How Dangerous Are Mosquitoes In West Chester?
August 21, 2021
Warm weather undoubtedly brings more West Chester residents outdoors to soak up the sunshine during visits to community parks and pools and catch up with friends during weekend barbecues. But amidst all these fun, seasonal occasions, you’ll notice other uninvited guests in tow: those pesky, bothersome mosquitoes. Although mosquitoes are small in size, with slender bodies roughly measuring between three and six millimeters, they are considered one of the most precarious insects on the planet due to their ability to spread harmful diseases. Here’s some information on the hazards of mosquitoes and ways to reduce risk factors that attract mosquitoes.
Risks Of Mosquito Bites
Contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes don’t feed on blood but on flower nectar. When they do bite humans or animals, blood is being used as a source of protein to feed their eggs, which is why female mosquitoes are the only ones that bite.
As part of this process, mosquitoes penetrate the skin with a needle-like proboscis and inject their own saliva into the host, which then mixes with the host’s blood. Mosquito’s saliva may contain disease-causing agents, which they can acquire from feeding on an infected source. If so, it will then transmit to the host. Because mosquitoes can fly, they can spread disease more quickly from person to person, animal to animal, animal to person, and vice versus.
Some mosquito bites are harmless, aside from some slight irritation, but some aren’t. Among the diseases spread by mosquitoes are the Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, yellow fever, dengue, and malaria, some of which are life-threatening and can yield severe discomfort. Mosquito bites themselves can also become infected.
Who Is At Risk?
No one is immune from being bitten by mosquitoes, though it is true that mosquitoes prefer some more than others. Mosquitoes prefer those who have been drinking alcohol, beer specifically, though it is unknown why. They also prefer people with type O blood and pregnant women, which increases the risk faced by those who apply to these groups. Others may simply have a natural body odor that is more appealing to mosquitoes for whichever reason, making these people more attractive to mosquitoes than others.
Four Ways To Reduce Mosquitoes Around On Your West Chester Property
Here are some suggestions about how to lower your risk of attracting mosquitoes to you or your West Chester home:
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Wear light-colored clothing. For unknown reasons, mosquitoes tend to gravitate to people dressed in dark-colored clothing. Opt for lighter-colored clothing options, especially when spending time outdoors.
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Rid your property of standing water. Standing water not only provides mosquitoes with a drinking source but it offers them a place to breed and lay their eggs. Mosquitoes don’t need a birdbath or a flowerpot filled with water to do this either. They need only an amount as small as a bottle cap, so it’s important to remain vigilant.
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Avoid spending time outdoors when mosquito count is high. Mosquitoes are most active in the early morning or early evening hours when the temperature is cooler and there’s far less direct sunlight. Move dinner plans indoors to err on the safe side, especially if you live in or nearby wooded areas.
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Consider the use of natural repellents. There are certain scents mosquitoes despise, and luckily they’re plenty available in the form of essential oils, scents, deodorizers, and fragrances. Some of these scents include cedarwood, citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint.
Contact the professionals at Masters Touch Pest Solutions for more advice and assistance, and we’ll remove the “buzzing” for good with our mosquito control service. We also offer home pest control for the other pest you come across.
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