In The Line Of Bite: Protecting Yourself Against Mosquitoes In Streator
We are arguably the most safety-conscious generation in the history of the world. Everything from pillows to heavy machinery has warning labels. Some labels are comical. For example, you might see the warning, "Do not use the hair dryer in the shower." While some tags are there to thwart a potential lawsuit, most are there for our protection.
It is a natural human desire to protect ourselves from harm, whether from potential product misuse or a pest like mosquitoes. Why do we want to protect ourselves from these buzzing and annoying flying insects? Why do we purchase sprays, light tikki torches, and wipe dryer sheets on our bodies to ward off these insects? The main reason for these activities is we want to protect ourselves from mosquitoes.
Although some home remedies may provide some protection, the only way to control mosquitoes is to secure mosquito control in Streator from Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators. You need a local, family-owned company that has protected our community against pests since 1929. Many pest control companies exist throughout the United States, but only 3% have earned the QualityPro certification from the Foundation for Professional Pest Management. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) recognizes this certification as the highest achievement a pest control company can obtain in the industry; we are proud to say that we have been QualityPro Certified since 2005. We meet and exceed 16 local, state, and federal regulations; our team members are certified, background-checked, and drug-free. When you partner with us, you work with the local pest control industry leader.
We know you probably found this article because mosquitoes are dive-bombing you when you sit on the porch at night, and you want to protect yourself from them. Please keep reading for the information you need to enforce mosquito control around your Streator home.
The Anatomy Of A Mosquito Bite: How It Happens And Why It Itches
Mosquitoes are flying, six-legged insects that feed primarily on nectar and plant juices. When they land on a plant, they use a mouthpart called a proboscis to draw the juices into their bodies. Although plant juices and nectar are enough to sustain a mosquito's life, they do not provide the nutrients for fertilized female mosquitoes to produce eggs. Egg creation requires proteins, amino acids, iron, and other nutrients found only in human or animal blood. Thus, the mosquitoes that bite are females who need additional nutrients to produce offspring.
When a female mosquito lands on a human, it uses tiny claws on the end of each of its six legs to anchor it while it inserts the proboscis into the skin. Unlike the mouthparts of male mosquitoes, which are not rigid enough to pierce the skin, females can penetrate the skin.
The female proboscis has six needle-like mouthparts called stylets. It uses two stylets to hold the tissue apart while two additional toothed stylets saw through the skin; a fifth stylet, called the labrum, pierces the exposed blood vessel and draws blood. The mosquito uses the sixth needle-like mouthpart to inject saliva laced with an anticoagulant to promote good blood flow. Furthermore, the mosquito's saliva dilates the blood vessels, lubricates the proboscis, and temporarily blocks our immune system's response. As the mosquito's abdomen fills with blood, it filters out and releases the water, leaving only red blood cells and the essential nutrients it needs for egg production. Now that you know how a mosquito bites, let's discuss the reasons for the itching.
Once the mosquito flies away, the immune-suppressing anesthetic quickly wears off, and your body identifies the mosquito's saliva as an allergen. Thus, your body dispatches histamines to the location to remove the allergen from your system; these histamines cause itching and swelling at the wound location.
The best way to minimize annoying mosquitoes around your Streator home is to use the mosquito control service from Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators, along with the prevention tips we will share later in this article.
Health Risks Of Mosquito Bites: Warning Signs To Watch For
Each time a female mosquito wants to produce eggs, it must consume a blood meal, and when mosquitoes bite, there is an exchange of blood and saliva. When it drinks blood, it gets the red blood cells and any disease-causing viruses and parasites in the host's blood. The germs initially enter the mosquito's gut and migrate to the mosquito's salivary glands over the next two to three weeks. When the mosquito feeds on its next victim, it injects the pathogens in the salivary glands into the host's body.
The capacity of mosquitoes to spread disease makes them the deadliest animal in the world.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mosquito-borne diseases kill about 750,000 people worldwide. The following is a list of diseases caused by mosquitoes in the United States:
- West Nile virus
- Dengue
- Chikungunya
- Encephalitis
Although malaria, Zika, and yellow fever are often in the news, mosquitoes do not spread these illnesses in our country.
The West Nile virus has become a concern in our country because it can produce a fatal result in 1% of cases. One in five will encounter fever, headaches, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash; however, most people do not experience symptoms when infected with this pathogen.
About 25% of people infected with the dengue virus will experience nausea, vomiting, body aches, eye pain, and other flu-like symptoms for two to seven days after the bite. Although no specific medication exists to treat this disease, you can manage it with over-the-counter pain medications, rest, and staying hydrated.
Unlike the West Nile and dengue viruses, those infected with the chikungunya virus will experience illness about three to seven days after being bitten. Fortunately, the symptoms last only a week and consist mainly of muscle and joint pain but may also include other flu-like signs.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, encephalitis is the most common disease carried by mosquitoes in our state. There are many iterations of the encephalitis virus (e.g., La Crosse, Eastern equine, St. Louis, and Japanese); of these, the La Crosse and St. Louis are the ones that have occurred recently, but rarely, in our state. Like most other diseases spread by mosquitoes, most people do not experience symptoms when infected with La Crosse encephalitis (LAC) or St. Louis encephalitis (SLE); however, some experience fever, headaches, and other flu-like symptoms about five to fifteen days after infection. In rare cases, these diseases can cause swelling of brain or spinal cord tissue; these mosquito-borne illnesses can be fatal in a tiny percentage of situations.
We want to emphasize that most people do not experience symptoms from viruses transmitted by mosquitoes. The best way to reduce your risk of contracting an infection from a mosquito-borne illness is to secure mosquito control from Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators. Our proven methods and tools will severely downsize the mosquito population around your home.
Mosquito Bite Prevention: How to Protect Yourself From Bites
The best way to control mosquitoes in your Streator yard is to partner with Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators in conjunction with these suggestions:
- Remove items that collect water in the yard
- Provide drainage to ditches, low-lying areas, and gutters
- Change water in bird baths regularly
- Cut the grass low
- Eliminate overgrown vegetation on the property
- Repair holes in window and door screens
- Keep exterior doors closed as much as possible
- Wear long pants and sleeves when outdoors
- Avoid working or playing in the yard at dawn or dusk
- Treat clothing and gear with permethrin
- Use EPA-registered insect repellants
Mosquitoes can lay eggs in thimble-sized containers, so no water-collecting item is too small for a mosquito. Maintaining a dry property by removing water-collecting items, promoting good airflow, and exposing it to sunlight will discourage mosquitoes from breeding around your house.
Say Goodbye To Mosquito Bites Around Your Yard: Call Us Today!
When a fertilized female mosquito gets a blood meal from a person or animal on your property, it will seek out an area to deposit its eggs. If it finds a location, it may produce 50 to 500 eggs. Soon, offspring emerge from the eggs and become reproducing adults. Before long, you can have an infestation from just one fertilized female.
Fortunately, Streator mosquito control services are available from Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators. During mosquito season (March to October), we will treat foliage around the house with plant-friendly products to kill mosquitoes where they land, rest, and hide. Our treatments also control fleas and ticks that rats, mice, raccoons, and wildlife bring onto your property.
For the ultimate mosquito protection, we install fully automatic mosquito control misting systems around the perimeter of your property in strategic locations where mosquitoes often breed and rest. This automated system sprays a fine mist that destroys mosquitoes, their eggs, and other outdoor pests.
The proven tools and treatment methods of Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators will reduce anxiety and the risk of contracting a mosquito-borne illness while enjoying your property. Contact us today to learn about our home pest control options and request an inspection.
