The hot and humid months of summer are in full swing. If you have spent any amount of time outdoors in New Jersey, it’s quite likely that mosquitoes have been nibbling away at any exposed skin that they can find. These blood suckers are very annoying and leave a trail of painful and itchy welts in their tracks.
Mosquitoes have been around for more than 30 million years. They are experts at finding their prey. Like other blood suckers, they are attracted to the CO2 that we humans emit when we exhale. Mosquitoes are also attracted to the certain chemicals in sweat which is one of the reasons that humans are bitten so horribly during the hot summer months.
Mosquitoes have great eyesight. If you are wearing clothing that does not blend in with your surroundings, mosquitoes are able to zero in on you. To a mosquito, anything that is moving is alive, and therefore a good blood meal. Mosquitoes are also able to detect the heat that is given off of warm-blooded mammals and birds once they are in close proximity.
There are more than 2,700 species of mosquitoes worldwide and 13 of those can be found living in New Jersey and other parts of the United States. Mosquitoes are most likely to bite you during the evening hours and at dusk. They are known to carry viruses and disease causing pathogens. New Jersey residents need to be particularly concerned because mosquitoes are known to transmit the West Nile Virus which can be fatal.
To avoid mosquito bites, it is recommended that you use an insect repellant that contains DEET. Mosquitoes breed and thrive in stagnant water, so you should make certain to remove any stagnant water on your property. You will never be able to rid yourself of all mosquitoes; but hiring a pest control specialist will help you keep your mosquito numbers down which will make for a more pleasant outdoor environment.