Everyone loves a beautiful Texas summer. While it may get a little warm at times, there’s nothing like enjoying the outdoors on the weekends or a relaxing family vacation. Lewisville residents are well aware of all the fun activities that come with a Texas summer. But it’s not all fun and games. If everything is really bigger in Texas, that includes the mosquito problem as well. That’s why Lewisville residents are also all too familiar with these ultimate outdoor party-crashers.
They’re everywhere you want to go. Hiking a trail, laying out on the beach, or enjoying an outdoor lunch downtown, mosquitoes are buzzing around and leaving you with itchy welts. What an annoying feature of Lewisville summers. Mosquitoes in Texas can be so bad that they take over summer activities and make people want to stay indoors. And the worst part is: mosquitoes are more than just annoying. They’re actually one of the most dangerous animals on the planet.
Mosquito Attractants
While you may not be able to control your blood type, a few things you can do to deter mosquito bites include:
- Reduce the areas of standing water around your property. Things like flower pots and outdoor fire pits, when full of water, can be a breeding ground for mosquito colonies.
- Limit the use of heavily scented shampoos and body lotions.
- Avoid any sort of outdoor activities during dawn and dusk as these are peak mosquito hours.
- Wear lightly colored clothing and long sleeves as much as possible.
Furthermore, mosquitoes are most active in areas where the ground is or has been wet during parts of the year. This includes forests, beaches, marshes, or areas with thicker soil and tall grass. Most mosquitoes use puddles or very moist soil for egg-laying.
If you can stick with this advice and stay away from these areas, you have a better chance to avoid mosquito bites and health risks. However, mosquitoes will be a threat no matter what, and who wants to allow some pest to dictate where they will enjoy the summer?
Health Concerns
Mosquitoes have earned this infamous title because of their ability to pass on deadly diseases to their victims. When they feed on the blood of animals and humans, they can transfer diseases from anything they’ve fed on in the past. They carry diseases from all over the world: including malaria, West Nile virus, yellow fever, and even strands of encephalitis that can lead to paralysis or death.
While everyone is at risk to get bitten or incur a disease, mosquitoes do have a few types of victims they prefer. Pregnant women, with nutrient-rich blood, are a favorite of mosquitoes, along with anyone with blood Type O. They also prefer to attack victims with dark clothing as it reminds these pests of livestock (one of their favorite meals). Fortunately, though, there are some ways to mitigate the risk of getting bitten.
Take Back Your Summer
If you’re tired of mosquito activity on your property every summer, there’s a better solution than simply staying indoors at dawn and dusk or changing your shampoo. The professionals at Texas Star Pest & Termite are just one phone call away. Their professional pest technicians can come out whenever it’s convenient for you to check out what areas of your property may be attracting mosquito colonies. They can also provide consulting services on protecting yourself from mosquito bites when you adventure off your property as well. If you’re tired of letting mosquitoes rule your summer and ruin your backyard fun, enlist professional pest services for proven results.