When you see the words "World's Deadliest Animal," the creatures that come to mind tend to be fierce and intimidating, like tigers and sharks, but nobody expects the tiny mosquito to be at the top of the leaderboard for the highest annual deaths. It's true, though; claiming the lives of over one million people annually, mosquitoes are the deadliest creatures on the planet, and it's all because of the diseases you can get from them. There's nothing more dangerous than a mosquito infestation, which is why it's essential to know how to keep mosquitoes away and the best way to control mosquito populations on your Huntsville property.
Common Mosquitoes Around Huntsville And The Dangers They Bring
You may be surprised to learn that, despite over 3,000 individual species, not all types of mosquitoes dine on blood. Only female mosquitoes drink blood, and some even prefer animal blood over humans. Huntsville homeowners need to worry about these types of mosquitoes: Asian tiger mosquitoes, yellow fever mosquitoes, and southern house mosquitoes. These are the most dangerous mosquitoes in Huntsville solely because of the diseases you can get from them:
- Zika virus
- Dengue fever
- Chikungunya
- Chagas disease
- Malaria
- Several strains of encephalitis
- Rift Valley fever
- West Nile virus
- Yellow fever
Tips To Prevent Mosquito Infestations On Your Huntsville Property
There's no way to avoid mosquitoes on nature hikes or camping trips, but there are plenty of ways to keep mosquitoes away from your Huntsville home. They're not completely fool-proof since outdoor pests can be more than challenging to control, but a few precautions can at least help to reduce your risk of infestation:
- Aerate your lawn to ensure proper soil drainage
- Dump out any stagnant water around your home – buckets, birdbaths, anything that can collect rainwater
- Mow your lawn regularly
- Try not to over-water your lawn and garden
- Keep garden areas properly pruned
- Remove any dense underbrush around your property
- Trim back unruly shrubs and tree branches
- Add mosquito-repellent plants to your garden – marigolds, lavender, citronella, geraniums, rosemary, bee balm, catnip, basil
- Keep tight-fitting lids on all outdoor and indoor trash cans – this reduces the chances of wildlife becoming active around your property, which removes a food source for female mosquitoes
It's also important to practice mosquito safety whenever you're in areas with high mosquito populations. Wear long sleeves and pants if possible, always apply bug repellent spray, try not to consume too many sweets or alcoholic beverages the day before, and make sure to practice good hygiene. Please don't waste your money on citronella candles or lamps either. They're never effective and release harmful carcinogens into the air.
The Most Reliable Method For Mosquito Control In Huntsville
Mosquitoes are both annoying and dangerous pests to have on your Huntsville property, so mosquito control is a necessity if you want to enjoy your time outside. The problem is, mosquito control is a tough task when you don't know what you're doing, but thankfully you don't have to do it alone. The best way to control mosquitoes on your Huntsville property is with the help of our pest experts at EnviroGuard.
We take pride in the services we provide to our customers, which is why we always use the best environmentally-friendly pest control products and technology available. We never cut corners to save on business costs, and we never rush through our treatments and inspections. We give each job the time and attention it needs to get the job done effectively and efficiently. We also keep our prices affordable so that all of our customers can enjoy safe, secure homes without going broke. So if you're ready to experience a summer free from mosquitoes, get in contact with us to schedule your first appointment.