Wilmington Residents' Complete Guide To Effective Mosquito Control
5/15/2022
Mosquitoes in Wilmington have been a menace to mankind for as long as we've been on this planet. These prolific pests have plagued humans with everything from the diseases spread by mosquitoes to the nuisance they can cause at a family picnic. There are thousands of species of mosquitoes, and almost as many ways to control them have been developed over the years.
The sure-fire way to the safest and most effective mosquito prevention is to contact your local Wilmington pest control company. Jay Taylor Exterminating has more than 80 years of experience in providing top-quality pest control in the Wilmington area. We have highly trained professionals ready to tackle your mosquito issues.
Why Do We Need Mosquitoes?
As you’re swatting away at mosquitoes that are biting you, thinking about the purpose of mosquitoes in this world isn’t exactly what comes to mind, but they are an important part of the earth’s ecosystem. Mosquitoes are pollinators just like bees and butterflies. The sweet nectar of flowers is their main source of food. In fact, that’s all that male mosquitoes feed on. Only female mosquitoes seek out warm-blooded mammals for their meals.
Mosquitoes are a vital link in the food chain of the animal kingdom. Adult mosquitoes, along with their larvae, are a common food source for birds, bats, turtles, and other forms of wildlife. Some might think that hummingbirds only drink from those feeders hanging in your backyard or from the flowers in your garden. But many hummingbirds rely heavily on small insects like mosquitoes as their source of protein.
A Brief History Of Mosquito Control
Mosquitoes predate humans by millions of years and have been a nuisance and a danger to humans for our entire existence. There have been countless means of controlling the mosquito population, from natural ways to get rid of mosquitoes to chemicals and pesticides, and now the trend is back to eco-friendly measures.
- Native Americans were known to have used plants that keep mosquitoes away as their main deterrent. Plants like lemongrass and rosemary secrete natural oils that tend to act as repellents.
- In the late 1800s, a farmer learned that introducing kerosene into water troughs killed mosquitoes and their larvae, and it soon was a popular method used across the country.
- The Swiss discovered the mosquito-killing pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, commonly known as DDT, in 1939. It became widely used in the United States until the 1960s when its detrimental effects on plants and animals became apparent.
- Repellent sprays and bug zappers then became a popular means of protection from mosquitoes while outdoors.
Now we have gone full circle and are trending back to safer and environmentally friendly ways to get the job done. Planting mosquito repelling plants, as indigenous people did, and removing standing water from yards are just two popular ways to naturally control mosquitoes.
Why Do Mosquitoes Need Blood To Live?
Mosquitoes need blood to reproduce. Female mosquitoes require blood to fertilize their eggs. Most mosquitoes continuously breed, so the female will search for a meal from a host every few days to lay each batch of eggs. She isn’t too picky about whose blood is on her next menu, but there have been studies that show O negative blood and mosquitoes tend to be a favorite match.
The Key To Quality Mosquito Control
There are a whole host of different ways to control mosquitoes in and around your home. Some use home remedies for mosquitoes. There are even machines and phone apps that allegedly produce a certain ultrasound noise that repels mosquitoes. However, studies widely vary on their actual effectiveness.
The best way to assure yourself of the best mosquito control is to call your local Wilmington pest control company. Jay Taylor Exterminating has the experience and knowledge to implement the best mosquito control plan for you. Give us a call and we’d be happy to discuss the best treatment and control solutions to meet your needs.