However, there is one season that proves unpleasant for residents and visitors - mosquito season. When you encounter the pesky buzzing noise, it will drive you crazy. Not only can this insect ruin your picnic with the threat of a bite, but it can also be very dangerous. Here is what Greensboro residents need to know about mosquitoes and all the ways you can protect yourself and your family members.
Mosquito Identification Tips
Mosquitoes are a tiny insect that only grows to about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch. They have brown, oval bodies with six long thin legs. They have one pair of scaled wings. They have a long needle-like mouthpiece called a proboscis. Females use this to puncture the skin and feed on blood. Males are not able to suck blood and feed off flower nectar instead. Mosquitoes have poor vision but are sensitive to odors and heat. When they bite, your reaction to their saliva results in itchy, red swelling.
Do not be fooled by these little nuisances; they are bad news for Greensboro residents. They have been described as one of the most dangerous animals on the planet because of the diseases they transmit to their bite victims. Mosquitoes in the United States carry the West Nile virus, yellow fever, malaria, Zika virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and heartworm which is serious for dogs. These are all transmitted through the mosquito’s bite.
Mosquito-borne diseases are becoming more common throughout the United States and are no laughing matter. Here in North Carolina, we can experience mosquito problems all year long because our temperatures stay above 50 degrees. Despite our prevalent mosquito problem, there are some ways we reduce their population in our Greensboro yards.
Factors That Attract Mosquitoes To Your Greensboro Properties
Females need standing water to lay their eggs. Though natural wet areas like ponds, marshes, or swamps are ideal breeding grounds, they only need 1/2 inch of water to successfully reproduce. Therefore, they can lay their eggs in puddles in our yard or pools left behind in playground equipment, wheelbarrows, buckets, or birdbaths. Though you may suffer a mosquito bite during colder months, these insects are most active during the spring and summer and tend to feed at dawn and dusk.
How To Reduce The Mosquito Problem On Your Greensboro Property
If you walk through a hardware store, you will see a myriad of products that claim to keep mosquitoes away. Though some repellants work better than others, none of them keep mosquitoes from breeding on your property. The tiki torches, candles, bug zappers may keep some of these pests away, but you really have not addressed the factors of why they are on your Greensboro property in the first place.
Here are some strategies that may help mitigate your mosquito problem:
- Removing standing water from your property.
- Clean up debris in your yard, especially elements that may collect water.
- Keep bushes, trees, and other potential resting areas trimmed back.
- Keep your grass cut short.
- Ensure rainwater is draining properly.
- Keep your gutters free of debris.
- Place covers on hot tubs and pools, and keep them clean.
- Ensure that all screens are intact.
- Aside from implementing strategies in your yard, there are also ways to reduce the
- chances of a mosquito bite when you're out and about:
- Wear light-colored clothing with long pants and sleeves.
- Avoid spending time outdoors during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
- Spray your clothing with a CDC-approved insect repellant that contains DEET or picaridin.
- Use natural repellents like citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, or peppermint.
Though you can spend a lot of time and money attempting to solve your mosquito problem on your own, the best way to reduce your mosquito population is with help from the professionals at Go-Forth Home Services.
Why Hire Go-Forth Home Services In The Greensboro Area?
Our team at Go-Forth Home Services has been fighting pests in North Carolina since 1959. When fighting a mosquito problem, we target adult and larval mosquitoes by treating breeding grounds and resting areas around your property using a backpack sprayer. Take back your yard by investing in professional mosquito control today. Reach out to us today to learn more about our mosquito control options.