Some Basic Facts About Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes annoy us and they carry a lot of scary diseases, but how much do we really know about mosquitoes in house?
The first thing that you should know is that mosquitoes are not all the same. Since mosquitoes have been around for nearly 100 million years, they have had plenty of time to create nearly 3,000 different species.
Mosquitoes have been able to adapt to various climates, and they can now live through all kinds of conditions. If the history of mosquitoes has taught us anything, it is that these little annoyances can easily change from one year to the next.
Additionally, mosquitoes are notorious for carrying many different types of diseases. Within the United States, mosquitoes tend to only carry encephalitis, but they also infect household pets with heartworms, so keep your pets away from any outside area where mosquitoes are abundant.
You may also be interested to know that mosquitoes like to eat all kinds of different foods, juices, garbage, still waters, and even inside of trees.
Therefore, beware of any mosquitoes that may be attracted to pails of water, picnics, or overflowing garbage heaps.
The one advantage that we may have over the ever-irritating mosquito is that these little creatures cannot see very well. In fact, mosquitoes find their prey using a sort of heat sensor, and eyesight has nothing to do with any target.
Once a mosquito is approximately thirty feet away from you, you will suddenly come into sight, but not before that moment.
You can think of the mosquitoes as a sort of airborne bloodhound, and they will find you simply by sensing that you have exhaled.
When you exhale, you release c02 into the atmosphere, which means that mosquitoes will automatically be able to smell you. But don’t make the mistake of assuming that you will knock a mosquito off course with a bug zapper.
Interestingly, bug zappers do little, if nothing, to help a person ward off mosquitoes. In fact, bug zappers only kill the kinds of insects that eat mosquitoes, and these loud machines only provide heat and still water – in short, bug zappers create a sort of feeding ground for mosquitoes.
So, avoid using a bug zapper at all costs, and invest in a decent mosquito repellent instead.
Now that you know a bit more about mosquitoes, you are probably less likely to hang around fruit, garbage, or still water areas during the summertime.
However, it is important that you wear some sort of mosquito product as well. Mosquitoes are more than a nuisance, they are a threat to every human on the face of the earth, but at least you will be able to fight back with the knowledge that you have gained from reading this article.
Having a pest control company that you can rely on is something that’s important and as such, requires you to be well-informed. That said, only these professionals can help you eradicate mosquitoes.
The Dangers Of Mosquito Bites

While you probably know that mosquito bits are painful and itchy, and can potentially carry diseases, most people assume that such a small creature could never really harm anyone.
However, mosquitoes can be defined scientifically as “disease-carrying (and causing) creatures” that are extremely harmful to humans.
Mosquitoes rip and suck the blood of their human victims, but this is far from the scary part.
They carry various viruses and parasites that are passed on from person to person as mosquito attacks numerous people.
This means that if a mosquito has bitten someone with a virus or serious blood disease, the mosquito could leave traces of this infection upon another person’s skin. Of course, the real fear is that mosquitoes also have the ability to transmit a disease from one person directly into another person’s blood.
Usually, when the disease enters a person’s blood, this transference is fatal.
In addition to carrying human diseases from one person to another, mosquitoes also carry their own diseases. When a mosquito bites, it is literally injecting saliva and anti-coagulants into your blood.
A mosquitoes saliva usually contains some sort of parasite, which means that you are liable to catch rare diseases through a mosquito infection.
The only sure fire way to keep mosquitoes from an entire population is through treating an entire affected area.
Unfortunately, capturing and eliminating all mosquitoes within a certain area is relatively impossible, so it is best to protect yourself anyway that you can.
Throughout Africa, South America, Central America, Mexico, and various parts of Asia, mosquitoes have been responsible for nearly 70 million deaths – all of these deaths were caused through the transference of one diseased person to another through a mosquito bite.
If you think that mosquitoes will never affect North America, think again.
Although massive mosquito deaths usually occur in third world countries, Europe, the United States, and Japan have all met with large amounts of mosquito scares in the past.
Perhaps the most frightening thought of all is the fact that there are some diseases not yet discovered, which means that mosquitoes could, potentially, spread disease on a much large scale than has even been seen before.
What You Can Do To Prevent Mosquitoes
- Do you have a pond or other body of water that may be attracting mosquitoes? It may be worth your while to introduce fish, such as bass, bluegill, catfish, goldfish, guppies, and killifish, which are known to consume mosquito larvae.
- You can also add fish to rain barrels. Pay attention to your drainage systems. Are they working properly, or are they creating puddles of water that sit for days at a time?
- Adjust the system so that there is less standing water for mosquitoes to lay their eggs in, and keep your eaves troughs, and gutters clean.
- If you are going to be outside during the hot summer months when mosquitoes are most prevalent, you can control the population that becomes attracted to you, your family, and your friends by making sure you are using bug sprays or repellant lotions.
- You can also use candles or other methods that protect a small area.
Phoenix Pest Control Services: Preventing Residential Infestations

Hiring a home pest control service is a major step, but there are certain times when it becomes obvious their services are needed.
For instance, if you live in a wooden building and the presence of termites has been spotted. These social insects can cause irreparable damage to any wooden structure and if left cause huge devastation.
If you spot just one cockroach then there almost certainly be many more. They breed at an incredible rate and are quite difficult to get rid of without expert help. Cockroaches love warm places and kitchens fit the bill perfectly.
Mice are also prolific breeders and can quickly become a major nuisance. They can spread disease and can cause a lot of damage by chewing through cables and other household items.
Rats are pretty much in the same mold as mice and many of them become immune to over the shelf poisons.
Rodents pose a number of dangers — one of them is that they can easily damage your structure by boring holes that tend to weaken your building.
If your attic is insulated, they tend to gnaw at the insulation thus resulting in you spending more money on your electricity bills. Rodents can also cause attic fire. This is where they tend to bite at the wires.
Through the holes that they create, other animals and insects can find their way into your attic thus destroying your attic further.
Wasps can be another big problem in the summer months. They build nests in all sorts of places and will defend them very aggressively.
Being stung by just one is painful but being stung by a number of them can be very serious, so it is very important to use a professional service.
Flea infestations become a problem in some households and can also be difficult to get rid of by yourself.
The first thing to ask yourself when considering hiring a pest controller is, are my family in danger of harm? If you have small children running around then this becomes even more important.
Secondly, can you manage to eradicate this problem by yourself? With many of the pest mentioned above the situation can very quickly become out of control.
The Advantage Of Hiring Home Pest Control Service
These experts will understand the problem and have come across it many times before. They will know how to deal with the situation and be able to handle any toxic substances in a proper and safe manner because of training.
They will also know the time frame involved, this will help you prepare in advance if you have to leave the house for a few days or overnight to let any chemicals do their work and for the company to clean up and make sure it is safe for you and your family to return.
If you choose to hire a pest controller then do look for a reputable company with a good track record. Most established companies will happily talk you through the whole procedure and put your mind at ease.
Lawn Care To Avoid Mosquito Infestation

For people who have the privilege (for most) or curse (for some) of having a significantly large yard space, preventing lawn infestation from mosquitoes and other pests is very important and should be put as one of the regular requirements along household chores.
Generally, regular lawn management is categorized into the following tasks:
1. Cutting
Cutting requires pruning and trimming plants to their desired height. This applies to flowers, ornamental bushes and trees that line the yard.
Cutting not only maintains visual uniformity but it also allows new buds to grow keeping the growth cycle of the plants going under control. Cutting also includes mowing the grass that covers most of the lawn.
This keeps the grass under controlled height and constant mowing encourages the grass to grow sideways covering more area of the yard. Edging the grass and other hedge plants are also part of this task.
2. Cleaning
This task immediately follows after cutting. Fallen cut-offs and dead leaves from trees that litter the lawn since the last clean up should be swept and put in proper organic waste disposal bins always.
In some countries in Southeast Asia, people burn dead grasses and leaves in the afternoon as a form of organic waste disposal.
This practice is also used to drive away mosquitoes and other plant pests and parasites because of the smoke.
This task although a part of general lawn care varies from country to country depending upon culture and government established waste disposal systems.
3. Watering
Plants newly cut, trimmed or pruned suffer plant stress. Watering reduces such stress and of course could supply any plant with proper nutrients and minerals straight from moist soil.
Watering should be done through a sprayer or a hose with an adjustable head. The flow of water should be at the mist setting with the sprayer directed to the roots.
Too much volume of water could displace topsoil covering the base of the plant. Leaves and flowers should also be lightly sprayed to wash off accumulated dust and other dirt.
It is best to do watering between 5 am-8 am or 5 pm onward when the sun is not at its hottest. This way water retention especially in the root area is at its longest.
In addition, lawn care is always a responsibility of every homeowner not only to himself but also to the community and it should be complied with regularly.
There is no excuse for an unattended, garbage littered, clutters and overgrown plants all over any lawn. As the saying goes, “take a rake or take a hike.”
Mosquitoes thrive on anything that may harbor water. Experts suggest a thorough cleaning of areas where mosquitoes may lay their eggs and proliferate.
Also, the application of mosquito repellent to one’s skin is advised when going outdoors.
However, there are still times when mosquitoes would just suddenly show up when you are outdoors.
To maximize your family’s safety from mosquito-borne diseases, you might consider hiring a pest control company to take care of these things safely and effectively.
The Real Reason Why Mosquitoes Bite

We endure them every year. When the weather warms and outside activities get underway, we sometimes find them descending upon us like a plague. We’re talking about mosquitoes, of course, and the reasons why mosquitoes bite.
The nasty little bloodsuckers that, at times, can absolutely make life miserable. The perpetually pesky critters that can run roughshod over outdoor activities.
The tiny tyrants that can drive us from our own backyards as effectively as a pack of hounds treeing a raccoon.
But have you wondered why those needle-nosed tormentors just have to have your blood? For the mosquito’s offspring, that is.
You see, every mosquito that bites you is a mother-to-be. In fact, you’ve never been bitten by a male mosquito. Male mosquitoes are strictly vegetarian; they aren’t interested in your blood.
But all of the millions of female mosquitoes that have bitten you in your lifetime have needed your blood for a very good cause. From their perspective, anyway. Without blood, they cannot develop the eggs that will launch the next generation of mosquitoes.
Specifically, they need an amino acid (protein) that is present in the blood.
During her lifetime, each female mosquito will lay several batches of eggs. And for each new batch of eggs, the mosquito needs one good fill-up of blood.
But, for her own nutritional needs, she eats the same nectar and plant juices that the male mosquito eats. The female mosquito uses your blood only to nourish her eggs.
Why The Itch?
The female mosquito needs your blood to be able to give birth to her offspring.
But why does it have to itch? Why does the mosquito have to leave a welt that drives you nuts with the constant, incessant itching?
It’s simply a matter of pure practicality: when the female mosquito bites you, she’s not really biting. It’s more like sticking you with a hypodermic needle. And, when the mosquito sticks you, she’s taking a considerable risk.
That is because your most likely reaction when you feel the unauthorized injection is to slap and squash the mosquito flat.
But nature has endowed the mosquito with saliva that has a bit of an anesthetic effect. As the mosquito sticks you with her proboscis, she also pumps in some saliva, which helps – at least a little – to reduce the likelihood that you’ll feel what’s happening.
And it’s the reaction of your body to the mosquito’s saliva that causes the itching and the welt.
So now you know the truth about why mosquitoes are always making unauthorized withdrawals against your blood bank.
But knowing why they want your blood – knowing that it’s just a mother trying to provide for her young; knowing that it’s one of nature’s creatures simply trying to perpetuate the species; knowing that they aren’t mini-Draculas bent on evil – are you going to be a bit more understanding next time a mosquito alights upon your skin?
Remember, some mosquitoes are disease-carrying vectors, and it is never wise to have them around, especially with children.
Types Of Bees And Wasps Found In Many Homes

When you have bugs in your house, you often feel helpless. Whether you have roaches, spiders, ants or some types of bees and wasps, you often don’t know where they’re coming from and you really don’t know how to get rid of them.
Whenever you see a buzzing insect with a yellow and black body darting around your house or near a flower patch, you probably assume they are bees.
Some bees are almost identical to the naked eye, but on closer inspection, you may notice that the bugs are wasps (also called yellow jackets). The difference between types of bees can be a minute as the creatures flying patterns or the look of their abdomen.
Wasps are similar to honey bees, but they present a different set of challenges in trying to get rid of them. With a few facts, you will be able to accurately identify a European Honey Bee from their aggressive cousins, the Africanized Honey Bee.
The two types of wasps that are most commonly seen in San Diego and southwest Riverside counties are paper wasps and mud daubers.
Although they are generally not aggressive unless they are provoked or otherwise disturbed, These flying pests will build small nests made of mud on the sides of homes and other structures, which can be unsightly and messy to clean up and remove. Wasps also can swarm and inflict painful stings on people.
Wasps can appear similar to honeybees, but they have longer and more slender bodies. The easiest way to identify wasps is by seeing their nests on the bottom side of the eaves, soffits, and other unprotected areas of structures.
A wasp nest looks like a ball of mud tucked up underneath the eve. Mud daubers will attach mud nests to the sides of homes or inside wall voids while hornets may be found burrowing in soft soil.
When getting rid of a paper wasp nest, it is important to kill all of the adult wasps. Otherwise, the remaining wasps will quickly rebuild the nest and remain a problem.
Both species are capable of stinging multiple times and can emit a type of distress call if they feel the hive is endangered. When this happens it is likely that the entire hive will attack in unison and multiple stings can be dangerous to those even without allergies. For this reason alone, it is recommended that large infestations are best handled by a professional with the experience and resources to destroy the colony with limited risk.
Look for Quality Pro certification from the National Pest Management Association.
If a pest control company is QualityPro certified, this means they are one of the best professionals in the area and are committed to high-quality service and professionalism when it comes to bee and wasp removal in your home.
About Bees: Some Helpful Tips On Bee Sting

To avoid being bitten by a bee, listed below are some important information about bees:
Bees and their hives can be spotted almost anywhere in our environment including flower patches, brush, fields, trees, roof eaves, and under overhangs of structures.
In these areas, the bee can be in small numbers or have a whole army buzzing the scene. In either situation, it is good to know how to keep from pestering these insects so they will not pester you.
If a beehive is disturbed or provoked, a bee will protect it with its life. The statement is quite literal since a bee will die after releasing its stinger.
Victims of bee stings are often unaware of having an allergic reaction to the venom and consequently resulting in a lack of immediate attention to the affected area causing severe symptoms.
Below are some tips for avoiding bees and their stingers, but if happen to get stung, the article includes some guidelines and procedures to follow for treating a bee sting.
Avoid the Bees and Stingers
Bee stings can be very painful and some can cause severe health problems if allergic. Below is a list of way to prevent a bee sting:
- Always check for nests around your home, especially around warmer months (June, July, and August).
- Wear light color and clean clothing to avoid attraction from the bees. Sweat on clothes could cause the bug to be aggressive.
- Avoid consuming sugary foods and syrupy beverages while outside.
- Avoid strongly scented lotions, soaps, and deodorants. No perfumes or colognes.
- If your picnicking keep a good distance from trash receptacles and keep your tables, grills, and eating areas clean to prevent bees from flying near you.
- Remember that bees are generally not aggressive and only use their stinger out of self-defense: Do not bother them, they will not bother you. Do not swat at the bees, this will aggravate them.
- If attacked by bees try to run indoors or to an outdoor shaded area. Protect your face while running since this is the most likely place to be stung.
Treatment for a Sting
If you happen to be stung by a bee, follow the below procedures and guidelines to prevent the sting from worsening and to reduce and relieve any pain or swelling:
- Have someone monitor the victim for any allergic reactions.
- Wash the affected area with soap and water.
- Scrape the stinger out of the skin with a fingernail or flat edge. The stinger should never be taken out by tweezers since this will inject the venom into the body.
- Apply an ice bag wrapped in a towel or cloth to reduce swelling.
- Avoid scratching the sting so the chance of swelling and infection reduces.
Symptoms of Allergic Reactions to Insect Stings
- Hives and itching over the entire body
- Swelling of mouth or throat
- Shortness of breath, wheezing
- Nausea
If these signs are present, seek medical attention immediately.
Everything You Need To Know About The Black Widow Spider

Some Black Widow spider facts:
Equipped with a venomous bite that is estimated fifteen times more potent than the average rattlesnake; the Black Widow is hand down the most toxic creature found within the United States.
Studies reveal that less than one percent of bites end up being fatal, with resulting symptoms of difficulty breathing, muscle aches, and vomiting.
Make no mistake though, this has nothing to do with our immune systems fighting off the neurotoxins. Instead, it is because the Black Widow rarely injects high levels of venom for unexplained reasons.
This fact alone is the only reason the mortality rate remains low, and should never be forgotten when dealing with this species.
It is also interesting to note that only mature female Black Widows inject venom into their prey. They can easily be identified because of their shiny, solid black color and the trademark red hourglass-shaped mark on their abdomens.
Their bodies measure about a 1/2 inch in diameter with long, thin legs. Males are tan in color and also have lighter patterns, and their bodies tend to be much smaller with slightly longer legs.
Juvenile Black Widows of both sexes do not possess venom either, and they often have light pale colors until they reach maturity.
The Black Widow has a lifespan of less than one year but within that period can lay in excess of 750 eggs.
They hatch within a month, and another two to four months are required to reach full maturity. Although birthrates are high, many juveniles of this species consume one another before reaching maturity.
Black Widows live within unevenly spun webs that are among the strongest silk varieties found, but they are also commonly spotted hiding beneath rocks, leaves, or other natural debris.
Like other spiders, they feed on a wide variety of insects but prefer cockroaches, beetles, and other spiders, but are also perfectly content feasting on mice, moths, flies, crickets, and other small animals.
A typical attack would encompass a quick venomous strike that causes near-instant paralysis or death within their prey, and within minutes the toxin begins to break down the flesh into a liquefied form.
As this process takes place this arachnid engulfs its victim within sticky webbing and eventually sucks out the soft, edible interior.
This species prefers warm, damp environments so obvious hiding places inside the home would include within blankets or towels, underneath furniture, and anywhere else with possible insect traffic since they will also seek warmer environments to survive.
If you spot other species of spiders during the winter months inside your home it may be wise to leave them alone.
Many of them prey on Black Widows and will reduce their presence. Also, consider a close inspection of the exterior of your home and seal any small cracks or crevices before the winter months approach.
If even a small infestation is found it needs to be eliminated immediately and probably best left to a professional with experience in the matter. If bitten by one of these arachnids, it is urgent to seek medical attention immediately.
Citronella Candles To Keep Bugs Away

The most annoying thing is when you start to get bitten and have a bite that doesn’t seem to want to go away. You can avoid getting bitten by simply using citronella candles to keep bugs away.
Mosquitoes, bees, wasps, gnats, flies — each present their own hazards outdoors and can carry viruses and activate allergies in people.
These candles have been designed to release citronella fumes into the air while they burn. Bugs and mosquitoes do not like the smell and will subsequently leave you alone.
This is one of the reasons why citronella candles are suitable for outdoor settings.
Beautiful hot summer days are a joy, unfortunately when the night begins to fall the bugs and mosquitoes start appearing to come out to play.
This can result in some very itchy bites and unpleasant experiences while being outside. However, with it being summer you probably want to spend as much time outdoors as possible, so citronella candles are the way to be.
There are a number of different designs available for citronella candles. You no longer have to worry about having the same design as everyone else.
Instead, you can choose between sophisticated options. This is because citronella liquid is merely added to the candle wax during the production of the candle.
Which means you are not limited to the style of candle you can have in your garden. In some cases, only the liquid will be used. Instead of making a wax candle the liquid is poured into a bowl and a thick wick is added.
This wick will soak up the citronella so that when you light it, it will release the fumes. In order for you to truly enjoy a day out in the sun, you need to get your hands on these great candles.
They will not only help to keep the mosquitoes away at night but the flies away from your food during the day.
For general pest control, seek out environmental-friendly repellents that give adequate coverage to the complete area around your residence.
As mentioned, oil of citronella (citronella candles) has been proven to repel most airborne pests. Citronella is only one of the scents that you can find with candles. It is definitely the most practical as it smells nice and keeps bugs at bay.
Also, check with your local building supplier for permanent solutions like electronic eliminators and traps that attract and kill airborne pests without contaminants.
A final reminder: As a matter of additional safety, you should be aware of any allergies, have appropriate health measures at the ready in the event of an unwanted sting or bite from bugs.
If you have any doubts about controlling pests, consult a local expert for further assistance.
Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. A vigilant approach to pest control in your residence can add peace of mind to your summertime fun.
Natural Repellent Using Essential Oils For Ants And Other Insects

In Medieval times, Rosemary and Sage were strewn on the floors of hospitals to get rid of pests and probably to refresh the air with aromatic scents. In the days before insecticides and the use of essential oils for ants and other pests, hedges of different herbs surrounded vegetable gardens.
Simply planting marigolds and or garlic in and around your garden would keep many pests away.
Today, conscientious people do companion planting and make many of their own remedies for the household, for bug repellants, for cosmetics, etc.
Besides having knowledge of natural remedies, there are a few tips to be aware of. Be aware of the color of your clothes.
Light-colored clothes do not attract bugs to the same degree as bright colors. Also, leave the scents, perfumes, and hairspray at home. Find a non-scented deodorant to wear. Around your home use yellow light bulbs in outdoor places.
The following are remedies you can make yourself. Experiment with mixing them. Unlike drugs, more ingredients are better:
Head lice:
- Tea tree oil
- Lavender
- Eucalyptus
- Rose Geranium
Ticks:
Bug repellant essential oils can be used. These include:
- Rose Geranium
- Eucalyptus
- European Pennyroyal
- Neem oil
- Mexican vanilla diluted in water.
Fleas:
- Orange oil
- Cedar oil
Flies:
- Eucalyptus
- Pennyroyal
- Cedar
- Citronella
- Peppermint
Mosquito control:
- Get rid of any standing water near where you live, this is where mosquitoes breed.
- Wear light colored clothes.
- Plant Citronella in pots around your outdoor patios.
- Burn Citronella candles inside and outside.
- The herb Rosemary is one of the best bug repellants. Make oil using the leaves of the herb Rosemary blended in your favorite oil. The mosquitoes will hover but not bite and it smells good.
- Neem oil is another natural safe repellant but has a pretty strong odor.
- You can also try Pennyroyal, Thyme or Lavender.
Many of these can also be mixed for an additive effect. Some claim that splashing yourself with rubbing alcohol repels mosquitoes.
Natural garden insecticide:
1 Tbs. dishwashing soap and water in a spray bottle, or 12 finely chopped garlic cloves in 4 ounces mineral oil.
Let soak for 2 days, strain, add a few drops of dishwashing soap, ½ cup water and spray on your plants.
Companion planting:
Be willing to experiment with these suggestions as sometimes there are other factors that might enhance or deter from the overall effect.
Companion planting is age-old and can be read about back to the middle ages. Some plants will benefit others and some won’t.
One reason for companion planting is to draw or attract beneficial insects like:
- Ground beetles
- Ladybug larva
- Lacewing larva
- Parasitoid wasps
- Hoover or robber flies
These bugs feed on aphids, caterpillars, grubs, and leafhoppers.
Many herbs are used as companion plants to deter pesky insects, Most commonly used are:
- Angelica
- Borage
- Catmint
- Chamomile
- Clovers
- Coriander
- Dill
- Fennel
- Hyssop
- Lavender
- Mint
- Oregano
- Queen Anne’s lace
- Rosemary
- Rue
- Sage
- Santolina
- Tansy
- Thyme
- Yarrow
Some experimenting is usually required to learn which plants to pair as companions. One very important consideration is to plant diverse crops in the same location over time.