⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 rating of over 800 reviews

How a rainy spring causes heavy mosquito activity.

Mosquitoes are cold-blooded, meaning they can’t regulate their body temperature. This is why there are no mosquitoes around in the winter. They can’t function unless it’s warm. As soon as it begins to warm, mosquitoes will emerge and start the reproductive process.
The female mosquito needs less than a bottle cap full of water to lay eggs in. When she does she makes the most of it by laying anywhere from 100 to 200 eggs at a time. From there, eggs can hatch within 24 to 48 hours in moist warm conditions. Once the eggs have hatched the mosquito can reach the adult stage within 4 to 14 days.

Rain followed by a couple of sunny days could produce thousands of new mosquitoes in a few short weeks. From there the problem snowballs. Before you know it your property as well as your neighbors, are swarming with mosquitoes.

Why should I worry about mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes carry a host of diseases. These include West Nile, Zika, yellow fever, malaria, and heartworm. Zika virus has been a hot topic for several summers now. The effects of the Zika virus on a newborn are devastating. South Carolina has seen several deaths in the last few years contributed to West Nile virus.

Pets can contract heartworms in two ways. First, mosquitoes don’t cause heartworms, they are only carriers. When a female mosquito feeds on an infected animal she picks up microfilariae. Microfilariae are heartworm larvae. They develop inside the female mosquito for up the 30 days becoming infective larvae. The infected larvae then transfer into the bloodstream of the mosquito’s next meal. Heartworms can grow up to a foot long and live up to 7 years. They migrate to the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Symptoms of heartworms start with an occasional cough and intolerance to exercise. Late-stage heartworm disease causes persistent cough, wheezing, breathing difficulty, loss of appetite and weight, fainting episodes, as well as tiring easily.

Click to enlarge image

If you have a pet that drinks water with infected mosquito larvae in it they could contract heartworms. If you have a dog bowl outside you need to make sure you empty and clean it out before refilling it daily. 

What can be done to prevent mosquitoes?

We’re happy you asked. Start with a look around your property for any items that could be a breeding area for mosquitoes. This would be anywhere that water can collect and sit. You don’t have to worry about moving water, like in a fountain or a pool. Mosquitoes won’t lay eggs in places like this. Flower pots, birdbaths, and even children’s toys are all examples of things to remove or clean out after a rain. There are plenty of other places where mosquitoes can breed. Be on the look out for anything that collects rain water.
 
The next thing to consider is a professional monthly treatment designed for mosquitoes. Like most pest control companies, we offer such a service. This is not a service you would want to do as a one-time treatment. This is a service we do between March and October here in South Carolina. It is not necessary to treat for mosquitoes during the winter.
 
Are you ready for professional help with your mosquito problems? If so, send us your info below and someone from our office will be happy to get back to you.

Send us your info and we'll be happy to call you back.

Leave a Replay

Sign up for our Newsletter