad news as well. Mosquitoes may be impacting your health and your family's health, and you may not know it.
When you respect the danger mosquitoes present and take action, you don't just guard your family against general sickness, you also guard against dangerous encounters. When there is an outbreak of malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, Zika virus, or some other mosquito-borne disease not localized to the United States, you already have protection.
Fool-Proof Ways To Protect Yourself From Mosquito Bites
How are you currently protecting yourself from mosquitoes? Do you put on mosquito repellent? Do you use torches, candles, or some other repellent product? Do you have a bug zapper? None of these provide fool-proof protection and one will actually make your problem worse.
- Mosquito repellent is the number one solution for personal mosquito protection, but who wants to put bug spray on every time they go outside?
- Torches, candles, campfire smoke, mosquito-repellent plants, and other deterrents impact mosquitoes, but a determined female mosquito will push past stinky smells to get a blood meal. The survival of her species depends on it.
- Bug zappers are great but not great in the way you might think. Zappers attract mosquitoes because mosquitoes are attracted to light. Unfortunately, studies show that zappers are only effective at killing male mosquitoes. Male mosquitoes will be drawn to your property by zappers, but the females will come to mate with the males but will avoid the zappers. And females are the ones that bite.
Okay. So how do you protect yourself from mosquito bites? We hinted at it above. The secret is to rid your yard of mosquitoes. If there are no mosquitoes in your yard, you will not get mosquito bites. That makes sense, right? Here are a few tips to help reduce the population of mosquitoes around your home, along with why these tips work.
- Remove containers. A female mosquito only needs a half an inch of water to lay her eggs and she'll lay a hundred at a time. Any object that acts as a container for rainwater can provide a breeding location. One female mosquito will produce a swarm in a little over a week. Keep in mind that some containers are obvious, like a kid's sand bucket, a bowl, or a cup, while others aren't so obvious, like a tarp covering equipment or indents in stacked wood.
- Address puddles. A female mosquito will quickly use a puddle as a breeding site. Look for conditions that lead to puddles, such as a clogged gutter system, poor gradation, or ground holes. When you address these conditions, you limit mosquito reproduction.
- Reduce moisture. Mosquitoes dry out easily. They want to be where there is high humidity or damp conditions. It pays to take steps to reduce moisture in landscaping and underneath structures.
- Reduce vegetation and address weed problems. Mosquitoes eat nectar and plant sap. A yard filled with little flowers or unnecessary vegetation invites mosquito activity.
These steps may seem trivial, but it may surprise you to see how effectively they reduce mosquito populations. Give them a try. But remember that these are not the best way to keep mosquitoes out of your yard. You need to target adult mosquitoes and eliminate them. For this, we recommend professional assistance.
The Most Effective Mosquito Control For Your Home And Yard
Do you want your yard to be a no-fly zone? If so, you must take your mosquito control to the next level. At Tuxedo Mosquito Control, we offer a range of control options.
- Our monthly spray service provides your property with routine mosquito removal. We treat your yard as often as needed to ensure your protection stays active. The products we use are gentle on the environment and tough on mosquitoes.
- Our one-time service can help you prepare your backyard for an important occasion, such as an anniversary, graduation, or birthday party.
- We can treat standing water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
- For customers that want the most effective mosquito control possible, we offer the installation of mosquito misting systems. When you have a mosquito misting system, you can treat your yard anytime. Do you have a backyard party planned? Spray the day before. It's that simple.
There is no silver bullet for mosquito control. Effective mosquito control is less about the product used and more about the methods.
Our mosquito technicians evaluate your property and alert you to conditions attracting mosquitoes. They select appropriate products and apply them in key areas where they will get results. Most of all, they will apply them at an interval necessary to ensure ongoing protection. A common mistake with DIY mosquito control is that products lose their strength and leave residents at risk of mosquito bites. It pays to get professional mosquito control services or to have trained technicians install and maintain a mosquito misting system. When you do this, you get the results you want.
While mosquito control will improve your comfort and make your backyard a much nicer place to be, it also provides essential protection from mosquito-related illness. Life has enough twists and turns. Why allow mosquitoes to have you missing work, school, or worse? Reach out to Tuxedo Mosquito Control and request an evaluation to get started with your mosquito service. We'll guide you toward the right solution for your needs and budget. We back all of our reoccurring services with our Mosquito Guarantee. How does it work? If you continue to have problems on your Atlanta property, we retreat at no additional charge. So, what do you have to lose? Connect with us today.
What Tuxedo Mosquito Customers Are Saying
I would highly recommend Tuxedo Mosquito. Very professional organization. Installation was quick and service has been great. My wife, who seems to be a "mosquito magnet" spent the entire summer in our backyard without getting bit. Money well spent
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