Anger is… a mosquito at 2 am. You are finally getting that good deep sleep that you have deserved for so long. Your pillow is cool, you’re snuggly under the blankets. It’s not too hot or too cold, and you’re in the middle of a wonderful dream. Sleep is good. Real good.
Suddenly, you hear a faint buzz. You wish it away because your perfect slumber will NOT be interrupted.
You hear it again. Bzzzz.
You keep your eyes closed and hope it isn’t true. It can’t be happening. Bzzzzz.
Oh no. Don’t say it’s so!
You open your eyes. It’s silent for a while. You count to 10 to be sure.
Okay good. It’s gone. Bzzzzz.
And the cycle continues.
We’ve all been there. It’s the worst.
Mosquito season is here. Otherwise known by the Green Wing team as “Skeeter season”. If you think you might have a mosquito problem, the first step is to call for an inspection. Call Now: (321) 499-9114 or fill out our contact form.
Mosquitos are small, but they are mighty. Mighty good at being annoying and spreading diseases, not to mention in rare cases can cause death. Mosquitos are serious, but with the appropriate treatment, we can keep mosquitos in your home and area of business at bay.
Here are 10 things to know about Mosquitos:
1. Mosquitos are one of the deadliest animals on Earth. According to National Geographic, more than 3,000 species of mosquitos transmit more diseases than any other creature on earth. “Mosquito-borne diseases cause millions of deaths worldwide every year with a disproportionate effect on children and the elderly in developing countries.” The World Health Organization compared mosquito deaths to shark deaths per year. There were 725,000 deaths by Mosquitos and 6 deaths by sharks.
2. The red itchy bumpy you get after a mosquito bite is your body having an allergic reaction. Health experts call this “Skeeter Syndrome” (and you thought just us Floridians called Mosquitos “Skeeters”). It’s an actual health term! The common symptoms of a mosquito bite include a small red bump and itching around the bite.
However, according to Medical News Today, Skeeter Syndrome causes a person to experience more serious symptoms. The bites tend to swell up to a very large size, and the person may also have a fever. The reaction tends to build up quickly, usually within a few hours. If you think you might have Skeeter Syndrome, contact your health care provider.
3. Diseases that are spread to people by mosquitoes include Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue, and malaria.
Malaria remains the largest threat and impacts an estimated 214 million people worldwide.
4. The United States is not exempt from mosquito-borne diseases. Many assume that mosquito deaths only occur in 3rd world countries. According to Statista, different regions are impacted by different mosquito-borne diseases depending on climate, the types of mosquitoes common in the region, and access to preventative measures and medicine. Mosquito-born diseases such as West Nile Virus, Chikungunya, and Zika have all impacted U.S. citizens. There were more than 2,600 cases of West Nile as recently in 2018 in the U.S., and in Florida alone, there were 1,115 Zika virus cases in 2016.
5. The best weather for Mosquitos: Florida weather. Just like spring breakers, mosquitos like it hot, hot, hot! Mosquitos begin to emerge at around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but skeeters love the scolding hot temperatures and the humidity during Florida summers. Mix in a summer rain shower and that’s basically heaven for them. North Florida's peak season is in the Spring/Summer, but South Florida doesn’t catch a break. Mosquito season in South Florida is all year round.
6. To protect you and your family from mosquitos, repellents are your best bet. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends only three repellents: DEET (diethyltoluamide); Picaridin; and Oil of Lemon-Eucalyptus (do NOT use on children under 3 years). There is no scientific evidence that sound-emitting devices, or that eating garlic, vitamins, onions, or any other food will repel mosquitoes.
7. There are about 80 species of Mosquitos in Florida. Thirty-three of the 80 is known to be hazardous to human and animal health. It is estimated that there are 3,500 mosquito species worldwide, and 200 of these species are found in the U.S. There is a species called the “Gallinipper” that has been spotted in Florida and is said to be about 20 times larger than the average mosquito. Leave it to Florida to win records in the largest mosquito population category…
Gallinipper in Florida compared to normal-sized mosquito
8. Where do mosquitos go in the winter? Many mosquitos hide. Mosquitos, like snowbirds who travel to The Villages in Florida for the winter, are not fans of weather that drops colder than 50 degrees. Some mosquitos will hibernate in enclosed spaces like old barns, heated cellars, garages, sheds, tree roots, and under or inside homes to survive. Other species will lay eggs and die. The eggs wait to hatch in warmer conditions. According to Mosquito Reviews, since they don’t eat during the winter, they add weight in the fall by switching from blood to food with more sugar, such as rotting fruit or nectar, and can double their weight. Scientists have recently discovered what signals them to change their diet.
9. The “bzzz” Mosquitos make in our ears are actually helping them find a date. No, really. According to Mosquito Reviews: Louis M. Roth, who studied yellow fever mosquitoes for the U.S. Army during World War II, noticed that males ignored females whenever the females were quietly resting, but whenever the females were flying and therefore buzzing, the males wanted to mate with them. Since female mosquitoes are larger, they flap their wings slower, and males know it. They use the distinctive pitch of the females’ buzz to recognize them. The males even wanted to mate with recordings of female mosquitoes or tuning forks that vibrated at the same pitch.
10. A successfully integrated mosquito control strategy includes several tactics to eliminate mosquitoes and their habitat. Luckily, these pests can be effectively controlled with a comprehensive pest management approach starting with the first visit. Click here to learn more about our process. Life is good pest-free!
Your bug guy,
Jeff Daniels