Nobody likes mosquitoes. Sharing a relaxing summer evening with a bazillion of blood-feeding insects is no one's idea of a good time. And unfortunately, in the warm and humid climate that we've come to enjoy in South Carolina, the number of mosquitoes has increased at a surprising speed.
As annoying as mosquitoes are, they do play a beneficial role in the environment around them; just like bees and many other insects, they drink nectar and pollinate plants. And, of course, they are a favorite snack for a multitude of birds, bats, fish, and so on.
There are over 3000 species of mosquitoes in the world, with more than 176 in the United States, but in the Greenville area, you're most likely to be fighting off one of the following two types of mosquitoes; the Culex and the Asian tiger.
Culex mosquitoes are 1/4 to 3/8 inch long with grey bodies and white, silver, or green iridescent scales. Culex mosquitoes are the most common species across the entire United States. These mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk when they come out to feed.
Asian tiger mosquitoes are found mostly in the southern states of our country and can be easily differentiated from Culex mosquitoes by the black and white stripes on their body and legs. If you look closely enough, you can spot a single silver stripe running down their backs. Unlike Culex mosquitoes, which give us a break during the day and mostly hunt in the mornings and evenings, Asian tiger mosquitoes hunt throughout the day.
Let's look at what time of year is the most dangerous for mosquito attacks, how to keep mosquitoes away, how to get rid of mosquitoes, and where to find reliable pest control in Greenville if they've been keeping you from enjoying your yard.
When Is Mosquito Season In Greenville?
Mosquitoes enjoy warm weather and thrive in temperatures over 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It rarely gets very cold in our part of South Carolina, but we do drop below 50 degrees at night quite often in the winter. Once the temperature hits 50 degrees, female mosquitoes in Greenville look for a place to hibernate (most often burrowing into the ground or piles of leaves) and shut most of their bodily processes down until spring. Male mosquitoes usually die soon after mating, so their lifespan does not extend long enough to worry about colder seasons. In the spring, usually around the middle of March, warm temperatures signal mosquitoes that it's time to get up and look for a suitable meal; us.
Why Mosquitoes Are So Problematic
Besides being annoying and ruining barbecues, mosquitoes, like most other blood-feeding insects, carry a number of serious diseases. West Nile virus, while not as prevalent in the United States as in many other countries, takes around 100 lives each year. If a mosquito has bitten you, you could end up with one of the following:
- West Nile virus
- Dengue fever
- Chikungunya
- Encephalitis
Mosquito males are harmless, feeding on nectar and avoiding humans the best they can. Female mosquitoes need the protein in blood to produce eggs, and that's who you usually see buzzing around your head, trying to volunteer you for a blood donation.
Tips For Protecting Yourself From Mosquito Bites
If you plan to spend your evenings outside in Greenville without wearing a parka or a hazmat suit, you will want to know how to keep the little pesky insects away. The following simple, time-tested tips will help you make yourself as undesirable to mosquitoes as possible:
- Eliminate standing water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing, shallow water.
- Cut down vegetation to remove shade mosquitoes love.
- Attract birds and bats to your property. Each bat can eat over 300 mosquitoes a night.
- Wear long sleeves and long pants.
If your property has a lot of places for mosquitoes to breed and you're dealing with clouds of them every year, you will benefit from mosquito control in Greenville. The service providers at Dan The Mosquito Man will eliminate mosquitoes before they ruin your outdoor recreation plans.
Get The Best Mosquito Protection This Year
At Dan The Mosquito Man, we've been helping Greenville residents get rid of mosquitoes and other unwelcome pests for over thirty-four years. Our service providers will provide a full yard treatment using their training and experience to determine where mosquitoes like to breed. We'll target treat your property to get rid of mosquitoes and keep mosquitoes away from your yard.
If your Greenville property has a mosquito infestation, call us today!
"Great family and people to work with. Always timely, reliable, and friendly! Our family has been using their services for over twenty years. Very professional and efficient."
Dan The Mosquito Man
Greenville, SC 29609