Dealing With Mosquitoes? Tips To Control Them and Why It Is Important To Do So
Dealing with a lot of mosquitoes around your home can be frustrating. It is no fun walking around with itchy bites on your arms and legs. Fortunately, there are things you can do to control these pesky insects. This is important as you can get sick from them if you have mosquitoes in your yard that are infected with certain diseases. Below is more information about this so you and your family will stay safe.
Control Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes only need a small amount of water to lay their eggs, and they can lay up to 500 eggs at one time. To reduce breeding grounds, remove items in your yard that can catch water. These may include an old bucket, soda cans, and even some decorative items like fountains or birdbaths. If adult mosquitoes cannot find water, they will move on to another house.
Keep your gutters free from debris as water will build up on leaves or anything else sitting in the gutters. Put a cover on your trash cans outside so rain water does not get in them. Check the drip pan on your HVAC unit as you may find water there also.
Check all outside faucets for any leaks. You need to repair them if they are leaking as this could be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Diseases Mosquitoes Can Cause
Most mosquitoes that bite you will only cause a red, itchy bump. There are some mosquitoes, however, that carry diseases. Two of these diseases are these:
West Nile Virus
The West Nile virus is carried by birds. When mosquitoes feed on infected birds, the mosquitoes become infected with the virus. When an infected mosquito feeds on a person, the person can then get the virus. Once the West Nile virus gets into your bloodstream, it goes directly to your brain. This can lead to encephalitis, which could be mild or severe.
This virus can cause a person to die or have neurological damage that is generally permanent.
Malaria
If a mosquito bites someone that is infected with malaria and then this same mosquito bites another person, the parasite is spread to that person. Once it reaches the liver, the parasite grows and multiplies. Over time, the infection gets into an infected person's blood stream causing more sickness.
Symptoms of malaria include sweating, fevers, headaches, and chills. Infected people feel much like they have the flu. In severe cases, malaria can cause kidney disease and death. This is especially true if for those who do not go to the doctor when they notice these symptoms.
The best thing for you to do about mosquito issues is to call an exterminator to take care of the mosquitoes for you. The extermination company can also tell you of other ways to control these insects.
For more information contact companies like Carroll Exterminating Company.