Is your yard a breeding ground for mosquitoes? It very well could be. The question is, what makes a property attractive to mosquitoes? Is there something you are doing to draw these pests in or does your yard have a naturally occurring quality that makes mosquitoes more likely to invade? Here is everything you need to know about these blood-feeding pests and how to keep them off your Turks & Caicos yard.
Do All Mosquitoes Need Blood?
All mosquitoes need blood but only females have the mouthparts needed to draw it from beneath the skin of humans and animals. Males do not possess the same mouthparts and instead live off a diet of honeydew, nectar, and other sweet things. The only time males need blood is before they hatch. During gestation, mosquito larvae, still inside their eggs, need blood as nutrients. This blood is provided to them by females.
Are Mosquitoes Dangerous?
A mosquito is only dangerous if it is contaminated with a blood-borne disease. Female mosquitoes pick up blood-borne diseases from infected humans and animals. In third-world countries, this is a huge problem. In fact, third world countries make up the majority of mosquito-related deaths each year, making these pests the most dangerous creatures on the planet. What percent of the million mosquito-caused deaths happen here in Turks & Caicos? A very, very small percent. Due to our easy access to medicine and treatments, mosquito-spread diseases are much less common in our area. This does not, however, mean you cannot get sick from a mosquito bite.
Why Mosquitoes Come Onto Properties
The first reason mosquitoes come onto properties is fairly obvious. You live there. As long as you and your family go outside regularly, female mosquitoes will want to be around to steal your blood. The question is, does your property also give mosquitoes places to lay their eggs. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs inside sources of stagnant water. If your yard has things like ornate pools, birdbaths, and collected rainwater, these pests will have everything they need to breed.
How To Make Yourself Less Attractive To Mosquitoes
There are several factors that make a person more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes. In order to reduce your chances of being attacked by one of these annoying pests, use these exclusion tips.
Apply insect repellant to your body before going out into mosquito-dense areas such as marshlands, swampland, and other moist topography.
Avoid wearing dark-colored clothing as this makes you more visible to hungry mosquitoes.
When exercising or working out outdoors, do your best to keep moving as your sweat, body heat, and breath are all magnets for hungry mosquitoes.
Do not go outside during dawn or dusk as this is when mosquitoes are most active.
The Solution To Mosquitoes
Never wearing dark clothing and applying sticky bug spray to your body before going outside is no way to live. If you are looking for a cleaner and less fashion-limiting way to keep mosquitoes off your property, consider the benefits of professional pest control services. At Parkway Pest Solutions, we make mosquito control easy for our customers. By treating mosquitoes at their source and creating an invisible defensive zone around your yard, we ensure these pests stay off your property. We also offer single-service options for outdoor venues or gatherings.
Call us today and find your absolute best solution to the mosquitoes around your Turks & Caicos property.