According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “mosquitoes … sometimes pose a serious risk to public health.” Aside from making summer days at the pool miserable and camping trips intolerable, mosquitoes carry numerous diseases. The Center for Disease Control blames mosquitoes for transmission of Dengue Fever, Malaria, Viral Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, and more. From bird to bird, from birds to horses, from birds and horses to humans, and from humans to humans, mosquitoes transmit sometimes deadly diseases.
Most mosquito-borne illnesses are similar to a case of the flu. Headaches, fever, nausea, vomiting, and pains in the joints and bones are common from some mosquito bites. Additionally, some of the symptoms of West Nile Virus (WNV) include fever, headache, muscular pain, and rash. It is recommended that you seek medical attention immediately if you suspect that you have contracted a vector-transmitted disease or illness.
The EPA states that mosquitoes are very annoying to people, and many recreation areas are not usable during the summertime. Mosquitoes undergo a fast complete metamorphosis. Eggs are laid, either singly or in bunches, on a water surface or in places where they will become wet when flooding occurs such as tall grass and grown vegetation. Then, larva and pupa stay wet until the adult mosquitoes hatch out, which only takes two or three days. Areas where no activity was observed could be infested in just a few days.
According to the CDC’s web site “Mosquito control in the United States has evolved from reliance on insecticide application for control of adult mosquitoes (adulticide) to … pest management programs that include surveillance, source reduction, larvicide,…” and adulticide.
After assisting many customers with different type of insect problems, experience has shown me some tips that can be helpful in reducing mosquito infestations. Around homes and business one should avoid tall grass, overgrown vegetation, rain pools, floodwater, roadside puddles, animal boroughs, or practically any temporary body of fresh water. Below are some specific tips that can help homeowners to control mosquito populations on their own using green methods.
For mild infestations, make sure that gutters on the property are not sagging and are clean so that water flows with no stagnation. Additionally, discard any cans, buckets and other containers that are sitting outside, make sure that trash cans are not holding any rain water, that canoes and boats have proper drainage, that areas where water do not easily flow are filled with sand to prevent puddles and swampy areas, repair all leaky faucets and hoses, & make sure pool coverings and other coverings are installed in a way that allows rain water to flow into grassy areas easily. Pet watering pans should be cleaned before each feeding, burning pits & barrels need to be drained at all times, storm and all other drains should be unobstructed and operating properly at all times, and tree holes should not hold fresh water at any time. Also, don’t leave tires & other items that can collect water lying around.
The control of mosquitoes is a combined effort between the government, the private sector, and property owners. Massive infestations are handled by the government due to their impact on public health, while other infestations are handled by private companies and homeowners. Home improvement stores sell mosquito control devices that may be useful in controlling very light infestations in areas where vegetation, bodies of water, or water puddles are scarce. If the infested area is surrounded by vegetation and/or standing water, professional services are the suggested option.
As professionals tackle mosquito infestations, they have the knowledge to find & identify nesting areas and conditions that are conducive to mosquito infestations. In addition to being able to find these critical areas, professionals have the required equipment to deliver necessary products needed on and under vegetation, in water puddles, & in fish ponds (if needed). In addition, many pest control professionals are able to offer advice on harborage reduction through vegetation trimming or modification, landscape maintenance, and even flower pot relocation.
Mosquitoes can be not only annoying, but can pose serious health risks. The green methods of reducing breeding sites can be extremely helpful to homeowners in controlling mosquito populations. Many exterminating companies offer customized mosquito programs to assist you with mosquito problems so that you & your family can enjoy the outdoors all summer without the hassle!
For more information:
Forsyth Exterminating
770-889-0954
1107 Atlanta Highway
Cumming, GA 30040
www.forsythexterminating.com
Photography by:
Karen Nickel Photography
