Category: Mosquito Bites

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.

What’s The #1 Worst State For Mosquitoes? Florida

Out of all 50 states in America, Florida has been ranked as the absolute worst place for mosquitoes. This is an announcement that many residents of the sunshine state aren’t too proud of, but how did this happen? The experts at SWAT Mosquito Systems Miami and Fort Lauderdale are here to teach you why mosquitoes are so popular in Florida, the threats they bring, and what you can do to protect yourself.

Why Mosquitoes Love Florida

When you think about it, it’s no mystery why mosquitoes are so drawn to Florida. For starters, mosquitoes need water to breed and survive. Florida is right along the coastline, and the frequent storms and hurricanes leave behind many sources of standing water. Mosquitoes are also very attracted to body heat and carbon dioxide. Because the state is so heavily populated with both people and animals, these pesky biting insects can easily find their blood meal at every turn. Lastly, they thrive in humid yet dark atmospheres which our beloved state always providesith all these factors in mind, it’s almost as though our climate was practically made for mosquitoes. Nevertheless, these abundant bugs are a major problem in our society.

Florida Cities With the Most Mosquitoes

● Miami

● Tampa

● Orlando

● West Palm Beach

● Jacksonville

The Dangers of Mosquito Swarms

It can be annoying dealing with mosquitoes constantly trying to get a piece of you, but in Florida, getting a little itchy becomes the least of your troubles. While people in most other states deal with normal symptoms after getting bitten, Florida is a special case. Because of our location, mosquitoes have the capacity to spread many diseases, some of which are deadly. If you’re not careful in protecting yourself from mosquito bites, you could experience:

  • The Zika Virus
  • West Nile Virus
  • Encephalitis
  • Chikungunya Virus
  • Dengue

You may have heard a couple of these names before, but in case you don’t know, many of these diseases have the potential to keep you bedridden for days, if not weeks. It is even possible for a mosquito-borne disease to spread to your child during pregnancy, leading to certain deformities. This can be very alarming, but there are actions you can take in protecting yourself and your loved ones.

How Florida Residents Can Fend Off Mosquitoes

If there’s no getting away from mosquitoes in Florida, how do you protect yourself and prevent contracting a terrible disease? There are many tips for preventing mosquito-borne illnesses, but one of the easiest and most effective methods requires installing a mosquito misting system. This form of mosquito control works fast in killing off adults, larvae, and eggs to stop the breeding cycle for a mosquito-free environment. Best of all, the installation is discrete, and the solution is relatively safe for human and pet exposure.

The Best Mosquito Control In Florida!

Existing in Florida doesn’t have to be difficult. Don’t let the abundance of mosquitoes disturb your way of living, contact the professionals at SWAT Mosquito Systems Miami and Fort Lauderdale for an easy and low-maintenance solution for keeping mosquitoes off your property! Call (954) 437-1815 for more information and a free quote.

What Happens to Mosquitoes in The Winter?

There’s a common misconception that mosquitoes die out once winter comes around. Although you definitely see fewer mosquitoes buzzing around after it gets too cold, it doesn’t mean that the threat has dissipated. On the contrary, many of them set themselves up to come back even harder once it gets warm again. The experts at SWAT Mosquito Systems Fort Myers and Naples are here to teach you what mosquitoes do during the winter and why now is the best time to act.

How Mosquitoes Hibernate During the Winter

Yes, mosquitoes are capable of hibernating during the winter. Despite how small they are, adult females specifically will burrow themselves into a safer position and hold out until it becomes warm enough to become active again. For reference, any temperature below 50 degrees causes mosquitoes to become too fatigued to move and will trigger their instinct to find a place to settle. The moment it becomes warm enough to snap out of their slumber, adult female mosquitoes will immediately look for a blood source to produce eggs as soon as they can. It’s also worth noting that if any adult mosquitoes find their way into your home during the winter, they will likely stay inside where it’s warm and even lay their eggs indoors where they’ll soon hatch and then you’ll have to deal with a fresh swarm right where you live. For those living in Florida, tropical mosquitoes have a different, more annoying agenda.

The Life Cycle of a Tropical Mosquito

While most of the country only has to deal with regular mosquitoes, Floridians are unfortunate in the fact that they must deal with a particular species native to the tropics. More specifically, the Aedes aegypti acts on different winter habits than your average species. This type of mosquito is incapable of hibernating to survive the colder months, so the adult females make it their main goal to lay their eggs before they die so their spawn can hatch and live on when it gets warmer. The eggs lie in wait in standing water and thaw out as the water gets warmer. The eggs turn into larvae which turn into pupa before becoming full adults. It’s important to note the different behavioral patterns during the winter, but it’s especially crucial to know that this species is more likely to carry all of the diseases that locals are worried about such as Zika, West Nile, and dengue. This is why you shouldn’t give up on mosquito control just because you don’t see them flying around during the winter.

The Mosquito Life Cycle

Eggs hatch into larvae after 24-48 hours

A larva evolves into a pupa in 7-10 days

The pupa finally turns into a full adult

Ending the Cycle with Misting Solutions

What is the best way to eliminate mosquitoes during the winter? The fine mist that is produced by mosquito misting systems is still effective in cold and moist weather. Also, the misting solution is designed to target eggs and larvae along with fully-grown adult mosquitoes. And since you don’t need to get out into the cold to manually distribute the solution yourself thanks to automatic misting technology, this is the perfect method for actively getting rid of mosquitoes during the winter and the results will carry on to spring and summer.

Consult the Experts at SWAT Mosquito Systems!

For an effective mosquito misting solution that’s been proven to work during the winter and continues to provide relief in the spring and summer, SWAT Mosquito Systems Fort Myers and Naples is the best company to receive your automated mosquito misting system! Call (954) 437-1815 for more information about our products and to receive a free estimate.

Can Mosquitoes Harm My Pet?

As humans, we usually put ourselves first when it comes to protection from mosquitoes. But did you know that your pets are at risk of mosquito bites, too? Animals can contract deadly mosquito-borne diseases just like we can, and SWAT Mosquito Systems Orlando is here to educate you on what you can do to shelter your precious furry friends from mosquito-related dangers.

Why Mosquitoes Bite Animals

You may be wondering why a mosquito would bite an animal in the first place. After all, aren’t they attracted to human skin? Although our naked skin is a common target because it’s easily accessible, mosquitoes are actually attracted to carbon dioxide. Since pets also breathe out carbon dioxide just like we do, some mosquitoes will gravitate to them and find a spot to bite. These occurrences aren’t as common, but they can still happen and the result could become dire.

Mosquito-Borne Diseases That Affect Pets

There are a number of things that can happen should your pet become the target of a mosquito bite. If you’re lucky, your pet will just exhibit minor discomfort for a short while and nothing more. However, it’s very likely for your furry friend to develop a deadly disease that may call for immediate attention, such as:

  • This is the most common disease among pets and it involves larvae growing inside of their body and in turn clogging up pathways to vital organs that can result in death.
  • West Nile Virus. Although more common in humans than pets, animals can still experience fever-like symptoms that can make them feel uncomfortable and fatigued.
  • This disease is able to be transferred from animals to humans and it directly affects the brain.

If you suspect that your pet has any of these diseases, the best thing you can do is contact your local vet as soon as you can. Otherwise, it pays to be proactive in making sure that your pet doesn’t experience mosquito bites in the first place.

Ways to Protect Your Pets from Mosquitoes

Since heartworms are the most common (and the most deadly) of all the possible diseases that your pet can catch from mosquitoes, one of the best things you can do is get them started on a monthly heartworm medication treatment. On top of that, you can keep your pets inside during peak mosquito hours such as in the morning or evening when the temperature is cool enough for the pesky bugs to occupy the open space without getting dehydrated. You can also deter mosquitoes from sticking around your yard in the first place by keeping an eye out for sources of standing water and investing in an effective mosquito repellent.

If you’re interested in a mosquito repellent that works, an automated misting system is a smart way to go. The solution is all-natural which makes it safer for animals to be around, and the fact that the system works automatically means that you can protect your pets without needing to put in any extra work yourself.

Where to Get Mosquito Misting Solutions in Orlando

Looking to protect your pets from mosquito-borne diseases in the safest way possible? Call SWAT Mosquito Systems Orlando today at (954) 437-1815 for more information on our top-quality mosquito misting solutions and a free quote!