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Bites, itching, and annoyance are the least of our concerns. Particularly in the summer months when you enjoy the outdoors, protect yourself from harmful pests. Mosquito control is one of the important ways to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your entire community in the spring and summer. Read on to learn why.
Disease Protection
While mosquito bites are certainly annoying, their real danger lies in their ability to transmit dangerous diseases. Around the world, mosquitos provide a vector for diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, Chikungunya,
and dengue fever. In the US, they can pose a risk of encephalitis as well as West Nile and Zika virus transmission. Mosquito control can help you avoid serious health complications from illnesses such as these.
Outdoor Enjoyment
Mosquito bites can take a lot of the fun out of outdoor activities, but the annoyance and itching can do much more than spoil summer fun. Mosquito activity can also reduce productivity when laboring outdoors, threaten wild animal populations, and even hinder property values. When you practice mosquito control on your property, you’re helping not only your family but your entire community get more enjoyment from local outdoor spaces.
Pet Health
Mosquito bites can also expose your pets to heartworms and other dangerous parasites as well as potentially severe allergic reactions and infections. Dogs, cats, horses, birds, rabbits, birds, and other domesticated animals can become seriously ill after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
The best way to avoid the discomfort of mosquito bites is to prevent them in the first place. Unfortunately, however, you can’t always avoid this itchy annoyance. If you happen to get one—or several— mosquito bites, here are a few ways to treat them.
Don’t Scratch
When a mosquito bites you, it injects some of its salivae into your skin. The saliva contains anticoagulants and proteins, which your body recognizes as foreign substances. As a result, your immune system releases histamine and sends white blood cells to the affected area. This process is what causes a mosquito bite to itch and swell. Even though mosquito bites can be incredibly itchy, it’s important to resist the urge to scratch them. Further irritating the skin will prolong the healing process and increase the risk of infection.
Apply Anti-Itch Cream
There are plenty of over-the-counter anti-itch creams that you can use to help lessen the effects of your reaction to the mosquito bites. The most effective products will contain corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone cream. You can also take an oral anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen to help reduce your reaction while your body heals itself.
Cool It Down
Use a cold compress or an ice pack to reduce topical inflammation around the bite. The cold temperature will also temporarily numb the skin and provide short-term relief from itching. When icing the mosquito bite, don’t apply the cold source directly to your skin. Use a paper towel or rag as a buffer, and monitor how long you use the ice. Prolonged exposure to the cold temperature can damage the skin or further irritate the area around the bite.
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Take an Antihistamine
To counteract the effects of your body’s reaction to the mosquito bite, you can also take an over-the-counter oral antihistamine. This will minimize your reaction to the bite and help reduce the itching and swelling. If your reaction to mosquito bites is severe, you may want to take a dose of an antihistamine before you enter an area where you’re likely to be exposed to mosquitoes.
Try a Home Remedy
There are many at-home remedies that can help you cope with your body’s reaction to a mosquito bite. Try any of the following as a topical treatment:
It’s that time of year again. Frequent flyers are out and about, and we’re not talking about your well-traveled neighbor. With summer just around the corner, you’re likely already noticing the increase in outdoor pest activity, including mosquitoes. Check out the answers to frequently asked questions about mosquitoes and prepare yourself for the busy—and buzzy—season ahead.
Can mosquitoes bite through clothes?
In many cases, yes, mosquitoes can bite through your clothes. Because mosquitoes are so small and use a tiny blood-sucking proboscis to extract their dinner, they’re often able to penetrate through the weave of textile clothing. This shouldn’t deter you from wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants where mosquitos are active, however, as these can inhibit the mosquitos and provide more time for you to swat or smack them away.
Why do mosquito bites itch?
When a female mosquito bites you, she simultaneously injects your skin with some of her own salivae. The saliva contains an anticoagulant that prevents your blood from clotting while she feeds. Your body’s immune system identifies this substance as a foreign invader and immediately goes to work. The itching and swelling often caused by a mosquito bite are a result of the histamine in your body sending white blood cells to combat the invading substance.
In terms of the bite itself, no, it isn’t dangerous to your health—only a nuisance. What’s problematic about mosquitoes is that they can carry a number of harmful diseases, such as the Zika and West Nile viruses and the parasite that causes malaria. When you are bitten by an infected mosquito, it deposits the pathogen directly into your bloodstream, which can then cause you to become extremely ill. Mosquito-related illnesses are relatively rare in North America compared to many other places in the world, but the most effective way to prevent the possibility of contracting a mosquito-transmitted disease is through effective pest control and the use of insect repellent.
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Will mosquitoes bite my pets?
Unfortunately, mosquitoes aren’t picky. They’re happy to feed on just about any mammal, including your dogs, cats, and livestock. Your furry friends are also susceptible to harmful diseases and infections transmitted by mosquitoes including heartworms and, in the case of horses, viruses that cause encephalitis. To protect your pets and other domesticated animals from mosquitoes, try to keep them inside during peak hours of exposure, such as summer nights and mornings.
While mosquitoes are primarily active during twilight hours, it’s possible for you to be bitten during the day. Some species of mosquitoes are actually more active during the day, and if you live in a heavily wooded or shady area, mosquitoes are more likely to be present and active regardless of the time. Be aware of your surroundings, and use insect repellent whenever you could be exposed.
How can I reduce the number of mosquitoes in my yard?
Mosquitoes nest and thrive in damp areas. Because of this, one of the best ways to reduce the mosquito population in your lawn is to reduce or remove all standing water. By doing so, you’ll eliminate the conditions that attract mosquitoes to your yard in the first place. You can also use insect repellent products throughout your property or have your home professionally treated by a local pest control company.
Don’t let mosquitoes inhibit your outdoor plans; trust the professionals at Springer! Our team of pest control professionals can assess your property, identify any problem spots, and treat the area for unwanted pests. With the help of Springer, you can enjoy your yard no matter what season it happens to be. Contact us to begin tackling your mosquito problem.
