Mosquitoes seem to have a sixth sense telling them when we're out and about enjoying nature, allowing them to swoop in and turn us into blood-donor pincushions. Mosquitoes (female mosquitoes, to be exact) feed on human blood to be able to produce eggs.

There are thousands of types of mosquitoes in the world, but in Texas, you're likely to encounter:

• Asian tiger mosquitoes
• Culex mosquitoes
• Eastern saltmarsh mosquitoes
• Dark rice field mosquitoes
• Upland flood water mosquitoes

All mosquitoes, regardless of the type, are most active in the early morning and late evening as the sun goes down. Mosquitoes in the midday sun will get easily dehydrated and die, so they choose to retire to the shade in tall grass and trees during the day.

Let's look at what attracts them, how to repel mosquitoes, how to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard if they're already there, and if the DIY approach doesn't do the trick, where to find professional pest control in Bryan to hand them their walking papers.

The Role Mosquitoes Play In The Ecosystem

While female mosquitoes will attempt to drain you of your blood to gather the nutrients they need to lay eggs, both males and females also feed on flower nectar and honeydew and fulfill their main role in our ecosystem by pollinating plants. They are also an important food source for various birds (a single sparrow can eat over 300 mosquitoes a day), bats, frogs, and other predators. 

What You Eat And Drink Can Attract Mosquitoes

As strange as that sounds, mosquitoes in Bryan can sense what we've been eating; they have an attraction to human blood seasoned with certain foods and will avoid others.

Foods that, if eaten, make us more attractive to mosquitoes are:

• Sweets. You are what you eat, and mosquitoes seem to have a definite sweet tooth, craving blood high in sugars.
• Foods that are high in potassium. The human body releases lactic acid after eating potassium-rich foods such as raisins, spinach, prunes, etc., and mosquitoes find lactic acid-spiced humans more attractive.
• Beer and alcohol. Alcohol is chuck full of sugars, raises your body temperature, and increases blood flow, making you a perfectly warmed-up snack for mosquitoes in the vicinity.
• Foods that are high in salt. Salty snacks act in a similar manner as potassium-rich foods, making the body produce more lactic acid and attracting mosquitoes.

This list, frankly, includes just about every traditional outdoor snack and barbecue fare, making you choose between eating good food, having a brew, and dealing with mosquitoes vs. being mosquito-free and hungry.

Helpful Tips To Protect Yourself From Being Bitten By A Mosquito

Keeping mosquitoes away from you and your property is not an easy task, but following these tips can help you cut their numbers down or may even get rid of mosquitoes completely:

• Get rid of any areas of stagnant standing water where mosquitoes lay eggs.
• Cut down the grass to remove the places they can hide during the day.
• Stay inside in the evenings and early mornings.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.

Combined with a mosquito prevention inspection, these simple tips will keep your property free of these biting pests.

What's The Best Way To Keep Mosquitoes Away From My Yard?

An experienced EnviroGuard service professional will start your inspection by exploring your property to determine where mosquitoes are propagating, develop and execute a treatment plan to get rid of mosquitoes on your property, and advise you on how to keep them from coming back.

If you're afraid to spend time outside, thanks to a mosquito problem, get in touch with us today to get started on our mosquito control services in Bryan.