Residents of Austin, Texas get to enjoy beautiful weather practically year-round. The Texas sun can make this state feel like an eternal summer. However, if there’s one pest that can ruin that eternal summer, it’s mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes are a Texan’s worst nightmare, ruining fun summer nights and causing itchy bites that last for over a week. You might think that mosquitoes are just a nuisance, but in truth, they’re much worse. Here’s what Austin residents need to know about mosquitoes and how to control them.
Mosquito Identification Tips
Mosquitoes are a relatively distinct insect, due to their peculiar shape. These pests have long, oval-shaped bodies that grow to around ¼ of an inch. They have one pair of wings, and on top of their head is a nose-like structure called a proboscis, which the mosquito uses for feeding. Most mosquitoes are either caught feeding on your blood or else they are seen mid-flight.
Mosquitoes are most often black and white, though they tend to move too fast to see their colors. What you are much more likely to see are their proboscis and their long, dangling legs. A mosquito’s legs often grow longer than the length of their body, giving them a gangly appearance while making them appear much larger than they actually are.
These oddly shaped pests might just look like a nuisance, but don’t be fooled: mosquitoes are bad news for Austin residents. These pests have been described as one of the most dangerous animals on the planet, not because mosquitoes themselves are dangerous, but because these insects host some seriously dangerous diseases. Infections such as West Nile virus, dengue fever, yellow fever, and Zika virus can be transmitted through their bites.
Mosquito-borne diseases are no joke, and they’re becoming more common throughout the United States, including in Texas where thanks to the climate mosquitoes can live year-round. You want to avoid bites from these pests as much as possible, not only because their bites are itchy and annoying, but also because they could be dangerous.
Mosquito Prevention Tips
There are a lot of products on the market to help curb mosquito populations. However, many of these products don’t work, simply because they don’t keep mosquitoes from breeding on your lawn. Products such as tiki torches, citronella candles, and bug zappers might discourage or kill a few mosquitoes here and there, but unfortunately, these pests will still bite you and your family members, since you haven’t addressed the factors making them nest in your yard.
For more effective prevention of mosquito populations, try to address what makes your home so attractive to them.
Clear standing water around the house. Mosquitoes need this water to lay their eggs and reproduce.
Cut down foliage, including shrubs and tall grasses. These are common nesting sites for mosquitoes.
Regularly clean your gutters, otherwise, they will quickly become mosquito breeding and nesting sites.
Additionally, installing a porch screen can section off a portion of your yard from mosquitoes. This won’t fix the issues attracting mosquitoes, but it will ensure you receive fewer mosquito bites.
Our Professional Mosquito Control
Unfortunately, mosquitoes in Texas are pervasive and persistent. Sometimes, a DIY prevention plan isn’t enough to keep them away. If mosquitoes continue to bite, it’s time to call in the pest control experts at Roberts Termite & Pest Control.
On top of the DIY methods listed above, we keep mosquitoes away using state-of-the-art fogging machines and vegetation treatments that kill both mosquitoes and their larvae. This eliminates mosquitoes in all stages of life and also discourages them from returning. We provide regular follow-ups on this service to keep your family bite-free, allowing you to take your Texas home back from mosquitoes.
If these pernicious pests continue to bite you and your family, don’t let the risk of serious illness continue. Contact us today, and we’ll keep your household safe from mosquitoes year-round.