Mosquito Swarms In March

Do you remember that nice warm patch of weather we had in March? During that time, we had sightings of mosquitoes and swarms in our area. Fortunately, we had another cold snap and those swarms disappeared. But they are an indication of what is to come.

The mild winter we just had did little to reduce mosquitoes here in Georgia, and we are looking at a bumper crop this spring. So, it is even more important to take precautions when it comes to preventing mosquito bites this year. With the threat of Zika and West Nile on the mind of our Georgia Department of Health, it should also be on our minds as well. While it is uncertain where, when, or if, an outbreak will happen, it never hurts to take precautions.

Personal Protection

There are some things you can do personally to protect yourself from mosquito bites. These require a little thought and some effort to put into practice.

  • Mosquito repellent is the number one way to prevent bites. The most effective repellents are the ones that have 100% DEET. If you don’t prefer to put chemicals on your skin, consider putting it on your clothing, or use a repellent with oil of lemon eucalyptus.
  • Wear long sleeves and pants if you’re able. This will give those mosquitoes less real estate to attack. But, be aware that mosquitoes can bite through some materials.
  • If you are very concerned about mosquito bites or need to go into a marshy area where there is an abundance of mosquitoes, consider wearing clothing that has netting.
  • Avoid going out in the morning or evening when mosquitoes are most active.
  • Avoid being outside while consuming alcohol. Studies have shown a correlation between alcohol consumption and attractiveness to mosquitoes.
  • Be aware that an increase in body heat, sweat, and CO2 production will make you more attractive to mosquitoes.

Property Protection

  • Get rid of the zapper. Studies have shown that bug zappers are great at drawing bugs in, but do very little to kill female (biting) mosquitoes.
  • Make sure all your screens are in good working order.
  • If you’ll be out on the deck or near the pool, consider using a fan to create a breeze. This can deter mosquitoes.
  • Reduce vegetation in your yard that collects water on their leaves, and address any areas of standing water in your yard.
  • Get mosquito service from a professional. The Aedes mosquitoes, which are the primary vectors for mosquito-borne diseases, do not generally travel more than 500 meters in their entire life. That means the mosquitoes that bite you on your property came from your property, or somewhere near your property. Mosquito service kills adult mosquitoes hiding on your property and eggs that are hidden in your yard. It also addresses areas that are ideal for mosquito breeding.

If you are in our Georgia service area, and you need assistance protecting your property from mosquitoes, Active Pest Control can help. When mosquitoes and mosquito eggs are all gone, it’s Active Pest Control.

Mosquito Season Has Arrived In Macon

Who doesn’t love warm weather? Okay, so we know not everyone’s a fan but it’s such a great time of year. There is one downside though, it means mosquito season has arrived. These pesky bugs are relentless in Macon once the warm weather hits and unfortunately multiply quickly. What’s worse, you really can’t prevent mosquitoes from venturing onto your property.

Mosquitoes are considered one of the most dangerous animals in the world because of the diseases they spread. Here in Georgia, we don’t really have to worry about Malaria like in other countries but West Nile virus is a concern when you find yourself covered in mosquito bites. Click here to learn more about the West Nile virus.

Though you cannot stop mosquitoes flying in, you can reduce the mosquito population and the threat to your health. Standing water is ground zero for mosquito breeding. Even just the tiniest bit of water will allow females to lay their eggs. You can go on the offense this summer by eliminating potential breeding sites. This means removing or fixing any area that allows water to accumulate or become stagnant. Drainage ditches, clogged gutters, wading pools, bird baths, and even old tires hanging around are all potential sites that need to be attended to.

To keep mosquitoes out of your home, you should make sure all windows and doors are kept closed. Don’t forget to check your screens, they should be free of rips and tears.

You should also protect yourself from mosquito bites. Wear long sleeved shirts and pants if you’re spending time outside. We know that this just seems wrong when it’s t-shirt, shorts and flip-flop season but it will help you avoid itchy bites. You might also use a bug spray that contains DEET on your clothes to repel these bugs.

One last tip… Call Active Pest Control to protect your family from mosquitoes this mosquito season. Our mosquito control program is your greatest defense against mosquitoes and includes a thorough inspection and treatment for adult mosquitoes as well as breeding sites. Contact us today to learn more about mosquitoes and how we can help you make the most of your summer.

Mosquito Bites: How To Avoid Them

It’s that all about that buzz, about that buzz. This sound is all too common an occurrence. You know what I mean. You and your family head outside for some fun in the sun when you suddenly remember why people screen in their porches. Mosquitoes. Even if they didn’t, bite, I think that they would still drive us nuts with the noise and the hovering around. Annoying and dangerous, these stealth and persistent pest are #1 on the list of things that you want to avoid when you are outside.

Although it is all but impossible to completely rid yourself of these wearisome insects, there are a few things that you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones from being their victims as much. Here are some of the more popular ways that you can do just that.

Remove all standing water in and around your property. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. They are not picky about whether it’s a naturally occurring vessel of water or not. The amount of time from egg to actual mosquito varies per variety of mosquito as well as with the temperature, but some have as short as a 4 day period and others as long as 2-3 weeks. This is why it is very important to keep the amount of standing water to an absolute minimum. They will lay eggs in such familiar places as:

  • Buckets of any shape or style
  • Children’s toys
  • Lawn furniture
  • Mud puddles
  • Bird baths
  • Landscaping ponds
  • Kiddie pools
  • Drainage ditches

Keep grass, trees and shrubbery trimmed nice and short. By keeping up with the standing water you have less eggs being laid on your property and you will certainly have less mosquitoes around to be hiding in the long grass and over grown vegetation and trees. These shady and cool areas are where they like to hide during the hot and sunny part of the day. Being the least active during the hottest part of the day, this is where they lie in wait for you or their next meal to come to them. As soon as the sun starts to go down in the sky, out the come. Morning, and twilight are the times when they are most active. If they have less bunkers to hide out in, then you will have less mosquitoes around in their active times.

Wear protective clothing and or insect repellant. Covering up as much of your skin as possible lessens the area that they can bite. Use insect repellant every time you go outside. The most effective repellant will have DEET as the active ingredient. Follow all product directions carefully. DEET is a chemical and there are certain steps to take to using it correctly and safely. We recommend speaking with your doctor if you have questions about choosing or applying repellant.

Mosquitoes and mosquito borne diseases cause more human suffering than any other organism. They are a universal problem. Here are some of the diseases that they can carry:

And, believe it or not there are more. Protecting yourself and your family from these disease carrying pests is very important. The best way to know that you are doing all you can do is to have a mosquito abatement program in place during mosquito season. Here at Active Pest Control we take this task seriously. Just because mosquitoes are a common pest, doesn’t mean that they aren’t dangerous. If you have had enough with dealing with the buzz of mosquitoes than its time bring out the best tool for the job, contact us here at Active Pest Control.

 

What If We Worked Together To Rid The World Of Mosquitoes?

I’m fairly confident that no one likes to be bitten by mosquitoes. That goes without saying. But there are far worse reasons to hate those little blood suckers than an irritating sting. Mosquitoes spread disease as they feed. If it sticks its needle into a disease-carrying animal and then pokes it into your neck, it can transfer that disease to you. They are known to spread Malaria, chikungunya, dog heartworm, dengue, yellow fever, eastern equine encephalitis, human encephalitis, and other viruses.

What can anyone do about mosquitoes?

It may seem like a battle that can’t be won, but this is not entirely true. You may not be able to keep all mosquitoes off your property, but you can reduce populations and make your yard resistant to breeding.

There is no shortage of mosquitoes in the South, but you can reduce their impact on you. Modern pest management companies like Active Pest Control have treatments that kill mosquito eggs on lawns, shrubs and other greenery. This treatment kills mosquitoes on contact and bonds to foliage so eggs cannot be left in your yard to hatch when it rains. Shortly after this solution is applied, your family and pets are free to enjoy the yard–with a whole lot fewer mosquitoes to worry about.

Complete mosquito protection requires more than just a lawn treatment.

A professional like Active Pest Control will also help you get rid of wet areas where water collects, clutter in your yard that holds water, and obstructions in your gutter system that give mosquitoes a place to breed.

Can you imagine a world with a lot fewer mosquitoes?

A typical female mosquito will not fly more than 1.5 miles for a blood meal. If enough people in your neighborhood were to get their yards protected, your mosquito population would be zero. We’re a ways from that, but you’ll notice a difference even if you only worry about your own lawn.

Reduce the mosquitoes on your property, and protect your family from mosquito-spread disease. If we all do our part, we can keep our neighborhoods mosquito free. Spread the word.

Mosquitoes be Gone!

Mosquito prevention tips:

  • Clean out gutters and make sure water actually flows through them. Mosquitoes love stagnant water.
  • Clearing out foliage or debris? Don’t let it sit for a long time.
  • Empty all standing water around your house and yard. Birdbaths, wheelbarrows and plant pots can be prime breeding habitats.
  • Keep shrubs around your house trimmed.
  • Removing a tree stump? Fill in the hole with dirt afterwards.
  • Get your neighbors on board with eliminating mosquitoes by sharing these tips.

Want even more peace of mind? Try Active Pest Control’ mosquito reduction plan. Our knowledgeable pest control professionals will inspect your yard, identify problem areas and then implement a plan.

From treating gutters with larvacides to spraying underneath the leaves of shrubs and trees, Active Pest Control‘ mosquito reduction plan helps you enjoy a virtually mosquito-free year. And if the pesky bugs come back, so do we. It’s guaranteed! Give us a call today at 770.339.4500 to schedule an appointment.