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Mosquitoes

What do mosquitoes look like?

Mosquitoes have a distinctive narrow shaped body, very long thin legs, one pair of translucent wings, and a long thin nose or proboscis. Adults grow to be about ¼ to 3/8th of an inch in length. Their body is gray, and they have characteristic white stripes going across their abdomen. They also have green, silver, or blue iridescent scales covering their body.

Mosquito larvae hatch from eggs that were laid in areas of standing water. The larvae have a worm-like abdomen along with a large head and thorax. They can be seen wiggling throughout the water that they are living in.

mosquito

Mosquito bites vs. bed bug bites

Mosquito bites and bed bug bites can appear very similar making it difficult to tell what is biting you. This can sometimes leave you questioning if you need to seek treatment for bed bugs or mosquitoes. Differences between the two bites are listed below:

  • Mosquito bites are usually more random and singular in nature; bed bug bites usually come in clusters of three.
  • Mosquito bites generally only itch for a short period of time, usually an hour or two; bed bug bites may itch for days.
  • Mosquito bites create instant raised welts; welts from bed bug bites may not appear for much longer-sometimes even days.

Are mosquitoes dangerous?

Yes, mosquitoes are considered dangerous because they have the ability to transmit a variety of serious diseases including West Nile virus and the Zika virus. Mosquitoes have also been known to spread Triple E, chikungunya, malaria, yellow fever, and dengue fever among others.

Mosquitoes and the Zika virus

The Zika virus is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito; smaller risks include blood transfusions and sexual contact. The Zika virus itself is considered to be a mild illness with flu-like symptoms. However, the virus becomes of particular concern for pregnant women. This is due to the higher correlation between babies born with microcephaly in areas that are
experiencing an active outbreak of the Zika virus.

According to the CDC all of the cases of Zika virus that have been reported in the United States so far have been travel related. This means that as of yet no one has been infected with the virus while living in the U.S. For the latest news and information regarding the Zika Virus, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html.

Why are mosquitoes attracted to standing water?

Mosquitoes are attracted to standing water because it is where females lay their eggs.  Mosquitoes aren’t picky- a puddle, a clogged gutter, a bird bath, or a soda bottle will all do. The female will lay her eggs on the water where they will hatch and the larvae will live and develop until they emerge as adults.

How you control mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes are difficult to control because they will fly great distances looking for a blood source to feed on or a water source to lay their eggs on. Spencer Pest Services offers effective mosquito control for property owners in Greenville Spartanburg, Anderson and the rest of the Upstate of South Carolina and northern Georgia that includes effective seasonal treatments. Best of all, the service is guaranteed.

Mosquito prevention tips

To discourage mosquito activity on your property and from biting you when you are out and about, we recommend the following mosquito prevention tips:

  • Eliminate areas of standing water and pick up items that may collect rainwater.  These areas include wading pools, clogged gutters, tires, piles of garbage, and low lying area on your property.
  • Keep your grass short.  Regular mowing will frustrate mosquitoes since they like to avoid the heat in tall grasses and weeds during the day.
  • Don’t go outside during peak mosquito activity; dawn and dusk are when mosquitoes are most active.
  • When spending time outside, use an effective insect repellent.
  • Wear light colors when spending time outside; mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors.
  • Keep as much skin covered as possible when outside.

Helpful Mosquito Articles

The Real Danger Mosquitoes Bring To South Carolina Residents

Why Do Mosquitoes Like Some People More Than Others