There’s no reason you should spend your Tampa summer combating mosquitoes, and fortunately, you don’t have to. Here’s what Tampa residents should know about the purposes mosquitoes serve, how mosquito control has worked in the past, the diseases that mosquitoes spread, some of the natural techniques you can use to kill mosquitoes in your yard, and how to keep mosquitoes away with pest control in Tampa.

a mosquito on a white flower
a mosquito biting a persons shoulder

What Is The Purpose Of Mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes may seem useless when you’re constantly itching at mosquito bites or putting on bug spray, but even if these pests are a nuisance to humans, they do serve a purpose in the environment.

Mosquitoes can be important for two main reasons: they are a crucial part of the food chain, and they’re also essential pollinators too. Mosquitoes serve as prey for various forms of wildlife, including bats, dragonflies, fish larvae, turtles, and many more animals that rely on mosquitoes as a food source. Without mosquitoes, several other types of wildlife would suffer.

Besides a food source, mosquitoes also pollinate flowers. So, why do mosquitoes suck your blood? Contrary to popular belief, not all mosquitoes bite humans. Of the thousands of mosquito species, only a couple hundred types are capable of biting humans, and it’s only female mosquitoes that bite. All mosquitoes pollinate flowers when they feed on nectar, but female mosquitoes also need to drink blood so they can reproduce.

A Brief History Of Mosquito Control

Mosquitoes have been around for a long time, and humans have been combating these pests from the beginning. As a result, mosquito control has gone through various changes. Some of the earliest records of mosquito control came from the Native Americans, who used certain plants, like rosemary, lemongrass, or citronella, to keep mosquitoes away. These plants secrete oils that naturally repel mosquitoes and can even work as a form of mosquito control today.

In the late 1800s, farmers discovered that kerosene could kill mosquitoes. From there, the United States government began using an oil-based pesticide to eliminate mosquitoes in the swamps and bayous of the southern U.S. In 1939, the government began using a new pesticide, called DDT, to control mosquitoes and reduce disease, but this only lasted a couple of decades. During the ‘60s, scientists uncovered that while DDT could control mosquitoes, it was also causing illness and liver damage in various parts of the food chain, including people. 

Today, modern mosquito control combines various efforts to control mosquitoes. While we may use pesticides, many modern pest control companies also use natural techniques to reduce mosquito populations, like eliminating breeding areas or adding fresh minnows to water sources.

The Diseases Mosquitoes Can Transmit

More than just biting or being a nuisance, the major reason that humans have tried so hard to control mosquitoes is because of the diseases they transmit. In fact, mosquitoes are considered the most dangerous animal in the world because they’re responsible for more deaths each year than any other animal.

The diseases caused by mosquitoes include:

  • West Nile virus

  • Dengue fever

  • Yellow fever

  • Chikungunya virus

  • Zika virus

  • Malaria

  • Heartworm

Can mosquitoes spread AIDS? No, neither AIDS nor HIV is spread by mosquitoes.

Natural Ways To Keep Mosquitoes Away From Your Yard

There are some natural ways to repel mosquitoes from your yard, including:

  • Get rid of standing water sources, like fountains, birdbaths, decorative ponds, or other containers capable of holding water.

  • Plant natural mosquito repellents in your yard, like lemongrass, citronella, rosemary, and catnip grass.

  • Regularly mow and maintain your lawn to prevent mosquitoes from resting and hiding out in your yard.

Along with these natural tips, the best way to get rid of mosquitoes is by working with a pest control company like EcoTech Pest Control Services. We’ve got almost a decade of experience combating mosquitoes in Tampa and surrounding areas with eco-friendly practices.

If you think your Tampa yard has a mosquito problem, there’s no reason to put yourself or your family at risk. Contact us today at EcoTech Pest Control Services to learn more about how our mosquito control services can help reduce mosquito populations around your property. 

 

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