While other pests contaminate food or damage buildings (ants, termites, roaches, etc.), mosquitoes carry a different type of risk. Female mosquitoes feed on our blood when they need protein for their eggs, so we tend to receive more bites near their egg-laying sites. Mosquitoes need just a bit of fresh water to place their eggs on, their favorite places being lakes, ponds, full buckets, and soaked tarps. This is why mosquito infestations are more common after summer rainstorms and increased humidity. Unfortunately, the easiest way to tell if you have a mosquito infestation is if you suddenly begin receiving more mosquito bites than usual. But the real trouble with mosquito bites isn’t the itchiness; it’s the risk of disease. 

When mosquitoes feed on us, they inject their saliva into the site to act as an anticoagulant and make it easier to consume. Their saliva can also contain harmful pathogens that transmit disease from the mosquito to the host. Not every mosquito is infected, as they need to feed on an already-infected mammal to gain the disease. The pathogens are then stored in the mosquito’s gut, waiting to be transmitted into the next warm-blooded creature. Mosquitoes can only transmit certain bloodborne diseases for this reason. Some of the most common mosquito diseases include malaria, West Nile virus, and Zika virus. The physical symptoms vary with each disease, but the shared ones are chills, body aches, fever, nausea, and fatigue. If you or anyone in your family has these symptoms after being bitten by a mosquito, please seek medical attention immediately. 

Mosquito infestations are no joke. If they reproduce somewhere in your yard, it will be nearly impossible to enjoy your outdoor space without being relentlessly attacked by these pests. At Pointe Pest Control, we are dedicated to protecting Freeburg residents from mosquito invasions throughout the warmer months. Our treatments are guaranteed effective against mosquitoes but safe for people and pets. Contact us today for more information on our reliable mosquito control services!