How To Effectively Combat Salt Lake City’s Mosquitoes
 290-8619.png?t=w_270){kind=logo}
Your backyard is supposed to be a safe place to spend time with family and friends, enjoy a nice meal, and let your kids and pets run around. But when swarms of mosquitoes take over this space, it is anything but relaxing. These troublesome insects are, at best, a nuisance and, at their worst, a risk to your loved ones.
In this article, we’ll delve into the mysterious world of mosquitoes to help you better understand what you are up against. We’ll start by explaining the science behind mosquito bites, including why they bite, what happens when they do, and the potential risks you face each time one of these pests lands on your skin.
Certain clothing choices can attract the attention of mosquitoes and make you more susceptible to bites. We’ll offer some tips to help you protect your family when they are heading outside for the day.
Nothing can completely eradicate these pests, but there are several steps you can take to reduce the number of mosquitoes on your property and prevent them from breeding. We’ll provide our best tips and tricks for deterring mosquitoes, helping you achieve a yard with as few mosquitoes as possible.
We’ll also explain how collaborating your efforts with a professional company that offers mosquito control in Salt Lake Cityis the simplest and most effective way to keep these dangerous pests at bay. Learn more about eco-friendly mosquito solutions that are safe for your family and pets with the pros from Uinta Pest Solutions.
The Science Behind Mosquito Bites: Why They Happen
At some point, almost everyone has experienced spending time outdoors and ending up with red, itchy bites on their skin. Unless you are a rare person who never seems to get a bite, you’ve likely wondered why these pests are out to get you. While it may seem like mosquitoes bite only to attack and annoy you, they are doing so to ensure the survival of their species.
Only female mosquitoes bite humans and animals to receive their blood meals, and outside of that, both males and females sustain themselves with plant nectar. Females need a blood meal to get the proteins they need to produce their eggs. After taking the blood, they take several days to digest and lay up to 300 eggs in stagnant water that become reproductive adults in about two weeks under the right conditions.
Mosquitoes have a long mouthpart called a proboscis that looks like a tiny needle extending far from their head. They use this mouthpart to pierce your skin and draw blood from your body. Their saliva stops your blood from clotting, allowing them to take the blood meal quickly before you notice them.
That itchy red bump you are left with after they feed is also due to their saliva. As they take their meal, their saliva gets into your body stream, and the body reacts to it as an allergen, causing the bite site to swell and become itchy. The reaction is mild for most people, but others with compromised immune systems can have a more severe reaction with fever and blistering.
Mosquitoes can pick up blood-borne pathogens when they feed on a person or animal and pass those disease-causing pathogens onto the next person or animal they bite. Mosquitoes in our area can spread illnesses like West Nile virus, encephalitis, tularemia, and heartworm to dogs.
One of the best ways to protect your family and pets from these dangers is to work with a professional company that offers pest control services in Salt Lake City. Contact us today at Uinta Pest Solutions to learn more about how our treatments can help significantly reduce mosquitoes on your property and lower the chances of risky bites.
Dress Smart: Clothing Tips To Minimize Mosquito Bites
If you’ve ever felt like mosquitoes are biting you more than other people around you, it could have something to do with your clothes.
Here are some tips to help you choose clothing that is less likely to attract mosquitoes attention or makes it harder for them to bite:
- Avoidcolors that attract mosquitoes, like black, navy, red, or floral patterns.
- Closed-toe shoes and socks can help to keep them from biting your feet.
- Tucking your pants into socks will help to limit the amount of skin exposed.
- Avoid wearing fabrics like spandex and gauze that mosquitoes can bite through.
- Choose fabrics like denim and tight-knit wool that they can’t bite into.
- Mosquitoes can bite through clothing that has a tight fit, like yoga pants, nylons, or tank tops.
- Avoid loose necklines, bell sleeves, or capri pants that will allow mosquitoes access to your skin.
For even greater protection, you can buy clothing pre-treated with an insect repellent and use EPA-approved sprays for your skin with DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Be sure to follow all instructions carefully to use these products safely.
Professional mosquito control can also help to deter mosquitoes from your yard and protect your family from bites. Contact us today at Uinta Pest Solutions to learn more about our mosquito solutions or to request an appointment.
Tips And Tricks For Obtaining A Bite-Free Yard
Working with a professional pest control company is the best way to control mosquitoes near your home, but there is a lot you can do to help.
Here are some natural ways to keep mosquitoes away, which we will elaborate on below:
- Eliminate standing water anywhere in your yard.
- Frequently refresh the water in birdbaths.
- Keep the yard tidy.
- Plant plants that make a difference.
We explained that after mosquitoes take their blood meal, they find a nearby source of standing water to lay their eggs. If there are large populations of mosquitoes on your property, they are likely breeding there. Any chance you have to eliminate stagnant water on your property will help to deter mosquitoes.
We suggest frequently walking through the yard and emptying containers holding water. Some mosquitoes can lay their eggs in containers as small as a bottle cap, so you’ll want to check carefully. Common containers include potted plant bases, children’s toys, overturned grill covers, pool covers, and tire swings.
Other sources of standing water include clogged gutters or downspouts that cause water to pool and low-lying areas of your property where puddles form. Repair any leaks in hoses or faulty sprinkler heads that also cause puddles. Tree holes are frequent places for mosquitoes to lay eggs, but filling these in with expandable foam from the hardware store will prevent these breeding sites.
Regularly refresh any water features you want to keep, including birdbaths and decorative static ponds. Children’s wading pools can also act as breeding sites, so it’s important to empty them, scrub them, and refill them at least once a week. For larger pools you can’t easily cover, ensure they circulate to deter mosquitoes from laying eggs.
Keeping up with yard maintenance can also help to deter these pests. Mosquitoes in Salt Lake City like to have shady areas to rest during the day, so keep the grass short, remove excessive vegetation, and clean up debris piles.
Certain nectar-rich plants like lilacs, lavender, and columbine will attract mosquitoes looking to feed. Plants that grow in decorative ponds, such as water lilies, will also catch mosquito’s attention. Replacing these with plants like marigolds, rosemary, lemon balm, and peppermint can help to deter them from your property.
When dining outdoors or sitting on the patio, running a small fan can help to keep mosquitoes away. We also suggest staying inside around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are at their worst.
The pros at Uinta Pest Solutions can help you determine what specific factors on your property might be luring these pests to bite and breed. Contact us today to learn more about how our eco-friendly mosquito control services can help keep mosquitoes out of the yardand away from your family.
Call The Professionals For Total Mosquito Control For Your Yard
Uinta Pest Solutions offers expert mosquito control near youto significantly reduce the mosquito population on your property. Protecting your family from the risks of mosquitos should not involve treatments that endanger your loved ones. We utilize state-of-the-art, eco-friendly, pet- and family-safe options that are highly effective against mosquitoes and help keep dangerous ticks away.
We offer monthly treatments that focus on the perimeter of your property, paying close attention to the areas mosquitoes like to hide and breed, under vegetation, and among leafy shrubs. Using a backpack sprayer helps us to ensure we get every surface and all areas that encourage mosquito activity. We also have an option for one-time services for special events like weddings, family reunions, or outdoor parties.
Uinta Pest Solutions technicians will inspect your property and determine a treatment plan specific to your home. Our pros will also point out any factors you can remedy to help deter these insects. Contact us today to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Salt Lake City or to request a quote and reclaim your yard from these dangerous pests.
Recent Blog Posts
Request Your Free Quote
Complete the form below to schedule your no-obligation quote