Category: mosquito bite treatments

What You Should Know About Mosquitoes and Hurricane Recovery

Have you ever noticed that mosquitoes tend to be more abundant after the presence of a hurricane? That’s not by coincidence. It may sound odd, but the best time for mosquitoes to breed is in the wake of a recent hurricane. The experts at SWAT Mosquito Systems Tampa are here to teach you why this is the case and what you can do to help prevent it.

Why Mosquitoes Increase After a Hurricane

In case you didn’t know, mosquitoes can lay their eggs in stagnant water. They actually prefer it. But what does that have to do with hurricanes? Debris is usually tossed around during high winds, and rain tends to fall around the same time or after. What’s left behind are countless sources of standing water for mosquitoes to breed and lay their eggs. This is especially dangerous because even the smallest ounce of water is substantial enough to hold these eggs, which means mosquitoes can hatch from pretty much anywhere the eye can see. If it’s not taken care of, you could be seeing mosquito swarms in one or two weeks.

Learn more > How Hurricane Season Impacts the Mosquito Population

What You Can Do to Stop the Breeding Process

With the nearly endless sources of stagnant water lying around after a hurricane, it may seem impossible to stop mosquitoes from breeding. However, not all hope is lost. Below are some of the best ways to prevent the hatching of mosquitoes and to avoid mosquito bites.

Removing Stagnant Water

One of the best things you can do to stop future mosquito swarms is to remove any instances of standing water. Pay mind to items that can collect and hold rainfall such as trash can lids, planters, buckets, tires, and any garbage that may have swooped into your yard. Even the leaves in your trees and shrubs can hold water, in which case you can hose them off. Tending to stagnant water in your yard should be done at least once a week for efficiency.

Wear Covered Clothing

Spending a large amount of time outdoors for hurricane recovery tasks can leave you available to mosquitoes. You can protect yourself by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants while you’re outside to cover skin that mosquitoes may target for their next blood meal.

Learn more > Itchy Mosquito Bites? Try These Natural Solutions for Relief

Keep Mosquitoes Out of the Home

No matter how inhabitable you make your yard for mosquitoes, they’ll be able to survive in your home if they happen to find their way inside. Be sure to proactively shut your windows and doors immediately so there’s less time for bugs to make a break for any openings.

Invest In a Mosquito Misting System

Hiring professional mosquito control services such as getting a mosquito misting system installed can reduce the number of active mosquitoes in your yard and make it easier to spend time outside for hurricane recovery activities. You are likely to see results after the first day of spraying, and more noticeable changes after one or two weeks which will prepare your home just in time for when mosquitoes typically hatch after a hurricane.

The Best Mosquito Misting Systems in Tampa

For a high-quality mosquito misting system that’s guaranteed to work or your money back, hire the professionals at SWAT Mosquito Systems Tampa! Call us today at (954) 437-1815 for more information about our services and to receive a free quote.

7 Reasons to Install a Commercial Mosquito Misting System

Many people install mosquito misting systems in their private yards at home, but did you know that you can set them up for commercial use, too? The professionals at SWAT Mosquito Systems Miami and Fort Lauderdale are here to show you a few reasons why it’s a good idea to install a mosquito misting system on your commercial property.

1. Protect Your Guests

If your establishment is made to hold and entertain guests, it’s important to provide a comfortable place for them to occupy. Nobody wants to get heckled by pesky mosquitoes and other biting insects while they’re trying to eat or indulge in various outdoor activities. Great hospitality means eliminating troublesome distractions, and you could do so discreetly with misting systems.

2. Preserve Your Products

When your job is to produce and/or package food to ship off in bulk to grocery stores and restaurants, a bug infestation could cause you to end up with a ruined batch that can cost you thousands to make up for in damages. You can protect your livelihood from mosquitoes and other insects with a non-toxic solution that won’t harm your product which is good news for those in the agricultural or industrial trade.

3. Safeguard Your Employees

To keep your employees happy and to keep up productivity, you can install mosquito misting systems in areas where your employees are frequently exposed to the outdoors such as near the entrances and exits or along walkways.

4. Get Widespread Coverage

Investing in a mosquito misting system is the most cost-effective option as it encompasses a larger area for more widespread coverage. Additionally, there is a low cost for maintenance as the automated system hardly needs to be tended to.

5. Target High-Traffic Areas

If you’re experiencing a mosquito swarm in high-traffic areas of your business, you can take care of the issue without needing to block off certain areas and cause an inconvenience for your customers. This is because mosquito misting systems are made with a non-toxic solution meaning that exposure to the mist is safe for humans. You can think of it as nearly invisible mosquito control that you can have installed practically anywhere you want!

6. Shield Your Public Pool

Mosquitoes thrive in standing water, so businesses that have pool areas or other water fixtures provide an ideal home for these pesky bugs. Unless you’re willing to be without these beautiful amenities, it would be a good idea to place misting systems near these spots.

Call the Experts at SWAT Mosquito Systems!

Looking for effective and low-maintenance mosquito control for your commercial business in Florida? Contact SWAT Mosquito Systems Miami and Fort Lauderdale today at (954) 437-1815 to ask about how we can help you and get started on a free quote!

What Diseases Do Mosquitoes in Florida Carry?

Mosquito-borne illnesses, also known as arboviruses, are a big problem in Florida. While people in most other states will simply get a little itchy before the bite goes away on its own, Floridians have much more to worry about with more debilitating symptoms, some of which can be deadly. SWAT Mosquito Systems Tampa wants you to stay informed on what to look out for and how to protect yourself.

West Nile Virus

The West Nile Virus is one of the more commonly-known diseases. While it’s possible for some people to have it without even knowing due to a lack of symptoms, those with a weaker immune system will have a much harder time with fever-like problems including headaches, nausea, rashes, and stiffness in the neck. In worse cases, you can experience a loss of vision, a sense of disorientation, and random bouts of shaking. Examples of people with weaker immune systems include children and seniors. If you are a parent with one or more children, or you’re more on the elderly side, it’s best to seek protection from mosquito bites to avoid this disease.

Chikungunya Virus

The Chikungunya Virus is another common mosquito-borne illness in Florida. One of the most inconvenient things about this variant is the fact that it can take up to a week after getting bitten to actually start seeing the symptoms. After finding out that you have contracted the Chikungunya Virus, your only option is to wait it out since there is no cure, and it can take full months for the symptoms to fully pass. Symptoms include aches and pains in the joints and muscles, headaches, rashes, and a fever. Even if you manage to prevent one mosquito bite, that could have been the one to instigate many months of pain and discomfort.

Encephalitis

There are many types of Encephalitis with Eastern Equine Encephalitis and St. Louis Encephalitis being among the most common in Florida. Although those are the most common types, Encephalitis in general is rather rare but is still very deadly if contracted. A few days after getting bitten by an infected mosquito, one can experience lethargy, confusion, and a high fever. More specifically, Encephalitis can cause your brain to swell up to the point of damaging your nervous system. In that case, preventing mosquito bites can quite literally save your life.

Zika Virus

Another concern regarding mosquito-borne illnesses is that of the Zika Virus. The Zika virus is similar to other diseases in the fact that symptoms include fever, headaches, rashes, and pain around the muscles and joints. It can also take several days for it to pass, but there’s another problem to worry about when it comes to this particular disease. Contracting the Zika Virus during pregnancy can lead to birth defects such as being born with a smaller-than-average head resulting in a smaller, less-developed brain. If you’re pregnant, this is a very good reason to look into mosquito control.

Help Prevent Mosquito-Borne Illnesses with Mosquito Misting Systems

To prevent mosquito-borne diseases, many Floridians will take active measures such as draining any sources of standing water, wearing clothes that cover their skin, and investing in different forms of bug control. However, many bug control methods have been known to be ineffective, so what can you do?

The products at SWAT Mosquito Systems Tampa are of the highest quality and have been proven to be effective against mosquitoes in preventing mosquito-borne illnesses. Call our experts today at (954) 437-1815 for more information on our services and to receive a free estimate!

Tips For Preventing Mosquito-Borne Illnesses After Hurricane Ian

Hurricane Ian took its toll on many Florida residents, and the battle isn’t over yet. Mosquitos tend to thrive right after hurricanes and storms while carrying a variety of diseases that plague the area. What can you do to protect yourself? SWAT Mosquito Systems®️ of Fort Myers and Naples is here to teach you how to prevent mosquito-borne illnesses after Hurricane Ian.

What Diseases Can Spread Through Mosquitos?

You already know that mosquitos can carry deadly diseases, but what exactly can you expect in case you get bitten? Two of the more notorious are the West Nile Virus and the Zika Virus, with other potential diseases in Florida being Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, chikungunya, and dengue. Even if you’re not familiar with the specific names, it’s better to do what you can to prevent catching any sort of disease for the sake of your health and the health of those around you.

What Does Hurricane Ian Have to Do with Mosquitos?

There is a correlation between wet or humid conditions caused by intense weather conditions and active mosquitos. Female mosquitos rely on sources of still water as a safe place to lay their eggs and produce more pesky mosquitos. After large storms and hurricanes (with Hurricane Ian being one of the more recent), a limitless number of these areas become available to mosquitos as all they need is enough water to fill a bottle cap. Wet soil also provides a decent ecosystem for mosquitos, and that could be found everywhere you look. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to keep mosquitos from getting comfortable in and around your home.

Tips For Dealing with Mosquitos

Mosquitos may have a field day right after the event of a hurricane, especially with one as large as Hurricane Ian, but that doesn’t mean you need to accept your yard being a target. There are many ways to deter mosquitos even when you’re surrounded by the perfect environment for them to breed:

  • Remove any sources of standing water. Take a moment each week to flip over any lids or buckets in your yard and look out for crevices you wouldn’t expect water to collect in such as loose tires or plant leaves.
  • Keep your windows and doors closed. Be quick to close the door as soon as you enter or leave the house and don’t forget about your garage door.
  • Cover yourself up. Wear clothing that covers your skin like long-sleeved shirts, pants, and socks.
  • Use the air conditioner. The air will blow with enough force to keep mosquitos at bay.
  • Invest in a mosquito misting system. Mosquito misting solutions still work effectively in wet and humid environments by targeting female mosquitos to prevent them from breeding.

Consult the Experts at SWAT Mosquito Systems®️!

Want mosquito control that works in moist environments after a hurricane? SWAT Mosquito Systems®️ of Fort Myers and Naples can equip your yard with a solution that keeps mosquitos and any diseases they may be carrying at bay. Protect yourself from mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases by calling (954) 437-1815 for a free quote!