The Answers To Plano’s Most Commonly Asked Mosquito Questions

Mosquitoes may be one of Plano’s sneakier pests, but there’s nothing hidden about the itchy, red bumps they leave behind. For Plano residents, here’s what you should know about identifying mosquitoes that are local to the area, how dangerous these pests really are, what may attract them to your property, and the best form of mosquito protection for Plano properties.

What Do Mosquitoes In Plano Look Like?

While there are thousands of mosquito species worldwide, the residents of Plano only need to worry about these two main types:

• Asian tiger mosquitoes: With black bodies and silver-white markings striped across their legs, the easiest way to identify an Asian tiger mosquito is by the single-white stripe that runs from its head down its back. 

• Yellow fever mosquitoes: As a close relative to the Asian tiger mosquito, these two types share a lot of similarities, but the yellow fever mosquito has black scales all over its body and white markings on the side of its abdomen and thorax.

Another easy way to tell if you’re dealing with an Asian tiger or yellow fever mosquito is by watching the way they lift their back legs in an upward arch while they’re feeding.

How Dangerous Are The Mosquitoes In Plano?

While many people would probably classify mosquitoes as an annoyance, these pests are actually considered the most dangerous animal in the world – and for good reason. Mosquitoes can transmit dangerous diseases to you when they bite, and while not all mosquitoes carry disease, there’s always the risk of transmission.

Some of the most common mosquito-borne illnesses that these critters may carry include:

• West Nile virus 

• Yellow fever

• Dengue fever

• Chikungunya virus 

• Zika virus 

• Malaria

While the diseases listed above can put anybody at risk, there’s also a small percentage of the population that may be allergic to mosquitoes. This is called Skeeter syndrome, and it can occur when you’re allergic to the protein that mosquitoes inject into your skin. The allergic reaction to mosquito bites can range from moderate to severe, but if you suspect you may have Skeeter syndrome or a mosquito-borne disease, you should seek medical attention promptly.

What Attracts The Mosquitoes In Plano?

While some people may just expect to encounter mosquitoes during Plano’s scorching hot summers, there could be a reason why you’re finding them more than usual. There are certain factors that can attract mosquitoes to your Plano yard, such as:

• Standing water: Mosquitoes are always on the lookout for somewhere to breed, and they require standing water to lay their eggs. If your property or yard contains a birdbath, decorative pond, flooded gutters, or another source of standing water, you may be luring these pests in. 

• Flowering plants: While female mosquitoes must feed on blood to gain the nutrients necessary for their eggs, male and female mosquitoes use nectar from flowering plants as their primary food source. If you’ve got bright flowers or a thriving garden that’s too close to your home, you could be laying out the perfect feast for nearby mosquitoes.

• Tall grass and weeds: Like people, mosquitoes like to cool down or rest during hot summer days, and the perfect place to do this is in shady, tall grass or weeds. Unkept yards or tall grass can look appealing to mosquitoes, but keeping up with regular lawn maintenance can help prevent them from settling down in your yard.

To help prevent mosquitoes in Plano, you should remove any standing water sources on your property, be careful about the placement of your garden and what you plant, and get rid of tall grass and weeds that may provide shade.

What’s The Best Mosquito Protection For My Plano Property?

You can use the tips above to help prevent more mosquitoes from laying their eggs or hanging around your property, but the best form of mosquito protection in Plano is contacting All-Safe Pest & Termite. Not only can we drastically reduce mosquito problems around your Plano property, but by keeping these critters away, we’ll also be reducing your risk of contracting a mosquito-borne disease. If you think your Plano property has too many mosquitoes, don’t wait any longer – call us today at All-Safe Pest & Termite to learn more about how our mosquito treatments can help you.