Considering how dangerous and annoying they are, it’s safe to say you might need to seek out pest control services in Los Angeles. These buzzing bugs might be small, but they can pose a mighty big threat to your health. Fortunately, it’s easier to keep them at bay with help from Leaf Pest Management. Learn more about mosquito behavior, the health risks they pose, and the best way to keep mosquitoes away from your yard.
Understanding Mosquito Behavior: Insights Into Why They Bite
Contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes don’t actually depend on blood as the staple of their diet. Most mosquito varieties eat nectar as their main food source. You might be surprised to learn this, given how often mosquitoes bite, but the reality is that only the female mosquito ever bites, and only when she is ready to reproduce.
Female mosquitoes need protein to lay their eggs, and they get this protein from blood. A female mosquito might only feed on a live host once or twice in her whole life. Typically, female mosquitoes lay no more than three clutches of eggs before dying. The fact that there are so many mosquitoes is the reason why you feel like you’re being bitten all the time. It’s also what makes getting rid of mosquitoes so difficult.
Health Risks Of Mosquito Bites: Warning Signs To Watch For
The viruses transmitted by mosquitoes are the reason they’re such dangerous pests in Los Angeles. Mosquitoes carry multiple different viruses that can cause serious symptoms, the most severe of which is encephalitis. Viral encephalitis is swelling of the brain caused by a virus, such as West Nile virus. Mosquitoes in California carry this virus, along with St. Louis encephalitis and Western equine encephalitis.
Luckily, transmission is not common. However, becoming infected with one of these encephalitis varieties can be devastating. It can cause permanent brain injury and even death.
Seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms after being bitten by a mosquito:
- Stiff neck
- Confusion or hallucinations
- Seizures
- Loss of sensation
- Partial paralysis
- Irregular movements
- Muscle weakness
- Problems with speech or hearing
Quick intervention is key with encephalitis, so it’s important to seek care right away.
Mosquito Bite Prevention: How to Protect Yourself From Bites
Mosquito control in Los Angeles doesn’t have to be a hassle, especially since summer is the dry season here in Los Angeles. Mosquitoes need moisture to breed, so if you remove sources of moisture around your property, you can cut down on the mosquito population nearby all on your own.
Get rid of all stagnant water sources outside, including things like kiddie pools, birdbaths, and wet potted plants. You’ll also want to make sure that you’re taking care of problems like leaky pipes and poor drainage in your yard.
Of course, you can’t control it if you live next to a lake or pond, not to mention the fact that you can’t control what your neighbors are doing. In that case, you could try plants that ward off mosquitoes, like lavender and mint, but it’s usually best to consult the experts.
Say Goodbye To Mosquito Bites Around Your Yard: Call Us Today!
Here at Leaf Pest Management, our mosquito control programs are designed to rid your yard of mosquitoes. If your at-home efforts just don’t seem to be working, we’ve got your back with an array of effective and nontoxic mosquito treatment products that can keep these dangerous pathogen spreaders off your lawn.
If you’re ready to take back your yard from mosquitoes this summer, give us a call or visit our contact page to get started and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Los Angeles.
