HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM DANGEROUS MOSQUITOES IN PHOENIX
Mosquitoes are the most dangerous species in the world. Every year, diseases transmitted by mosquitoes kill over one million people, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, the number of people adversely affected by these diseases is much lower than in other parts of the world, but that doesn’t mean the danger is non-existent.
Despite their disease-spreading capabilities, mosquitoes still play a vital role in our ecosystem. Here’s what you need to know about mosquitoes in Phoenix and the diseases they carry, the purpose of mosquitoes, and tricks to keep mosquitoes away.
The Role Mosquitoes Play In Phoenix’s Ecosystem
Mosquitoes are a dangerous species all over the world, but they still play a vital role in our ecosystems as prey for other animals and as pollinators. There are over 3,000 different species of mosquitoes, and only a few of them feed on humans. Overall, these insects are food for animals we love and need, like bats, birds, fish, frogs, and turtles. Unfortunately, those few that feed on people are the ones we have to worry about spreading diseases across whole countries, though not every species is a danger in this way.
Another reason mosquitoes are an essential piece of our ecosystem is that they help pollinate. With our most beloved pollinators, the bees, struggling to fight off predatory wasps, pesticides, climate change, and viruses, we need all the pollinators we can get to keep our plant life thriving. While we may hate them, the purpose of mosquitoes in feeding animals and helping us feed ourselves makes them an essential part of our environment.
The Diseases Mosquitoes In Pheonix Can Transmit
While necessary, few dangerous mosquitoes in the United States still cause problems every year, and the list of diseases caused by mosquitoes contains some alarming health consequences.
Some of the most common diseases spread by mosquitoes include the Zika virus, West Nile virus, chikungunya virus, dengue fever, and malaria. While transmission of these diseases is less common in the US than in other parts of the world, it continues to be a risk. About 2,000 cases of malaria are diagnosed each year in the United States, along with 54,000 West Nile virus cases, 28 chikungunya cases, and around 865 dengue fever cases. The Zika virus hasn’t had a notable presence in the United States since 2019.
Luckily fatalities from the list of diseases caused by mosquitoes in the United States are quite rare, but deaths still occur every year because of these diseases. Fortunately, it’s easy to prevent mosquito bites with a little bit of research and planning ahead.
How To Naturally Prevent Mosquito Bites In Phoenix
If you aren’t one for spraying mosquito repellent, that’s all right. There are still plenty of techniques to prevent mosquitoes from seeing you as a target and biting you. For natural mosquito prevention, try these tricks to keep mosquitoes away and to prevent bites:
- Wear loose, long-sleeved, and light-colored clothing.
- Take a shower and wash your clothes before you leave the house.
- Try not to travel outdoors during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
- Wear essential oils like lavender, peppermint, or eucalyptus.
When outdoors, make sure your skin is covered. Wear a hat and tuck your socks in if you have to. Keeping mosquitoes away from your property entirely requires a few different steps, but prevention along these lines can drastically reduce your risk of a bite. Try these home and yard prevention tips and a few of the best plants to deter mosquitoes:
- Remove or treat any sources of standing water.
- Keep your yard trimmed, gutters cleaned, and the area free of debris.
- Take care of anything causing excess moisture, such as leaking pipes or landscaping issues.
- Maintain fine-mesh screens on your windows.
- Keep fans running in outdoor living spaces, pointing away from the action.
- Plant lavender, basil, rosemary, catnip, citronella grass, peppermint, or lemon balm.
The Best Way To Protect Your Phoenix Property From Mosquitoes
Natural pest control methods are better than none, and using prevention tips to keep your yard clear of things that attract mosquitoes will do a lot of good. Unfortunately, in areas of high concentration, even the best plants to deter mosquitoes won’t be enough to fully give you peace.
At Overson Pest Control, we can promise a safe yard and home that is protected from these dangerous pests. After your free estimate, you can enjoy the fast-acting effects of our home pest control treatment and the assurance of our satisfaction-guaranteed follow-up appointments. Our priority is keeping the members of our community safe from diseases caused by pests in Phoenix. For your free, no-obligation estimate, call Overson Pest Control today.