How To Protect Yourself From Wilmington's Dangerous Mosquitoes

As the leaves drop and the familiar chill of winter approaches, many Wilmington property owners will begin to think of shoring up their homes against winter pests. Squirrels and raccoons may be at the forefront of their minds when it comes to pest control in Wilmington during the winter. However, one must not forget about the tiny mosquito. Although their numbers decrease as the weather does, protecting your home against any pest, including mosquitoes, is a year-round job.

The Role Mosquitoes Play In Our Ecosystem

Before learning how to remove these tiny pests from your property, it is important to pay the mosquito its proper respect. Despite their annoying nature and their potential for spreading deadly diseases, the mosquito does still play a role in the ecosystem. The primary purpose of mosquitoes in nature is to pollinate. Mosquitoes predominantly feed on plant nectar and, as they do so, they carry pollen between plants. This pollen carrying helps plant life to spread their seed and proliferate. To boot, male mosquitoes never seek out blood meals. Female mosquitoes only go in search of blood when they are producing offspring.

There are over 200 types of mosquitoes in the United States alone and of these, only a handful of species prefer human blood over other mammals. Additionally, there are several other animals and insects that utilize mosquitoes as a food source. We are all interconnected in the food web and the ecosystem; mosquitoes are just as much a part of this system as we are. 

The Dangerous Diseases Mosquitoes Are Known To Spread

Although for the sake of a healthy ecosystem, we cannot eradicate mosquitoes entirely, we must recognize the very real health threat that mosquitoes pose. While mosquitoes are not villainous, there are some species known to spread disease. Anopheles mosquitoes are a species of mosquito that live throughout most of the United States and are known to be vectors of malaria. Furthermore, West Nile virus, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus are all mosquito-borne diseases that have occurred in the United States. In some parts of the world, mosquito-borne illness is far more prolific.

Malaria is caused by a parasite that uses mosquitoes as a host. When bitten by an infected mosquito, the parasite can pass to the human. Malaria typically causes high fever and chills; if left untreated it can be fatal.

West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the United States. Most people infected with the virus are asymptomatic, but some may develop a high fever or swelling in the brain. To date, there is no vaccine or medicine to prevent or cure West Nile virus.

Dengue is a virus spread by the same species of mosquito that can carry malaria. Half of the world's population lives in areas where dengue is present. There are four strands of this virus, all spread via an infected mosquito. Symptoms include flu-like symptoms and a rash, but in some cases can be fatal.

Chikungunya is another virus spread by infected mosquitoes. Cases have been reported on nearly every continent. Symptoms of chikungunya include fever, rash, and joint pain. Babies, the elderly, and the immunocompromised are at a greater risk of severe illness if they come into contact with this virus. There is currently no vaccine available for chikungunya.

Zika virus is often confused with the flu and is usually mild in healthy patients. Zika can be especially serious for pregnant women and may result in birth defects in the developing fetus.

Five Eco-Friendly Mosquito Prevention Tips

With their itchy bites, incessant buzzing, and the possibility of disease, it is reasonable for Wilmington residents to seek ways to keep mosquitoes away. The most natural way to get rid of mosquitoes is to prevent them from taking up residence in your yard in the first place. Some natural, eco-friendly mosquito prevention tips include:

1. Avoid standing water in your yard.
2. Keep your lawn trimmed and tidy.
3. Maintain insect screens in windows.
4. Keep your exterior doors closed.
5. Utilize outdoor fans when sitting outside.

While these steps can help prevent mosquito populations, they will not eliminate an existing mosquito problem. 

The Best Mosquito Control Solution For Your Yard

If you already have an abundance of mosquitoes on your Wilmington property, the most surefire way to get rid of mosquitoes is to work with the professional pest control team at Delmar Pest Control. We offer around-the-clock customer service and free inspections to guarantee that you and your property receive the utmost care. For a pest control team, you can rely on, reach out to Delmar Pest Control!