When the sun is away, the mosquitoes will play in your Riverside backyard. While you may think this is just annoying, the reality is that these insects are still extremely dangerous, even in places where malaria has been eradicated. There are plenty of other potentially deadly viruses spread by mosquitoes. That's why these buzzing bloodsuckers still need to be very high on your Riverside pest control priority list.
The Role Mosquitoes Play In The Ecosystem
Mosquitoes in Riverside are actually very important to the ecosystem. First off, these tiny insects are some of the most common animals in the ecosystems they inhabit. This makes them a crucial building block for many food chains around the world. If not for mosquitoes, many species of spiders, lizards, bats, and other animals could go extinct. Considering that these animals provide food for many other species, their extinction could lead to further extinction. This means eliminating the mosquito from the environment could result in mass die-offs.
One of the lesser-known benefits of mosquitoes is the fact that they are pollinators. Contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes actually feed on nectar most of the time. Males never bite, and females only bite when they are preparing to lay eggs. At any other time, both male and female mosquitoes can be found feasting on nectar-rich flowers and pollinating them as a result.
Why Mosquitoes Love You But Not Others
You may have noticed that you get bitten by mosquitoes more often than other members of your family, or you may have noticed the exact opposite. Maybe you get bitten a lot less than everybody else. You're not imagining things. There are definitely factors that can make you more attractive to mosquitoes.
One of the main mosquito attractants is your blood type. Studies have shown that some mosquito species are much more attracted to type O blood than other blood types, while other species are more attracted to AB blood types. This means that the species of mosquito in your area and which blood type they are drawn to can have a lot to do with whether or not you're getting bitten frequently.
Mosquitoes are also attracted to alcohol in the blood. If you're enjoying a nice beer or wine spritzer out in your backyard, mosquitoes may be more likely to bite you. They will also be more interested in you if you're sweating and exhaling more, like during strenuous outdoor exercise, and if you're wearing darker clothing or bold colors.
What Are Some Natural Ways To Prevent Mosquitoes Around My Yard?
If you're looking for natural mosquito control that you don't have to think about, planting herbs and flowers that keep mosquitoes away is one of the best things you can do. There are lots of smells mosquitoes hate, including:
- Rosemary
- Citronella
- Lemongrass
- Basil
- Mint
- Lavender
Planting these herbs for mosquitoes can help make your yard smell downright disgusting to them, which can encourage them to seek a blood meal elsewhere. You can also try wearing light, neutral-colored clothing while spending time outdoors and getting rid of any standing water in your yard.
How Do I Get Rid Of Mosquitoes And Keep Them Away?
Even if you plant tons of mosquito-repelling herbs and get rid of standing water on your property, it may not be enough, especially if you live near a body of water where mosquitoes are breeding, such as a pond or lake. If that’s the case, you may need extra help to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard. That's where we come in!
At Compass Pest Management, our resident mosquito experts can inspect your property and come up with a plan to keep it mosquito-free all summer long. So don't lay out a mosquito feast in your backyard. Click or call today to get rid of these pesky parasites for good.