When you think about mosquitoes in Phoenix, you probably don’t think about extreme danger. Your thoughts probably wander to sporting events, fishing trips, picnics, or backyard barbecues that get ruined because of these frustrating flyers. You might even think about preventative measures on your property sometimes, just to get rid of the frustration. However, if you knew how dangerous a mosquito bite could be, you’d probably take your prevention efforts a bit more seriously.
Mosquito Habitats And Hazards
Phoenix homeowners have to deal with annoying mosquitoes and their itchy bites, just like the rest of the world. While typical mosquito habitats include ponds, lakes, and marshes (since water is their ideal breeding ground), they can still be found all over Phoenix. You see, mosquitoes can breed in just a half-inch of standing water, which makes them likely to inhabit almost anywhere, including multiple spots around your property.
While their ability to create colonies in almost any condition is alarming, it is not nearly as troubling as the health risks that mosquito bites can pose. Mosquitoes can carry all sorts of diseases because of their feeding habits. Unfortunately, if whatever they have previously fed on had a disease, they can transmit this disease to their next bite victim.
That’s why mosquitoes are responsible for transferring illnesses such as malaria, West Nile virus, encephalitis, dengue fever, and many more, leading to over one million deaths worldwide each year. Now, citizens in the U.S. are typically not at risk of a fatal mosquito bite because of our excellent medical care; however, there are still many cases of West Nile Virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, and dengue fever in the United States each year.
Prevention Strategies
The first thing you should know about avoiding these dangerous diseases is how to make sure mosquitoes are not attracted to you. Mosquitoes can be picky, so they typically go after the following types of victims:
- People wearing dark-colored clothing
- Pregnant women
- People with Type O blood
- Anyone using heavily scented colognes, perfumes, or shampoos
Mosquitoes are very light and weak flyers, so a fan can typically keep your outdoor dining spaces mosquito-free during your meal. Also, mosquitoes are mostly active at dawn and dusk, so you’ll want to avoid doing outside activities during these times.
Now, these tips can be helpful, but having to avoid activities at dawn and dusk in your yard just seems un-American. So, what can you do to keep them off of your property altogether? In order to decrease their attraction to your yard, you can start by eliminating any standing water; including dumping out items like:
- Flowerpots
- Birdbaths
- Wheelbarrows
- Pool covers
- Kiddie pools
- Other lawn decorations
You’ll want to monitor these items for standing water after rainstorms, as they will not drain on their own. Once mosquitoes breed in your yard, they’ll keep coming back to aid their larvae in the growth process. That’s why dumping the water out is sometimes not enough. The best way to break their breeding cycle and actually enjoy a mosquito-free backyard for good is to treat areas of standing water with mosquito deterrents.
Many homeowners think that they can do this themselves; however, they either don’t use the right deterrents or don’t treat every area on the property, allowing mosquitoes to continue their breeding cycle. That’s why there’s only one guaranteed method of getting mosquitoes off of your property for good. Contact the mosquito experts at White Knight Pest Control for results you can count on.