Residents in Orange County use many things to prevent mosquito bites. The most common methods are bug repellents and natural scents to keep mosquitoes away. But how effective are these methods? Today, we'll look at how difficult it is to prevent mosquito bites and why it is so hard to stop these irritating pests. We'll tell you what to do about mosquito bites and, most importantly, how to prevent them. Stick with us all the way to the end to learn techniques the professionals use to get long-lasting mosquito control in Orange County. If you'd like to learn about mosquito control services, check out our mosquito control page. HomeShield Pest Control provides industry-leading pest control in Orange County. If we're using it, it works.

Understanding Mosquito Behavior: Insights Into Why They Bite

Have you ever wondered, "Why do mosquitoes bite some people and not others?" The answer to this question is the first step in learning how to prevent mosquito bites. Mosquitoes don't bite everyone equally. There are reasons they may bite you more than someone else.

  • Mosquitoes are attracted to warm skin and moisture on the skin. Pregnant women have trouble on both fronts as skin temperatures are elevated during pregnancy.
  • Mosquitoes are drawn to carbon dioxide. If you exercise outdoors, you'll exhale more CO2 and attract mosquitoes.
  • Studies show that drinking even one beer will increase the chance of having mosquitoes target you. If you partake in alcohol at an outdoor party, you may get unwanted attention from mosquitoes.
  • Mosquitoes target people who offer more skin to land on. If you like to wear short-sleeved shirts and shorts, you'll likely get more bites.
  • Mosquitoes have poor eyesight. They fly low and use the horizon to lock onto their target. A dark silhouette is easier to land on, so people wearing darker clothes will have more trouble with mosquitoes.
  • Mosquitoes are drawn to perfume because they feed on the nectar of flowers when they're not drawing a blood meal for the purpose of reproduction.
  • If you have a yard that is filled with mosquitoes, you're likely to get more bites. Homeowners with seasonal mosquito control enjoy the benefits of fewer bites during mosquito season.

Are you having more trouble with mosquito bites than other people? Do you suspect one of these factors is to blame? We'll take a look at how you can deter mosquitoes from biting you in just a minute. First, let's look at why it is important to take steps to avoid mosquito bites. 

Health Risks Of Mosquito Bites: Warning Signs To Watch For

It is commonly known that mosquitoes spread viruses and that some viruses are potentially deadly. But that isn't what you need to know most about mosquito bites. In the United States, the primary concern is not malaria and other mosquito-borne viruses that are linked to more than 750,000 deaths annually in the world. The issue we have is with general flu-like illnesses caused by encephalitis. If you're not familiar, encephalitis is swelling of the brain, which is accompanied by a headache. If you have a flu-like illness with head or body aches, monitor your symptoms closely and seek medical attention immediately if these aches worsen. 

While we don't have localized animal populations with malaria, Zika virus, dengue fever, chikungunya, yellow fever, and serious mosquito disease, the less threatening diseases we have can prove dangerous in certain conditions. The symptom to watch for is encephalitis. The most dangerous viruses in the United States are West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis, La Crosse encephalitis, Jamestown Canyon virus, Western equine encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis.

Do mosquitoes in Orange County spread these diseases? It depends on the mosquito species, and it is challenging to tell mosquitoes apart. So, it is best to prevent all mosquito bites and monitor headaches and body aches.

Protecting Yourself: Prevention Measures Against Mosquito Bites

There are two ways to guard against mosquito bites. You need to know how to protect yourself and how to keep mosquitoes away from your house. Personal protection isn't guaranteed, but it is better to do something rather than nothing.

  • You can avoid going out at dusk or dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
  • You can avoid exercising outdoors or only exercise on properties with mosquito abatement.
  • You can choose to be the designated driver for your friends at outdoor parties.
  • You can wear long sleeves and pants to make it harder for mosquitoes to find skin to land on.
  • You can wear repellent. Choose a product with DEET. If you don't want to apply a synthetic material, oil of lemon eucalyptus is a good option. If you choose to use essential oil, apply the product often as naturally derived repellents (other than oil of lemon eucalyptus) wear off quickly.
  • Wear clothing with netting or stay inside screened structures.

If you want a yard free of mosquito activity, the secret is to address the problem scientifically. The reasons you have mosquitoes in your yard are due to the following facts. Here are some of the reasons mosquitoes may frequent your property, along with suggestions for how you can deter them and prevent mosquito bites.

  • Mosquitoes eat nectar and plant sap and are attracted to yards with lots of weeds. Weed control can help reduce mosquito activity and deter mosquitoes from initially entering your yard.
  • Mosquitoes rest in overgrown vegetation and are attracted to humid landscaping. Remove unwanted grass, trim your plants, blow leaves out, and get rid of the weeds to reduce moisture retention. Along with this, keep your gutters clean and make sure they are working properly.
  • Mosquitoes lay eggs on your property, and it's these eggs more than the mosquitoes that pass near your property that are the source of your infestation. Addressing breeding sites will significantly impact the number of mosquitoes that swarm you when you go outdoors. Pour stagnant water sources out and reduce yard clutter.

While you can reduce mosquitoes naturally, it's hard work, which is why Orange County residents often turn to mosquito control products. Sadly, DIY mosquito products can end up being entirely ineffective or add even more work while providing unsatisfactory results. Let's take a look at how professionals ensure lasting results.

Effective Mosquito Control: How Professionals Ensure Lasting Results

What does a professional do that you don't do? The answer isn't as simple as we'd like it to be. Mosquito control is a complicated process. Here are a few facts you should consider as you decide what to do about mosquitoes on your property. Some of them are likely to surprise you.

  • A professional considers the landscape of your property and makes recommendations for a control strategy that takes into consideration all of the conditions present.
  • A licensed professional uses advanced materials and applies them in appropriate amounts.
  • When working with a professional, you can be confident that all safety guidelines are met and all best practices are followed.
  • The materials are applied to resting areas where mosquitoes are commonly found to ensure the highest level of efficacy.
  • The materials are applied routinely during mosquito season to continually interrupt the mosquito population in your yard. Your professional knows how long the materials last and what schedule is best for your property and environmental conditions.
  • A professional schedules your treatments and takes care of them so you don't have to think about it and don't miss a treatment.
  • Treatments alone aren't always enough to prevent mosquito activity. There are times when other methods are needed.
  • Your professional may apply larvicide to breeding sites on your property. These treatments contain insect growth regulators, which prevent mosquitoes from developing from eggs to larvae to pupae and, ultimately, to their adult stage. Since only in the adult stage are mosquito insects that fly (and bite), preventing development prevents mosquito bites.
  • Your professional may use traps to address mosquitoes on your property. The most effective traps are professional-grade, organically-driven mosquito control solutions. The traps lure female mosquitoes in and contaminate them with a naturally occurring fungus. After exposure, the female carries the fungus to other breeding sites and introduces the fungus, spreading the impact of the traps. The eggs that are laid in the traps are destroyed. Eggs laid in secondary breeding areas where the fungus is introduced are not able to develop into flying adult mosquitoes.

Not all professionals use all of the methods. As you consider contacting mosquito control near you, keep this in mind. For assistance with the highest level of mosquito control in Orange County, contact HomeShield Pest Control. We provide all of these benefits and service options. We'll evaluate your property and guide you toward a mosquito control solution that is perfect for you, your family, and your property. It is easy to get started. Jump to our contact page and tell us about your mosquito concerns or mosquito control needs. It is an easy and stress-free way to get answers and learn about services in Orange County. We look forward to chatting with you!