Category: MOSQUITO CONTROL

How To Tell If You’re Allergic To Bug Bites

Nobody likes getting stung by bees, or bitten by mosquitos, but for those allergic, the experience can be more than just unpleasant, it can be deadly. Here are some tips to help you determine if you are allergic to bug bites.

There are Three Basic Types Of Reactions To Bug Bites

  • A normal reaction sets off pain, swelling, and redness around the sting site.
  • A large local reaction causes swelling that extends beyond the sting site. For example, a person stung on the ankle may have swelling of the entire leg. While it often looks alarming, it’s usually no more serious than a normal reaction. Large local reactions peak at about 48 hours and then gradually get better over 5 to 10 days.
  • The most serious reaction is an allergic one. If you have an allergic reaction to a bug bite, you’ll need to get it treated right away.

Bug bites

Symptoms of Insect Sting Allergies

A mild allergic reaction may cause one or more of these symptoms at the site of the sting:

  • Pain
  • Redness
  • Pimple-like spots
  • Mild to moderate swelling
  • Warmth
  • Itching

Severe allergic reactions (also called an anaphylactic reaction) are not that common. But when they happen, they’re medical emergencies. Symptoms can include:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Hives that appear as a red, itchy rash and spread to areas beyond the sting
  • Swelling of the face, throat, or any part of the mouth or tongue
  • Wheezing or trouble swallowing
  • Restlessness and anxiety
  • Rapid pulse
  • Dizziness or a sharp drop in blood pressure

If you experience any of these symptoms seek medical attention as soon as possible.

How Common Are Insect Sting Allergies?

About two million Americans have allergies to the venom of stinging bugs. Many of these people are at risk for life-threatening allergic reactions.

Treatment if You’re Not Allergic

First, if you’re stung on the hand, remove any rings from your fingers immediately.

If stung by a bee, the bee usually leaves a sac of venom and a stinger in your skin. Remove the stinger within 30 seconds to avoid receiving more venom. Gently scrape the sac and stinger out with a fingernail or a stiff-edged object like a credit card. Don’t squeeze the sac or pull on the stinger, or more venom will get into you. Wash the stung area with soap and water, then apply an antiseptic.

Apply a soothing ointment, like a hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion, and cover the area with a dry, sterile bandage. If the swelling is a problem, apply an ice pack or cold compress to the area.

Finally, you can also take an over-the-counter oral antihistamine to ease itching, swelling, and hives from bug bites. Don’t give this medication to children under 2 years old or to pregnant women unless your doctor says it’s OK. (If you’re pregnant, it’s best to talk to your doctor before you take any medicine.)

Treatment if You Are Allergic

If you have a severe allergic sting reaction, you’ll need epinephrine, which you can inject yourself before you call 911. Usually, this shot will stop a more severe allergic reaction from happening.

You’ll still need emergency medical care, even if the symptoms seem to stop. You may need to stay overnight at the hospital. If you’ve ever had allergic reactions to an insect sting, you should carry epinephrine with you wherever you go.

If you live in South Florida and are having mosquito or no-see-um problems, contact Swat Mosquito Systems to stop the biting and start enjoying your backyard today with a SWAT mosquito mist system.

How to Repel No-See-Ums and Make Them Disappear

 

Pesky. Annoying. Nuisance. These are words typically used to describe no-see-ums, those tiny flying insects that bite. And their bites really do sting. Nobody wants to experience no-see-ums bugging them, but it happens a lot, especially in South Florida. It seems there’s no escaping them, especially during no-see-ums peak season in Florida, but there are ways to fight back, and that doesn’t include no-see-um repellants or no-see-um traps (which may not work). Here is how you can repel no-see-ums and make them disappear.

What is a No-See-Um?

No-see-ums, which evolved from a family of biting flies, are also referred to as biting midges, biting gnats, and punkies. These blood-sucking gnats are less than 3 mm long – hence their name. They’re so small that you can barely see them, and unfortunately, their size makes it easy for them to fly through screen doors or windows. Your lanai won’t even give you much protection from no-see-ums. But here’s a tip for spotting them – they travel in swarms, so if you see a “cloud” of itsy-bitsy flying bugs, take precaution.

Do No-See-Ums Spread Diseases Through Their Bites?

No-see-um bites are painful and irritating, and when they bite, they bite you more than once – we’re talking repeatedly. Their bites lead to a burning sensation and are followed by welts on your skin, which can be easily treated with over-the-counter medicines. But can no-see-ums infect you with diseases? Fortunately, unlike some mosquitos, no-see-ums do not carry diseases.

No-See-Ums Are Busy Bodies

When do no-see-ums come out and are most active? No-see-ums love water, and they’re most active at dawn and dusk, although some species are busy during the nighttime. And while no-see-ums’ season is in June and July, they are present year-round. You may have even noticed that they’re pretty active these days. They seem to be everywhere – and they must go away!

What Repels No See Ums?

So – how do you repel no-see-ums? Short answer – the best mosquito misting system – SWAT Mosquito Systems®️.  Studies show that some oils help repel mosquitos and no-see-ums. One of them is pyrethrum, a biodegradable repellent derived from the chrysanthemum flower, which is what we use in our one-of-a-kind custom-designed misting system.  We leverage a variety of other powerful botanical products to repel biting insects. We designed our state-of-the-art misting system and its contents to ensure it doesn’t harm your landscape or family but effectively keeps mosquitos and no-see-ums away.

 

 

 

Let Us Help You Get Rid of No-See-Ums

Keep mosquitoes and no-see-ums out of your yard with our mosquito misting system, which works around the clock to keep these annoying biting insects away and ensure you can enjoy the outdoors without interruption. Call SWAT Mosquito Systems®️ at 1-866-900-7928 and find out how our licensed technicians can help you get rid of your yard of no-see-ums and mosquitos.

The South Floridian’s Guide to Building a New Home

Living in Florida – especially South Florida – is something almost everyone who doesn’t live here dreams about. But if you live here you know full well the problems we have with mosquitos and no-see-ums in our outdoor spaces.  Here’s SWAT Mosquito Systems®️’ handy South Floridian’s guide to building a new home – including mosquito misting solutions!

Find the Perfect Lot

You’ve got your mindset – this is going to be your little slice of paradise in the South Florida sun. One of the biggest selections you need to make is which plot of land to build on. Lot selection is pivotal to building your ideal home. When it comes to choosing the right lot, there are two main factors which you need to consider: landscaping and price.

Cost

The costs of land are always rising. This is especially true in South Florida, with thousands of people making the move to the Sunshine State every day.  A solid rule of thumb is that you never want to spend more than 30 percent of your overall budget on your plot purchase. While you obviously want to keep this percentage as low as possible, going too low can damage the appreciation value of adjacent lots – thus diminishing the investment value of the lot. A good question to ask yourself in this situation is, “Why are they selling this lot so cheaply?”. Maybe, for example, there’s a pig farm or treatment plant nearby.

building a new home

Landscaping

Landscaping is a critical thing to consider when it comes to choosing the right lot for your home building project. Landscaping entails far more than just how many bushes or palm trees you’ll want. Do you, for example, have any children, or plan to have any children in the future? If so, you may want to avoid a pool, or possibly want to avoid a plot that is on the corner of major roads. The same applies If you have pets. Maybe, for example, you’ll need to place a large fence to help drown out sounds from a nearby highway.

Design the Ideal Home

You’ve chosen your lot, now comes the part where you get to design the home of your dreams. Working with a licensed architect or property developer, you should sit down and discuss what you are looking for, and whether or not it is feasible on your budget or on the chosen lot. It is, however, an exciting time when your imagination can materialize on paper – and soon on the ground!

This, however, does not mean it is not without its mundane logistical concerns. You should always ensure that the home you are designing suits the plot of land on which it is being built. What this means is that the home actually fits on the lot itself and it doesn’t violate any of the local ordinances or county or neighborhood regulations.

You should take care to ensure that the location and shape of the driveway, as well as the location of the pool, or any associated outbuildings, such as pool house, shed, deck, or garage, don’t interfere with the home, utilities, or any other issues.  In addition, you should take the location of utilities, such as water and sewer lines, or wells, into consideration, as they may affect your designs or plans.

Make It Your Own

Once your new home is built, it’s time to give it your own personal touches. From the inside to the outside, everything can be personalized to ensure your new home is just right in every way possible.

Interior

Inside your home, there are practically millions of different choices you can make to turn your new house into your new home. From the countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms to lighting fixtures, cabinets, carpeting and more, this is your chance to really put your finishing touches on your project! If you plan on doing some serious designing, make sure to properly budget – and to consult a number of different contractors to ensure you are getting the most bang your for your buck!

building new home checklist

 

 

 

 

 

 

Landscaping

Inside is great, but this is South Florida, and outside is where we love to spend our time! One of the best parts about building your own home is creating an outside space that suits your needs perfectly! From the pool of your dreams to a cozy hammock underneath a leafy palm, this is your place to kick back and relax! One thing you need to consider as well, however, is how to maintain this space – including bug control.

Keep Your Yard and Landscaping Under Control

Did you know that mosquitoes, like the rest of us, prefer to get out of the harsh sunlight every once-in-awhile? They also like humidity and feast on nectar, so they enjoy hanging out in tall grass, shrubbery, bushes, and foliage. This all points to the need to keep your landscaping and yard in check by doing the following:

A  custom-designed, mosquito misting system will keep mosquitoes and no-see-ums at bay. Once installed, you can set our misting system to activate three to four times a day for anywhere from 20 to 45 seconds. It’s also recommended you mist during the evening and nighttime hours when mosquitoes are most active.

Our SWAT Mosquito Systems®️ kills mosquitoes and no-see-ums, without harming the environment. We make it hard for mosquitoes and no-see-ums, but easy for you. You can turn the system off completely, using the remote control or at the control panel. We’re the largest and most respected mosquito control company in Florida.

Call SWAT Mosquito Systems®️ Today

Building a new home should be about realizing your ideal space. Don’t let mosquitoes invade your little slice of paradise. If you want to stop worrying about mosquitoes and other biting insects, and start enjoying your own backyard and patio, you can get your very own mosquito misting system set up right away. Call SWAT Mosquito Systems®️ at 1-866-900-SWAT and find out how our licensed technicians can help you today.

How Long Do Mosquito Misting Systems Take to Eliminate Mosquitoes

 

Mosquitos, no-see-ums, and other biting insects – when you’re living in Florida, it’s a given that you’ve encountered all variety of bugs while outside. Being bitten by these insects is never pleasant, which is why many look for ways to get rid of these pests for good. While we primarily utilize repellents at SWAT Mosquito Systems®️ to keep biting insects away, we still often get asked, “How long do sprays take to kill bugs?” Today, let’s consider how different sprays can impact your approach to keep these mosquitos and no-see-ums at bay.

Different Methods of  Eliminate Mosquitos

When it comes to biting insects, the time it takes to kill them can vary based on a lot of variables. Most importantly, what kind of spray is being used? There are many different sprays on the market. Our mosquito misting systems use pyrethrum, a  natural, botanical insecticide that is environmentally friendly and has several major advantages over chemically synthesized insecticides including its rapid breakdown in the environment and its lack of insect resistance.

We also use Zero-Bite, a natural and botanical insect repellent.  We also offer a rosemary oil-based product, with EcoSmart Botanicals™, is USDA National Organic Program Compliant. Rosemary has been used for centuries to keep mosquitoes and other pests away. EcoSmart products have no adverse effect on children, pets, wildlife or the environment and also will not contaminate water sources.

 

The Danger of Mosquito Sprays

Of course, if your goal is to kill the mosquitos outright, there are other concerns you should consider with mosquito sprays. If they use synthetic ingredients, many can be toxic to the environment, which can have an unintended impact on your landscaping. Additionally, most sprays made for killing insects will kill more than just the biting insects like no-see-ums and mosquitos, which can lead to unintended consequences.

Beyond these concerns, there is also the reality that simply killing mosquitos and other biting insects doesn’t stop the root of the problem. They will continue to breed, which means an endless cycle of active spraying to eliminate the insects. Instead, using a mosquito repellant can be a much more sensible alternative.

Leveraging Mosquito Repellant in Your Yard

So, the next time you ask “how to kill mosquitos” you might want to pause and reconsider your approach. Using a mosquito misting system can be a powerful option to spray mosquito repellant. Instead of focusing on killing the biting insects, your focus is on keeping them away. This way, you can enjoy the outdoors without paying a second thought to these once pesky no-see-ums and mosquitos. Call SWAT Mosquito Systems®️ at 1-866-900-7928 and find out how our licensed technicians can help you today.