What To Know About Mosquitos In The Dallas-Fort Worth Area

Mosquitos are a nuisance in the Dallas-Fort Worth area during the summer months. While they may seem like just a nuisance that leaves you with itchy bites, mosquitoes are a dangerous pest that you don't want hanging around your backyard. Learn more about mosquitoes, the diseases they carry, and how to get rid of them for good with professional assistance. Bug Busters of Texas provides quality pest control in the Dallas-Fort Worth area so you can enjoy your yard, mosquito-free.

What Is The Purpose Of Mosquitos In Dallas-Fort Worth?

Mosquitos serve many purposes in the overall ecosystem, believe it or not. Male mosquitoes have an appetite for nectar and, while consuming their favorite snack, they pollinate plants and flowers. The primary purpose of mosquitoes is their contribution to the overall food chain. Mosquitos serve as an essential source of food for many animals. Bats, birds, reptiles, and amphibians often have mosquitos on the menu. 

There are more than 3500 types of mosquitos and only around 400 species can transmit diseases like malaria or West Nile virus. Most mosquitoes don’t even feed on humans at all, but unfortunately, there's no way to know if the mosquito that bites you is carrying transmittable diseases.

A Brief History Of Mosquito Control

Back in the day, 1867, to be exact, a farmer discovered kerosene kills mosquitoes that were hanging out in the water troughs around their farm. Kerosene became widely used in the United States, and the United States Department of Agriculture approved kerosene as mosquito control in 1892.

In the early 1900s, mosquitoes became associated with dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, West Nile virus, and dog heartworm. As a result, the USDA and the U.S. Army started conducting experiments using powders and sprays to control the mosquito.

By the 1950s, a pesticide called DDT was in widespread use for mosquito control. The use of DDT has since been stopped due to health concerns, with safer, next-generation treatments being used instead. Mosquito repellents were also developed during and after World War II, and in the 1960s, mosquito repellants became available to the public, and citronella candles, which have limited effectiveness for mosquito control became popular. 

The Diseases Mosquitos Can Transmit

A swarm of mosquitos showing up around your property daily can be dangerous for you and your family. Mosquitoes have been known to carry diseases that can severely debilitate your health. Some of the deadliest diseases mosquitos carry include:

• West Nile virus
• La Crosse encephalitis
• Jamestown Canyon virus
• Western equine encephalitis
• Eastern equine encephalitis
• St. Louis encephalitis
• Chikungunya
• Dengue fever
• Malaria
• Yellow fever
• Zika virus

Mosquitoes are known as one of the deadliest creatures on the planet, with more than one million deaths annually attributed to diseases mosquitoes carry. Because of the dangers mosquitoes bring with them, mosquito control for your Dallas-Fort Worth area home is a necessity.

Natural Ways To Keep Mosquitos From Your Yard

The best way to handle a mosquito problem is to avoid one in the first place. There are several steps you can take to prevent mosquitoes in your yard, including:

• Make sure there are no areas of standing water, which mosquitoes use as breeding sites. Birdbaths, overturned furniture and plant pots, clogged gutters, and kiddie pools are all areas that may attract mosquitoes.
• Plant mosquito-repelling plants such as marigolds, rosemary, and citronella. 
• Ensure that any low-lying areas in the yard that may retain water are filled in.

The only way to effectively get rid of mosquitos is by hiring a professional like Bug Busters of Texas. We know what it takes to keep mosquitos away, using safe, effective treatments that protect you and your family. So give us a call today to help you keep mosquitoes out of your yard for good.