Depending on your location, you may be familiar with mosquitoes. These insects buzz around, bite humans, and leave itchy welts. Mosquitoes emerge as the weather warms up and stay active through spring and summer. Sadly, these pests breed quickly and can be quite inconvenient. Bites from these insects are not comfortable and they result in a lot of fatal diseases. If mosquitoes or other pests in Elmhurst have infested your property, explore your options to handle an infestation.
Why Mosquitoes Attack Your Property
To develop an effective mosquito management plan, you must know what draws these insects to your property. Floodwater mosquitoes and permanent water mosquitoes live in the country. While these mosquitoes have differences, they tend to gravitate towards the same environments.
- They are attracted to water. Often, mosquitoes lay their eggs on still water, particularly on its surface. Water sources such as pools, ponds, water containers, birdbaths, and slow-moving streams can draw these pests.
- They are attracted to moist soil and debris. Mosquitoes can lay their eggs in damp soil or mulch. Hollowed-out tree stumps and roof gutters may also draw them. Mosquitoes can also hide and breed in composters.
What Makes Some People Particularly Attractive for Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes may target certain people. Factors such as your blood type and what you wear can contribute to why these pests bite. It’s important to know what draws these insects, so you can make changes to eliminate them.
Keep in mind that mosquitoes are attracted to bold colors such as bright yellow or dark red. Also, colognes, perfumes, and deodorants can attract them. Particularly, fruity and floral scents may draw these pests in.
In addition, your natural pheromones might also be a reason why you tend to bite more mosquito bites than others. Mosquitoes are also attracted to hormones present in pregnant women. Lastly, mosquitoes can detect how recently you have exercised and what you eat. After a workout, your body produces lactic acid that mosquitoes find appealing. Also, eating some kinds of foods may make these insects more prone to biting.
Eliminating Mosquitoes
If you have been noticing mosquitoes on your property, here are steps you can take to eliminate them:
- Get rid of standing water sources. While you cannot control everything, such as having a creek or pond on your property, you can remove other standing water sources. For instance, you can empty a kiddie pool and store it if not used. Also, you can control mosquito populations by getting rid of debris around your home and maintaining landscaping.
- Use insect repellents. Store-bought and DIY insect repellents can kill mosquitoes. You can find insect repellents in various forms. However, they do not offer a permanent solution and may need to be re-applied.
- Prevent mosquitoes from entering your house. Closing doors and windows and ensuring they do not have tears or rips can deter mosquitoes. Because these pests are drawn to moisture, fix any plumbing or faucet leaks.
- Hire professionals. To effectively eliminate an existing mosquito infestation, hire professional pest control services. Pest control companies handle infestations with integrated pest management solutions. These solutions are ideal for handling complex issues such as mosquito infestations.