Summertime may bring refreshing days at the pool and plenty of sunshine, but in College Station, it also means dealing with local mosquitoes like the Asian tiger mosquito, the house mosquito, and the southern mosquito.
You may think you’ve got mosquitoes all figured out, but there’s a lot of misinformation that circles around about these pests. From what diseases they may carry to the best ways you can prevent them, here are some common myths you’ve probably heard about mosquitoes.
Myth 1: All Mosquitoes Bite
It’s a common misconception that every mosquito you run across is ready to bite you, but this isn’t true. Male mosquitoes won’t bite you at all – a male mosquito’s diet consists completely of nectar. It’s the female mosquitoes that require proteins found in human blood to reproduce.
There are also plenty of mosquito species that don’t bite people at all, but many of the common mosquito types in College Station, like the Asian tiger mosquito, will bite as long as they’re female.
Myth 2: People With Fair Skin Get Bitten More By Mosquitoes
Another myth that usually accompanies mosquitoes is that if you’ve got fair skin, you make a more attractive meal to these pests. However, this isn’t true – your complexion isn’t going to make you look more (or less) attractive to mosquitoes.
This myth does have some rationale – even if they don’t make a tastier meal, people with fair skin usually have stronger, more visible reactions to bug bites. When they’re bitten, someone with fair skin might get an inflamed, itchy, red bump that stays for days, while a bite is barely noticeable on someone else.
If you’re worried about luring in mosquitoes, these pests may not care about your complexion, but they do tend to target people who are:
- Wearing bright colors that are easier to spot
- Pregnant
- Exercising or sweating while outside
- Drinking alcohol
Myth 3: All Mosquitoes Carry Disease
You’ve probably heard a lot about mosquito-borne diseases, and while they’re a legitimate concern, that doesn’t mean every single mosquito is carrying a disease. In fact, only a small percentage of mosquitoes are carrying or infected with a dangerous disease, such as:
- Dengue fever
- West Nile Virus
- Yellow fever
- Zika virus
- Malaria
- Chikungunya
You don’t need to seek medical attention just because you’ve been bitten by a mosquito, but if you start experiencing symptoms like fever, a spreading rash, chills, or other flu-like symptoms after a bite, you may need to go to the doctor.
Myth 4: Using Bats Is An Easy Way To Control Mosquito Populations
Mosquitoes are one of the trickiest pests to control, but one common tactic that a lot of homeowners rely on is bats. They may even go so far as to attract bats to their property for the sole purpose of reducing mosquitoes.
While bats do eat mosquitoes, these pests are far from a bat’s favorite meal. Attracting bats may reduce your cicada or beetle populations, but it probably won’t make much of a dent in your mosquito problem.
The best way to control mosquitoes in College Station is with professional help – like those of us at D. Lee Pest Services. Our experienced professionals will not only use effective treatments that significantly reduce mosquito populations, but we can also identify problem areas that may be attracting them.
If you’re tired of constant mosquito bites on your property, don’t wait any longer – call us at D. Lee Pest Services today to find out how we can help with your mosquito and other home pest control needs in Bryan, TX.