Month: November 2020

Mosquito-Proof Your Pool

There is nothing better than relaxing by the pool on a hot summer day. However, having a pool in your backyard requires extra mosquito control measures because it provides another way for mosquitoes to ruin the fun for you and your family.

If not properly maintained, your swimming pool can become a haven for mosquitoes. Why is that? Because mosquitoes need standing water in order to breed, and an ill-maintained swimming pool makes for a perfect breeding site for these pests.

Don’t worry though, Mosquito Authority has you covered! Here are some tips on how to make sure your swimming pool does not become breeding grounds for mosquitoes:

Make sure your pool is filtered

Having a proper filtration system is crucial to having a well-maintained swimming pool. Running your pool filter every few hours can help ensure your pool is clean and free of any unwanted debris.

Use a pool cover

Using a pool cover is the best way to keep unwanted debris out of your swimming pool. Keeping your pool covered when it is not in use will keep mosquitoes out and prevent them from attempting to breed there. Some mosquitoes can even survive the cold weather, so using a cover year-round will help prevent them from getting in your pool.

Clean your pool cover

While pool covers are necessary for maintenance, they also must be monitored and cleaned regularly. Mosquitoes need very little water to breed, so it is very important to limit the amount of standing water anywhere near your home. 

Pool covers tend to collect a good amount of water from rain, nearby sprinklers, and other sources, so make sure you monitor it closely and get rid of any standing water as soon as you discover it.

Get rid of standing water around your pool

Mosquitoes don’t necessarily need to be in your pool to cause trouble. If there is any standing water around your pool, in things like bird baths or children’s toys, it can draw breeding mosquitoes to your yard. You shouldn’t have to worry about being eaten alive by mosquitoes every time you go for a swim, so make sure to get rid of any standing water in your yard.

Clean your pool regularly

While this might seem obvious, cleaning your pool is one of the best ways to keep mosquitoes from making it their home. Keeping your pool clean on a regular basis is an important part of mosquito control in your backyard. 

Call Mosquito Authority

Although there are a few DIY ways to prevent mosquitoes around your home, hiring a professional mosquito control company like Mosquito Authority is the best way to get rid of these pests. Our Mosquito Control Specialists always do a thorough walk-through of your property to identify all potential breeding grounds and develop a plan for how best to eliminate them.

Our aim at Mosquito Authority is not just to get rid of mosquitoes, but to keep them away from you and your family for good. For more information on mosquito control around your home, check out our other blogs.

Mosquito-Borne Illnesses

Most people know that mosquitoes spread diseases such as malaria and West Nile Virus, but did you know they are responsible for much more than that?

Here are some of the many mosquito-borne illnesses and some tips on preventing them:

West Nile Virus

First detected in the U.S. in 1999, West Nile Virus can lead to serious complications of the liver or nervous system, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), or paralysis. 

Malaria

Malaria was thought to have been eradicated in the United States, but was detected in mosquitoes in Fairfax County, Virginia, in 2002. Mosquitoes are considered the deadliest animal in the world due to the millions of people who have died from diseases like malaria.

Dengue Fever

A small but important risk for dengue fever exists in the United States. Travelers may introduce 100 to 200 cases into the United States each year. Symptoms of Dengue include vomiting, rash, and aches and pains.

Zika

The Zike virus is primarily spread to people who have been bitten by an infected mosquito of the Aedes species. Mosquitoes of this species are active both in the daytime and at night, and there is currently no vaccine to prevent Zika. If Zika is contracted during pregnancy, it can cause birth defects.

How you can help prevent the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses:

Contact a local pest management professional

Professional mosquito control companies can help homeowners reduce their exposure to mosquito bites by inspecting properties for mosquito breeding sites, and treating to control mosquitoes or suggesting corrective actions. At Mosquito Authority, our priority is the safety and well-being of you and your family.

Prevent breeding mosquitoes

An important part of mosquito control and prevention is making sure these pests do not have a place to breed. Eliminate or reduce mosquito breeding sites by replacing all standing water at least once a week. Potential breeding sites include bird baths, ponds, pools, and toys left out in the yard.

Get rid of yard clutter

Remove any unneeded vegetation or trash from around any standing water sources that cannot be changed, dumped or removed.

Introduce mosquito-eating fish to standing water

Some fish that eat mosquitoes include Gambusia, Green Sunfish, Bluegills, and Minnows. Introduce these fish to standing water sources in your yard, such as ponds, to reduce the chance of mosquitoes breeding.

Screen windows, doors, and other openings with mesh

Use mesh that is 18×18 strands per square inch, or finer. Seal around all screen edges, and keep doors and windows shut to prevent entry of most mosquito species.

Know when and where to avoid mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are most active during dusk and dawn, so plan accordingly if you are going to be outside during those times. 

Use insect repellent on exposed skin whenever or wherever mosquitoes are likely to bite

The most effective repellents currently available contain the active ingredient DEET, in concentrations up to about 35% (greater concentrations do not offer better protection). Also, wear long-sleeved shirts and long-legged pants, preferably treated with a repellent as well.


Mosquito control is not just important for your comfort, but for your health as well. You can visit the CDC for more information on mosquito-borne illnesses, and check out our other blogs for more mosquito control tips.

How do Mosquitoes Transmit Disease?

Did you know there are roughly 3,000 different mosquito species in the world? Out of those 3,000, about 200 species live in the United States. 

Many people may connect the height of mosquito season, occurring in the summer through early fall, to the itchy welts that accompany mosquito bites. But, there are far worse associations to make with these blood-sucking pests, such as the health threats they pose to humans in their daily lives—even in their own backyards.

Out of the thousands of mosquito species living all over the world, many have the potential for carrying and spreading various diseases. In the United States, mosquitoes are known to spread West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis, and chikungunya virus. These illnesses do not have specific vaccines or treatments, so year-round mosquito control is crucial. Other mosquito-borne illnesses include malaria, Dengue fever, and Zika virus.

How do mosquitoes contract a disease?

To fully understand the importance of mosquito control, let’s think about how mosquitoes can contract diseases in the first place. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the process by which mosquitoes contract and transmit illnesses is somewhat complex and generally consists of five steps:

  1. A female mosquito takes a blood meal from a human or animal host
  1. If that blood meal contains a germ, the germ must pass from the mosquito’s gut into its body. Therefore, mosquitoes can only transmit germs that can grow or multiply in their bodies.
  1. After the germ multiplies in the mosquitoes body, it travels to the salivary glands in about 2-3 weeks.
  1. Now that the germ is in the salivary glands, the mosquito can transmit it to a host. The next time the mosquito bites a person or animal, the germ passes from the salivary glands to the blood of the host. 
  1. The person or animal bitten is at risk for contracting disease.

Which mosquito spread disease? 

Now that we know how mosquitoes contract and spread disease, we can see which mosquitoes are responsible for spreading which diseases.

Aedes: Aedes mosquitoes are responsible for many well-known diseases, such as Yellow Fever, Zika virus, Dengue, and Lymphatic filariasis. 

Anopheles: Anopheles mosquitoes are responsible for the spread of probably the most well-known mosquito-borne illness in the world: malaria. Malaria takes hundreds of thousands of lives every year, particularly in areas with tropical and subtropical climates. According to the CDC, nearly half of the world’s population lives in areas at risk of malaria transmission.

Culex: Culex mosquitoes are known for spreading diseases like Japanese encephalitis and West Nile Fever.
Mosquito control is not just necessary for your comfort, but for your health as well. To learn more about mosquitoes and the diseases they carry, visit the CDC or World Health Organization websites.

Tick and Mosquito Control Facts

At Mosquito Authority, we know it is important to have all of the facts when it comes to tick and mosquito control. Educating yourself on these pests is a big step towards having a mosquito and tick-free home, and we want you to be as informed as possible. There is a lot to know when it comes to mosquitoes and ticks, so we put together some fun facts you might not have heard before:

Scratching a mosquito bite agitates the area

Although you might feel relief for a few seconds, scratching a mosquito bite does not actually help. In fact, it makes it worse by agitating the area and increasing the itchiness you feel. Some remedies including aloe vera, honey, and chamomile tea can help reduce the itch of a mosquito bite.

Animals can contract more than one disease from ticks

The need for tick control stems from their potential to spread diseases to both humans and animals. According to Country Friends Veterinary Clinic, animals can actually contract more than one disease from a single tick bite. Also, dogs are more likely to experience a tick bite because cats frequently clean themselves.

Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in shallow water

Have you ever wondered why mosquito control specialists recommend getting rid of any standing water in your yard? Well, it’s because female mosquitoes lay their eggs in areas of shallow water and sometimes even damp soil. 

You should avoid removing ticks with your bare hands

While you might be tempted to remove a tick from yourself or a pet with your hands, use tweezers instead. Using tweezers will allow you to grab the tick as close to your skin as possible to make sure you don’t leave any part of the tick in your skin. It is also important to remove ticks as quickly as possible!

We didn’t always know that mosquitoes spread West Nile Virus

According to Smithsonian Magazine, birds were once believed to be the cause of spreading West Nile Virus in the United States. It was not until 2010 that a study revealed mosquitoes to be the true cause of West Nile Virus cases from 2001 to 2004. As mosquito control specialists, we want to ensure that you and your family are protected from these pests and the diseases they carry.

Most ticks go through four life stages

The life stages of most ticks are egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph, and adult. Ticks need a blood meal at each stage of life, meaning they need to find and feed on at least one host per life stage. 

There are several effective mosquito repellents

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are four effective chemical repellents: DEET, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, IR3535, and Picaridin. 

There are more species of tick than you think 

While there are only 90 tick species found in the United States, there are over 850 species of ticks throughout the world. Tick species found in the U.S. include the American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis), the Eastern Blacklegged Tick (Ixodes scapularis), and the Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum). 

For more information on tick and mosquito control, check out our other blogs!

What to Know About Fleas

At Mosquito Authority, we offer more than just protection from mosquitoes and ticks– some of our locations offer flea control, too. We believe that our customers should know all the facts when it comes to these pests, so here are some things about fleas you might not have known:

Fleas have an interesting life

Similar to ticks, most fleas go through four stages of life: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, ticks may live anywhere from days to months to years, depending on their environment. 

Fleas need blood to survive

Just like mosquitoes, female fleas need a blood meal in order for their eggs to develop. However, all fleas, male and female, need to feed on hosts for blood. Fleas are also known to eat 10-15 blood meals every day. They get these blood meals by finding a human or animal host (preferably animal) and then lay their eggs on the host. According to the CDC, these insects find their hosts by detecting body heat, movement, and breathing.

Fleas can find homes in many places

Fleas typically prefer to inhabit places where your pets hang out– carpets, furniture, pet beds, and even your own bedding. As part of flea control in your home, be sure to vacuum your carpets and rugs frequently, as well as couch and chair cushions. Also, be sure to clean bedding (yours and your pet’s) often with soap and water.

Fleas can feed on animals and humans

While most fleas in the United States prefer to feed on animals, they sometimes bite humans out of convenience, according to the CDC. Most human flea bites occur when the human is in close contact with a pet. While flea bites are not usually as harmful to humans as they are to animals, they can still cause irritation and itching. 

There are thousands of flea species in the world

According to the CDC, there are roughly 2,500 species of flea worldwide, and around 300 of them inhabit the United States. The four most common flea species found in the U.S. are the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis), the dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis), the ground squirrel flea (Oropsylla montana), and the oriental rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis).

Fleas can transmit diseases to both animals and humans

While many believe that fleas are only harmful to animals, that is not the case. In fact, there are several diseases that fleas can transmit to humans. For instance, the cat flea is responsible for transmitting flea-borne typhus and cat scratch disease, while the ground squirrel flea can transmit plague bacteria to people in the United States. The dog flea contributes to the spread of Dipylidium caninum, a tapeworm that affects dogs, cats, and sometimes even humans.

Fleas can cause a variety of problems, from infesting your home to causing serious health problems. Proper flea control is a big part of keeping your family, including the furry members, happy and healthy. 

Find a Mosquito Authority location near you to find out if they offer flea control.