Summer nights are all about bonfires, barbecues, and citronella candles. But it takes more than that to avoid the tiny whine in your ear and early mornings waking up to itchy welts. Read on to learn more about these pesky bugs and what we can do to help you keep your yard barbecue-ready all summer long.
Identification
The mosquito is a small, brown winged insect that is best-known for its long, sharp proboscis (nose) that it uses to pierce the skin to draw blood. There are over 3500 species of mosquito worldwide and over 175 species in the United States.
Mosquito season in Georgia
Mosquitos are the worst, the absolute worst! However, they are an unfortunate reality for residents of Decatur, Tucker, Lilburn, Brookhaven, Dunwoody, and surrounding areas — really, it’s just the reality of living in the south at all. Here’s why you need to call us right now to get mosquitoes off your property as soon as possible.
Many species of mosquito in Georgia will start to emerge from hibernation in early March when the days get warm. They will begin breeding almost immediately and continue until you start getting nights of 40 degrees or below.
How, When, and Why They Become a Nuisance Pest
Mosquitoes are a pest for a number of reasons, including:
- The fact that they bite day and night, leaving large itchy welts from the anti-clotting compounds in their saliva.
- Mosquitoes can spread a number of different diseases. In the Southern US, West Nile virus is one of the most common.
- Mosquitoes are extremely fertile and can lay eggs every three days for the rest of their life after a single breeding season.
Atlanta, Georgia Mosquito extermination & Mosquito Pest Control
Feeding Habits
- Female mosquitoes are the only ones who need a blood meal; they use a protein in the blood to make eggs.
- They use a number of things to find a target. This includes seeking body heat and carbon dioxide.
- Some species of mosquito will eat both day and night, while others will only come out at night. Even the daytime mosquitoes stick to the shade.
- Mosquitoes will drink blood from any warm-blooded mammal; they will drink from as many creatures it takes until they are full and have enough to lay more eggs.
Habitat
Mosquitoes need two things to live in an area; access to fresh water and shade or the cover of darkness. Mosquito eggs are laid in fresh, still water where they develop into mosquito larvae. The larvae are small and wormlike; they will go through a few molts before they go into a cocoon and emerge as the mosquito we love to hate. It takes very little water to sustain a mosquito larva- a little bit in a puddle, tire, kiddie pond or birdbath is enough to be a sustainable source for your mosquito problem.
Atlanta Mosquito Control
In addition to using screens on your home and natural or chemical repellants, mosquitoes can be controlled with monthly treatments. Talk to us today to discuss the different treatment options and what is best for your home. We can even offer some tips to reduce your mosquito risk.
