This year more than ever being able to spend time in your yard and enjoy being outdoors is important. So, having to deal with mosquitoes around your Baltimore property can be especially frustrating as they make relaxing nearly impossible. These blood-sucking, flying insects are notorious for being a miserable pest and for the itchy bites they leave, but mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance.

Mosquitoes are considered one of the most dangerous animals in the world because they carry diseases from one host and transfer them to another. Because of this, they are responsible for carrying and spreading some of the deadliest diseases worldwide including West Nile virus, malaria, yellow fever, and many more.

These pests are drawn to humid areas with thick vegetation. They need standing water to lay their eggs, and during the day they hide under leaves and in bushes.

While you likely have an idea of what mosquitoes look like, here is a brief description that can help you tell them apart from other flying insects. Mosquitoes:

  • Have translucent wings and long, thin legs.
  • Are often grey but can have different markings and iridescent scales.
  • Have a long appendage called a proboscis that they use to drink blood.

Just How Dangerous Are Mosquitoes?

Mosquito bites are sometimes painful, but they are usually just extremely itchy and can get swollen from all the scratching. While most of the time the bites will go away in a few days and not lead to any more serious problems, some mosquito bites can lead to the development of serious illnesses.

Mosquito-borne illnesses impact millions of people each year. According to the CDC, malaria alone killed 435,000 people worldwide in the year 2017.

While some areas of the world have more issues with mosquito-borne illnesses because of things like climate, there are illnesses that mosquitoes can transmit in the United States, too. West Nile virus is one of the more common mosquito-borne illnesses in the county. However, there are other diseases such as St. Louis Encephalitis that certain mosquitoes can carry.

Some of the other diseases that mosquitoes can carry include:

  • Dengue fever
  • Yellow Fever
  • Lymphatic filariasis
  • Zika virus
  • Chikungunya
  • Mosquito bites can also cause allergic reactions for some people.

Ten Simple Ways To Prevent Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes can be a difficult pest to control and remove because they breed quickly and can be prevalent in certain cities and climates. However, there are things you can do to make your yard less appealing to these pests.

Here are some steps you can take to reduce factors that attract mosquitoes:

  1. Remove standing water on your property as this is where mosquitoes lay eggs.
  2. Keep hot tubs, pools, and outdoor fountains treated with the correct chemicals.
  3. Make sure that rainwater can drain so it doesn’t accumulate and create standing water.
  4. Clean out your gutters on a regular basis.
  5. Limit harborage areas where mosquitoes rest.
  6. Trim bushes, hedges, and shrugs as these areas are where mosquitoes hang out during the day.
  7. Make sure that you don’t have overgrown weeds or vines around your property.
  8. Regularly keep your lawn mowed.
  9. Limit exposure to mosquitoes by wearing bug spray and wearing long sleeves when outside.
  10. You can also do things like wear light clothing and avoid strong-smelling perfumes and colognes to make yourself less noticeable to mosquitoes.