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.

Zika Virus In Atlanta, Georgia

The state of Georgia has declared a state of emergency, and health officials here in Georgia have confirmed the first case of Zika virus in our state. So, what does that mean for you? Here are a list of common questions the website www.everydayhealth.com has received from the public.

How is Zika coming into the United States? If you look at a map of the Zika virus hitting states like Georgia and Tennessee, you will quickly see that they are separated. This means that the Zika virus has not yet started to spread county to county. It is currently coming into the United States by infected individuals who have traveled from other countries where Zika is present.

Can I catch Zika virus in Atlanta? This is a complicated question. Right now according to this article from www.everydayhealth.com, your chances of getting Zika virus are extremely low. But, when temperatures warm up and more rainstorms come, there may be a much higher risk. So what can you do to reduce your chances of contracting Zika when the rains do come? Here are a few mosquito prevention tips you can implement around your property:

  • Cut back trees and shrubs around your yard
  • Eliminate areas of standing, stagnant water, which are mosquito breeding grounds
  • Fix leaky AC units and outdoor plumbing
  • Change water frequently in bird baths

How does Zika spread in Georgia? Zika is known to spread by mosquito and suspected to also be transmitted sexually. When mosquito season arrives, more precautions will need to be taken to prevent the spread of this virus. Personal precautions include:

  • Schedule outdoor events during the middle of the day, avoiding dawn and dusk, which is when mosquitoes are most active
  • Use an insect repellent containing DEET when spending time outdoors
  • If possible, weather permitting, wear long sleeves and pants

Do I have to worry about Zika virus in Georgia? We are currently in the “wait and see” stage. As more Zika infected people enter the country and we head into mosquito season here in Georgia, we’ll have to watch and see if the mosquitoes here in our state begin to spread the disease locally. This will be most evident when we see cases of infection moving from county to county. But, here in Atlanta, where many travelers fly in from all over the world, it is best to take greater precautions to protect against mosquitoes this year, no matter what, especially if you’re pregnant.

The most effective way to prevent county to county spread of any mosquito-borne virus is through professional mosquito management efforts. If you need mosquito control for your home or business, reach out to us. Together, we can reduce the impact of this potentially dangerous virus.

Tennessee Mosquito Dangers

Mosquitoes are one of the most dangerous pests to which we are exposed. The danger isn’t in the fact that these pesky stinging insects can ruin an outdoor party. It isn’t because they can drive you crazy during the night as they buzz around your head while you try to sleep. Although both of those instances are very irritating, the real danger with mosquitoes is their ability to transmit diseases.

There are many diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. While some of these diseases are governed by geographic location, the more common risks include malaria, dengue, West Nile virus, yellow fever, chikungunya, and encephalitis.

Two of the more recent viruses that have become prevalent in some locations are La Crosse encephalitis (LACV) and chikungunya. The symptoms of La Crosse encephalitis are very similar to that of meningitis. The LACV virus seems to be quite hard on younger children under 15 years of age. The difficulty of early diagnosis makes treatment more difficult to administer on a timely basis.

Chikungunya is a virus that people are usually exposed to while out of the country enjoying a tropical vacation. While it is rarely ever fatal, patients will experience severe pain similar to an extreme case of arthritis. Even with proper diagnosis and treatment, the effects of the virus may linger for 6 months or more.

The male mosquito is not capable of biting and feeds on nectar. The female mosquito, however, needs blood in addition to nectar. She must feed on the blood of humans and animals in order to secure the protein and iron needed to develop her eggs. It is through this process of stinging and sucking blood that they enable dangerous diseases and viruses to be transmitted.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely eradicate one’s property of mosquito infestation. They will travel many miles if necessary in search of the much-needed blood meal. However, there are a few precautions you can take to reduce the population of mosquitoes on your property and thus, reduce the risk of a mosquito borne disease.

  • Mosquitoes need a supply of shallow water for eggs and larvae to develop. Remove any items from your deck and yard that will hold even the smallest amount of water, keeping the mosquitoes from reproducing.
  • Clean dead leaves and other debris out of your gutters and downspouts. These clog up the drain, hold water, and create a great source of water and food for those growing mosquito larvae.
  • Keep weeds pulled and the grass cut short. The tall vegetation is a great place for mosquitoes to gather.

Don’t hesitate to contact Active Pest Control any time you feel there is an unusually high population of mosquitoes on your property. Our mosquito abatement programs will greatly reduce and limit the number of mosquitoes that you will have to deal with.

 

West Nile Virus in Knox County

West Nile virus is something that needs to be addressed, and addressed, and addressed! You see, mosquitoes are not, unfortunately, going to disappear overnight. And unless you want to move to Greenland or the Arctic’s, then mosquitoes are a fact of life anywhere and anytime that the weather is warm. What’s sad is that there are many people who still, no matter how many times they hear it, don’t take mosquito control and prevention seriously.

Mosquitoes and the illnesses that they carry are so serious, in fact, that health departments and agencies are monitoring areas here in Tennessee, as well as all over our nation for the presence of illnesses, such as West Nile virus. The lab results at the end of September 2015, confirmed the presence of West Nile virus (WNV) in three areas of Knox County, Tennessee. Following a protocol set forth by the United States Center for Disease Control, the Knox County health Department sprayed the affected areas to reduce the mosquito population and the risk of the WNV spreading to humans.

The Center Disease Control (CDC), publishes and puts forth these following general protective measures for limiting mosquito exposure:

  • Avoid areas with outbreaks. The CDC has a Travelers’ Health website that provides updates on regional disease transmission patterns and outbreaks.
  • Be aware if peak exposure times and places. Peak mosquito time of the day is the cooler twilight periods of the day (dawn and dusk). Try to be extra prepared for these times. Avoiding the outdoors or taking appropriate preventative actions, like wearing insect repellent, can help to reduce the risk of being bite. Avoid all tall grass, woodlands or other highly vegetative and wet areas.
  • Wear appropriate clothing. Cover as much skin as possible. Wear light colored, long sleeved shirts, boots, long pants, and hats. Tuck your shirts and socks into your pants to keep mosquitoes and other biting insects off your body. For extra added protection clothing and camping gear can be treated with Permethrin. Treating with Permethrin repels and kills ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes, and other biting insects.

For more information about mosquito prevention advice from the CDC visit their website here.

Keeping the mosquito population at a minimum in your yard can be achieved by following a few preventative steps and utilizing our residential pest control plan, The Active Pest Control Complete plan. This plan will not only gives you all the year-round solutions for common household pests, but it also includes the monitoring and control of rodents, installation of the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System™ with Always Active Pest Control Technology termite bait, and the application of seasonal mosquito reduction services (April – October). These few easy steps can also help keep mosquitoes away:

  • Allow nothing to collect water- no tires, buckets, toys or flower pots because mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water.
  • Keep gutters and all water shedding systems working properly to move water quickly away from your home and property.
  • At least once a week empty all standing water from landscaping and bird baths.
  • Fill in low areas on your property to keep mud puddles at a minimum.

Mosquitoes and WNV are a concern that everyone needs to take seriously. It’s time that you called the professionals here at Active Pest Control and seriously get a handle on the mosquito situation in your yard and on your property.

West Nile Virus Confirmed In Avondale

It has been a well-known fact for quite some time that mosquitoes are carriers of the sometimes deadly West Nile virus. Most people that contact this virus from the bite of an infected mosquito never show symptoms, while others may exhibit fairly mild symptoms like headache, sore muscles and joints, and a rash. But for others who show more severe signs, including neurological symptoms, 10% will die. At Active Pest Control, we aren’t telling you these facts to scare you, but rather to inform you so that you can take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your family.

An important update, as reported by CBS news about the West Nile virus, is that it has been detected in mosquitoes living around Lake Avondale, Georgia; and unfortunately in August of this year a person tested positive for the virus. This person is the first documented human case of the virus in Georgia. This fact should make everyone stop, think, and realize that this isn’t just an abstract news story, that you really are at risk of being infected with the West Nile virus.

When it comes to the West Nile virus and mosquitoes there is both good news and bad news. The bad news is that there is currently no medication or vaccine on the market to prevent the virus from being contracted. The good news is that there are medications available to help relieve the symptoms- especially if caught early enough. Also, there are several things you can do to help lower the risk of mosquitoes biting you; and, in turn, you contracting the virus.

Mosquito prevention tips from the experts at Active Pest Control include:

  • When spending time outdoors make sure to use an insect repellent. Insect repellents that contain DEET are most effective at deterring mosquitoes.
  • Wear loose-fitting, light colored clothing. Limit your skin exposure by wearing long sleeves and long pants.
  • Reduce areas of standing water around your home; mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Make sure that gutters are unclogged, store wheel barrow, buckets, and other containers that can collect water upside down, fix low lying areas on your property, and empty and re-fill water bowls for your pets on a daily basis.
  • Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn, during the heat of the day they tend to hide in overgrown grasses and other areas. Limit activity during their active periods to reduce your risk of being bitten.
  • Limit the amount of flowering plants that you have on your property, keep them from becoming overgrown. Mosquitoes also feed on the sweet nectar of flowering plants.
  • To protect you and your family from becoming a mosquitoes’ midnight snack, make sure that in-tact screens are placed in windows and doors; and that any spaces found around windows and doors are caulked shut.

Along with taking the above precautions, implementing a mosquito control program, like the one offered at Active Pest Control, can help to greatly reduce the number of mosquitoes calling your property their home. At Active Pest Control, our comprehensive mosquito management programs includes an inspection of your property and effective mosquito treatments that reduce mosquito breeding and resting areas on your property!

For more information about mosquitoes, the West Nile virus, and how Active Pest Control can help contact us today!

 

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.