Mosquitoes are undoubtedly one of the most annoying pests you’ll deal with as a Bay Area resident. You’ve likely had to deal with mosquitoes multiple times in your life, and their presence never gets any less frustrating. While you are probably aware of the itchy bites that mosquitoes leave behind after sucking your blood, and also that mosquitoes can carry disease, you might not realize the full extent of the illnesses they can cause.
Of course, not all mosquitoes will spread pathogens, but they are considered the most dangerous animal in the world because of the sickness and death they cause each year. Mosquito-borne illnesses include the Zika virus, malaria, West Nile virus, and encephalitis. While some areas of the world are more affected than the United States, mosquitoes in the U.S. can and do transmit disease.
It may be easy to identify a mosquito while it's biting you, but it can be hard to tell them apart from some stinging insects unless you know what to look for.
Here is a list of how to identify mosquitoes:
- They can have various markings but are usually grayish.
- Their wings are translucent.
- They have long appendages called a proboscis protruding from their mouths, but only the females use this to suck blood.
- They have six long, thin, and dangling legs.
Factors That Attract Mosquitoes To People
Getting bitten by a mosquito puts your health at risk, and those itchy bites can be insufferable. While no one wants to suffer a mosquito bite, some people seem to attract mosquitoes more than others. It’s not always possible to completely keep mosquitoes from biting you, but there are some things that mosquitoes are known to find appealing. You can try to avoid being bitten by seeing if any of the following attractants apply to you:
- Mosquitoes are attracted to dark-colored clothing as it makes it easier for them to see you.
- They are more likely to bite pregnant people.
- If you’ve just worked out, they can be attracted to the smell of sweat as well as your increased levels of carbon dioxide emissions.
- People with type O blood seem to be more appealing to them than other blood types.
- Mosquitoes can also be drawn in by the smells of cologne or perfumes.
Factors That Attract Mosquitoes To Your Yard
Along with ways you could personally be attracting mosquitoes, some factors around your yard make them more likely to come around. Mosquitoes need certain conditions to be able to reproduce and thrive, so if your yard provides a stable place for them to lay eggs, you’re more likely to have an infestation.
Here are some of the things that attract mosquitoes to your property:
- Since they need standing water to lay their eggs, any standing water is a big attractant. Some standing water is impossible to control, but you can mitigate your population by dumping out tarps, buckets, playground equipment, and other areas that collect water after a rainfall.
- Hot tubs, pools, and fountains that are untreated or left open can also draw them onto your property.
- Excessive foliage attracts mosquitoes as they will hide out in shrubs and bushes during the day.
Effective Mosquito Control From The Experts
Because of the annoyance factor of mosquitoes, you likely can't stand having them around your property. But, mosquitoes are also important to control because of the dangers they pose to you and your family. If you’re dealing with mosquitoes, the experts at Bay Pest Solution are here to help. Our mosquito control treatments are highly effective and can greatly reduce the number of mosquitoes around your property. Give us a call today to get started and schedule your free inspection.