Ah yes, it’s a beautiful summer morning. The birds are singing, the early sun has risen, and the coffee is brewing. You make your wonderful cup of Joe and step outside to embrace the fresh air. A couple of minutes go by and BOOM, you receive a bite from a mosquito. It was only a matter of time, but what do we know about these little suckers?
Mosquitos can bring more through its bite than just a little, itchy welt. In fact, these little guys carry and spread deadly diseases, such as the Chikungunya virus, West Nile virus, and the Zika Virus, on a daily basis. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, at least 500 people contracted the virus this year from Mosquitos, 140 people this week alone.
Although it may seem these creatures bite you randomly, it is actually the carbon dioxide you release that attract them. After they find their target(you), your body heat is how they figure out where to bite. If you’re over-heated, your blood will be closer to the surface, most commonly after exercise. Areas where blood is close to the surface, include your forehead, wrists, neck, and elbow. As crazy as it may seem, what you wear also affects how likely you are to attract a mosquito as well. Since mosquitos are visual hunters, if you wear black or dark colors, you have a higher visibility to these insects against the horizon. Movement is another factor in becoming targeted, so if you’re a hiker or jogger, bug-repellent is highly recommended.
Secondary attractants to mosquitos include natural chemicals, aside from carbon dioxide, released when breathing. One being Estrogen, could be a reason woman are more prone to being bitten than men, and lactic acid as well. Another reason exercise can attract more mosquitos as higher levels of lactic acid is produced while being active.
With all this information, the question still remains, how can we get rid of these suckers? A great start would be removing any standing water around you. Mosquitos have a four-stage life cycle; egg, larvae, pupa, and adult. The first three stages occur in water, so without still water mosquitos can’t reproduce. After biting you, they search for water to lay their eggs, even as little as a bottle cap of water. Trimming the vegetation around your lawn is a strategic mosquito repellent as well.
Aside from blood, mosquitos may feed on plant nectar, which explains why they enjoy prowling around trees and shrubs. You may also want to consider natural mosquito-repellent plants, such as the citronella plant. Insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 are your best bet. You may also use some oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol products for protection.
Mosquitos are commonly out and about during dusk and dawn, so perhaps avoiding outdoor activities during those times may help. Last but not least, fans can break up carbon dioxide and confuse mosquitos. Also since mosquitos are weak flyers, the breeze will cause them to be unable to land.
We hope this information was helpful and if you wish to learn about our effective mosquito treatment, call us today at (972)291-8216 or (817)293-LAWN! Have a bite-free summer!