Mosquito Season: It's Not Over Until The First Freeze

If you spend any time outdoors, you have probably had a run-in or two with mosquitoes. In fact, those annoying pests may be a reason why you aren't spending as much time as you would like outside this summer. Since mosquitoes seem to be synonymous with summer you may be thinking that mosquito season is almost over and you will soon be able to spend as much time as you want outside. Unfortunately, this is not so. Mosquitoes are not just a summer pest in Nashville and all over the rest of the country; they are active throughout the fall and will remain a threat until the first freeze hits, usually at the end of October.

Mosquitoes are a small insect that are related to flies and gnats. Adult mosquitoes range in size from 3-9mm and have a single pair of wings. They have a slender body, distinctive long legs and a long piercing mouthpart. Both the females and males feed on the nectar of plants as their main food source. Females, however, require an additional food source and that source is the blood from people and animals. Females pierce the skin of their victims in order to feed on their blood to get the protein they need to make their eggs. In fact, the female mosquito will travel up to 20 miles in order to find a blood meal!

Mosquitoes are most active during the early morning and late evening hours. They are drawn to and found in the highest concentrations in areas with standing water; females use the standing water to lay their eggs on. This doesn’t just mean a pond or another large area of water. These pests will lay their eggs anywhere there is a thin layer of water and that includes places like wheelbarrows, empty soda cans, clogged gutters, birdbaths or empty pet bowls. Mosquitoes are also attracted to properties with alot of flowers and flowering landscape since the nectar from those plants acts as their main food source.

Mosquitoes and their painful itchy bites are not only annoying but are considered to be dangerous because of the serious diseases that they carry and transmit to people. Diseases that they can infect people with include the West Nile Virus, malaria, yellow fever, and dengue fever.

Since the mosquitoes has the ability to travel great distances it can be very difficult to completely prevent them from invading your property. Luckily, there are some things that you as a homeowner can do to make your home and yard less desirable to them and to help prevent yourself from being bitten. Some easy mosquito prevention tips from the experts at All-American Pest Control include:

• Reducing the amount of flowering plants and landscaping that are planted on your property.

• Keeping your lawn cut short; mosquitoes will hide out in long grass during the day.

• Eliminating areas of standing water around your home.

• When spending time outdoors dress in long pants, long sleeves, and shoes with socks to help prevent mosquito bites.

• Wear light colors. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colored clothing. Try not to wear any perfume or heavily scented lotion when outside; this will also draw mosquitoes to you.

• Use a bug repellant spray.

• Choose when you will be spending time outside wisely. Mosquitoes are very active at dawn and dusk so if possible stay inside during those times.

• Get help from a professional pest control expert. A professional will be able to inspect your property and provide you with services to reduce their numbers.

Start preventing against these pesky, dangerous pests today and enjoy the rest of your summer and fall with a lot less of those itchy, unsightly mosquito bites!