Mosquito Identification & Prevention

Mosquitoes are easily recognized pests characterized by a thin waist, wings, six long legs, and elongated mouthparts that they use to feed on plant nectar and the blood of mammals. Only female mosquitoes are known to bite humans or animals to feed, as they require blood to develop their eggs properly.

And while many individuals may think that there are only one mosquito species, there are several types of mosquitoes buzzing around the United States today. Aedes and Culex mosquitoes are the most commonly encountered by humans and appear similar. The only difference between these species is the time of day when they are most active.

Though mosquitoes may be small, they are fairly dangerous to encounter. Mosquitoes spread illnesses as they bite humans, and the diseases carried by mosquitoes include serious ones like the Zika virus, West Nile virus, malaria, and yellow fever. The more mosquitoes you have invading your property, the higher your chances are of picking up an illness from these insects.

Mosquito bites may also trigger allergic reactions ranging from mild itchiness and swelling to anaphylaxis. If you experience difficulty breathing or swallowing after a mosquito bite or experience symptoms such as fever, nausea, and chills, seek immediate medical attention.

Mosquito problems typically occur on properties with lots of the factors these pests enjoy, such as plenty of standing water to lay their eggs in, moist or humid conditions, overgrown grass, and piles of debris. It’s important to remove these factors from your property if you want to deter mosquito infestations.

Mosquitoes are typically in the outdoor areas of your property. They tend to stay around moist, damp, and humid areas or near puddles of standing water where they lay their eggs. If they do get inside, mosquitoes will be found near windows and doors or looking for a human to bite.

If you want to get rid of mosquitoes, the best thing you can do is contact Southeast Termite & Pest Control for professional pest control assistance. Mosquitoes are prolific and difficult to get rid of, and DIY tactics are often less effective against these pests.

Contact our team today for a free estimate and assistance defeating mosquitoes.

The best way to keep mosquitoes away is by putting the prevention tactics below into place and making your property less hospitable to them.

• Clear areas of overgrown grass and piles of debris, as mosquitoes love to hide in these areas.
• Remove all puddles of standing water to stop mosquitoes from breeding around your property.
• Address moisture issues like leaks, drainage problems, and clogged gutters that lead to damp or humid conditions around all areas of your property, as these attract mosquitoes.
• Utilize larvicide or filters in water features like birdbaths to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in these spaces.
• Make sure you have sturdy window and door screens in place in addition to weatherstripping to ensure mosquitoes stay outside.
• Consider planting citronella or lemongrass around your property to ward off curious mosquitoes.

Contact Southeast Termite & Pest Control today for more mosquito prevention and removal advice or for pest control in Knoxville.