Elizabeth City, North Carolina, is a quaint waterfront community where folks can take advantage of beautiful strolls down sparkling waterways. Still, if you're more of a land lover, plenty of woodlands are nearby for hiking or leisurely walks. Additionally, beach lovers are a short drive away from the sand and surf of the famous Outer Banks. No matter what kind of outdoor activity you enjoy, mosquitoes are sure to make an appearance. When mosquito populations on properties are thick, outdoor activities can quickly prove miserable without Elizabeth City Pest Control.
Understanding The Mosquito Life Cycle: A Key To Effective Control
Learning how to control mosquitoes around properties effectively comes down to knowledge of their life cycle. Surprisingly, these masters of the air are dependent on water for reproduction. The first stage of a mosquito's life begins as an egg that can get deposited near the edges of lakes, ponds, or in any depression or container where water stays relatively calm and holds at least 1/2 inch of water. Eggs typically look like white, oval-shaped balls. After a short time, eggs will enter the next stage of their life – the larva stage.
Baby mosquitoes resemble little worms (wrigglers) during the larva stage. During this stage of life, these babies eat continuously and molt multiple times until they're ready to move on to the next stage of their life – the pupa stage (tumblers). This stage focuses on finishing a mosquito's growth; it will develop its legs and wings, eventually emerging from its protective casing as a fully formed adult. Generally, the whole process from egg to adult can take up to two weeks. Breeding mosquitoes don't need much moisture to set up a birthing facility on local properties. If your yard seems thick with mosquitoes, it might be time to contact a pest professional like Albemarle Pest Control for an inspection. Our pest management professionals can quickly identify mosquito hotspots and recommend effective remediation measures.
Mosquito Dangers: Understanding The Risks Of An Infestation
Mosquito encounters are never a pleasant experience. Females on the prowl for human blood supplies need protein from our blood to reproduce. Since females can siphon blood from animals or humans, they often become carriers of diseases they get when they feed on infected hosts. When a female plunges her tube-like mouthpart into people's skin to suck their blood, their infected saliva often drips down that tube into their victim.
A list of diseases spread by mosquitoes in the United States includes the following:
- West Nile virus
- Eastern equine encephalitis
- Dengue fever
- Chikungunya
- Tularemia
Sometimes people traveling outside the country can acquire other well-known diseases from mosquitoes, such as malaria, Zika virus, and yellow fever. Still, these are not common mosquito-borne diseases in the United States. While it is true that not every bite a person gets from a mosquito will cause sickness, an increase in mosquito encounters around your property increases your chances of exposure. Property owners who use professional mosquito control services in Elizabeth City from Albemarle Pest Control can help eliminate mosquito infestations and reduce the possibility of contracting a mosquito-borne illness.
Mosquito Prevention: Eco-Friendly And Effective Tips
Unfortunately for Elizabeth City residents, abundant water sources in and around town are a massive attraction for breeding mosquitoes. Residents who are proactive in reducing mosquito populations can make considerable strides in mosquito prevention using simple and effective eco-friendly tips.
Six ways to keep mosquitoes away from your Elizabeth City home include:
- Get rid of items in yards that can hold water (flower pots, tires, toys, cans).
- Clean gutters yearly, ensuring they're not clogged.
- Turn over things like kiddie pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
- Ensure ornamental and recreational items like bird baths, water gardens, and pools stay clean and chlorinated.
- Fix landscaping to stop puddles of standing water.
- Trim excess vegetation around yards and fill holes in trees.
Mosquitoes in Elizabeth City get naturally drawn to areas with plenty of water sources, which means even the best preventative measures might not stop them. If you're experiencing problems with mosquitoes, and your efforts just aren't cutting it, it's time to call in the mosquito experts at Albemarle Pest Control; we've got the treatments you need to thwart pesky mosquitoes.
Professional Mosquito Control: Create A Mosquito Barrier For Your Yard
To create an effective barrier between your yard and invading mosquitoes, property owners can take advantage of professional mosquito control solutions from Albemarle Pest Control. Our three generations of family members have been servicing the Elizabeth City area for over 15 years. Our excellent customer service and fast response times can ensure your mosquito control and pest issues get resolved professionally, effectively, and quickly. Call us today to begin your hassle-free service checkout and learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Elizabeth City.