If there’s one thing that Lewisville is a breeding ground for, it’s mosquitoes. Between our humid summers and the many lakes that border the greater Dallas area, Lewisville mosquitoes can be relentless during the summer. Getting bug bites every day is bad enough, but in truth, mosquitoes carry more danger than itchiness in those bites.
From pesky bites to harboring dangerous diseases, Lewisville residents deserve an effective answer to the annual mosquito problem. Here’s how you can control mosquitoes around your property and keep them from ruining your summertime fun.
Mosquito Identification Guide
If there’s one word that best describes a mosquito, it’s “gangly.” These creatures have small bodies and large legs, making them easy to identify when you see one – the trick is just to keep a lookout.
Though there are over 200 mosquito species in the United States, they share many similar traits. Mosquitoes grow anywhere between 1/10 and ½ of an inch. They have a small head and larger bodies, with six legs that can grow over twice their body length. Mosquitoes have a pair of clear wings, and their heads have a long snout-like nose called a proboscis.
Believe it or not, these weirdly shaped pests are some of the deadliest creatures on Earth. No, they aren’t trying to kill you, but they are vectors to some seriously deadly diseases. Zika virus, West Nile virus, Dengue fever, malaria, and chikungunya are just a few of the pathogens mosquitoes can carry, and these diseases are carried worldwide – including in the United States.
Simply put, mosquitoes are a problem to have around Lewisville. So, how can you keep them away?
Mosquito Prevention Tips
Before we talk about what works to control mosquito populations, let’s talk about what doesn’t work. There are a lot of solutions out there, both DIY and at the store, that claim to keep mosquitoes at bay. Sadly, homeowners often waste money on the following:
- Tiki Torches. These simply don’t cast a big enough radius to keep mosquitoes away – the mosquito might avoid the torch, but not your yard.
- Citronella. Similar to tiki torches: yes, mosquitoes don’t like citronella, but these products don’t cast a large enough net to keep mosquitoes off your skin.
- Sprays and yard repellents. These might work in the short term, but even the good sprays don’t last long enough to really keep you safe. Mosquitoes can still find uncovered skin to feed on, and won't stray far from your yard, so you aren’t warding them off for long.
So, what does work? The best thing you can do is remove the factors that attract mosquitoes to your property in the first place. For starters, remove standing water around your house. Puddles attract mosquitoes, especially if those puddles are undisturbed, like in clogged gutters. Disrupting these puddles will give mosquitoes less incentive to hang around.
Additionally, it’s important to trim branches and hedges. Mosquitoes will nest in the foliage while they tend to their eggs or wait for their next meal. When they aren’t feeding on blood, mosquitoes will feed on nectars and other sweet liquid found naturally in the wild. By removing where they like to nest, mosquitoes will be far less likely to stay nearby.
If neither of these options work, your best bet is to contact your local exterminators. Only they have the products and traps that keep mosquitoes away and trap them when they try to come close. The experts at Texas Star Pest & Termite are ready to keep your Lewisville home safe, so why wait? If mosquitoes are causing you trouble, contact us today.