Mosquito Identification & Prevention

Mosquitoes are parasitic pests that live outside and feed on the blood of people and animals and are unwanted, dangerous pests. Adult mosquitoes have a fly-like shape and are gray, black, or brown, and some species have white, silver, green, or blue scales on their narrow, oval-shaped bodies. They have a single pair of wings covered in hair and long, thin legs, and most adults grow to about ¼ of an inch in length. With over 3,000 species living throughout the world, mosquitoes are formidable pests that are difficult to control. 

In addition to being a dangerous pest, mosquitoes are a huge annoyance and have the ability to swarm yards and drive people inside. Mosquitoes deliver painful, itchy bites and make trying to spend time in your backyard seem impossible. 

Mosquitoes feed on the blood of many different hosts. They can carry and transmit a variety of serious diseases, including the West Nile virus. They can also transmit diseases to our pets and infect our dogs with potentially fatal parasitic heartworms. While not all mosquitoes carry diseases, many do, and limiting your exposure to them is essential.

Female mosquitoes require blood meals to get the protein needed to develop healthy eggs. They then lay those eggs on top of areas of standing water. The primary food source of both male and female mosquitoes is plant nectar. Properties located near or with standing water or that have flowering plants, people, and animals to feed on, are the most attractive to mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes are seen in large numbers flying around breeding sites. Marshes, ponds, drainage ditches, buckets, pools, birdbaths, and any other place where water collects act as breeding sites for mosquitoes.

During the heat of the day, mosquitoes rest in overgrown vegetation, tall grasses, under trees, and along fence lines. When the weather is at its coolest (dawn and dusk), mosquitoes become very active, and when you are most likely to experience mosquito bites.

Acquiring help from a professional pest control expert is the best way to eliminate mosquitoes and keep them from returning. At Albemarle Termite & Pest Control, our technicians are highly trained and dedicated to providing safe and effective home pest control services that are affordable. We are a local, family-owned pest control company whose number one priority is putting our customers first and exceeding expectations.

For home or business owners looking to eliminate pests from their property once and for all, call Albemarle Termite & Pest Control today for help with mosquitoes and to learn more about our mosquito control services.

To help protect your North Carolina property from mosquitoes, consider putting into place the following prevention measures.

• Get rid of standing water from your property. Fill any low-lying areas in your yard and driveway.
• Maintain gutters and downspouts to stop water from pooling in them.
• If you own a pool, make sure it is properly maintained.
• Store any buckets and other containers that collect water upside down or inside when not in use.
• Keep grass cut short and cut back overgrown vegetation and trees from the exterior of your house.
• Fix leaky pipes and fixtures.