Mosquito control is a major problem, not only in America, but around the world. There are about 200 species of mosquitoes in the United States and somewhere around 2500 around the world. Mosquitoes are insects that are somewhat unique. They are in the same class as flies because they have two wings. They are different from flies in that their wings have scales. The males have antennae that are feathery and their mouth is not equipped for piercing the skin. This job is left up to the female.

The Harm Mosquitoes Can Do

There are so many problems and illnesses caused by mosquitoes that there are companies and scientists that are constantly looking for better mosquito control. They not only ruin a perfectly great evening outdoors, but they also can do much damage to farm animals and pets. They can actually cause cows to lose weight and have a decline in milk production. Everyone that has a pet knows that there is an ever-present danger of heartworms and the mosquito biting an animal that is infected with roundworms causes this. The mosquito then carries the larvae to another animal.

Mosquito-borne diseases cause human suffering more than any other disease organism. It is imperative that mosquito control efforts be increased to put an end to the one million deaths a year that can be attributed to the work of mosquitoes. The itching that is caused by the bite is enough alone to want to be rid of the little critters!

One of the latest scares that have been brought to the attention of the world is the presence of the West Nile Virus (WNV) that is attributed to mosquitoes. It made its course from Africa into Europe, the Middle East, and Asia in the 1930's. It made its way to North America in the late 1990's. It is transmitted to man and animals by infected mosquitoes. This is a cycle between birds and mosquitoes. Adequate mosquito control would definitely decrease the deaths and illnesses caused by the mosquitoes and the diseases they carry.

Find a Mosquito Control for Your Home

There are many things that homeowners can do to help in mosquito control. A common sense clean-up will take care of a big part of the problem. This includes such things as making sure there is nothing around the house that will collect water and set around for days as a mosquito-growing environment. Rain gutters are another place that needs to be kept free of debris so the water will not collect.

Birdbaths and kiddie pools make excellent breeding grounds for mosquitoes if they are not kept clean and with fresh water. Any area that produces seepage should be monitored carefully. Eliminate low areas where water can collect and become stale. This includes monitoring the watering of the lawn. Don't over water where there will be an excess of water. If there are any tarps or plastic covers on anything, these need to be watched carefully to avoid holding pockets for water.

There are many products that are available to help with mosquito control. There are zappers that can be placed in the backyard to draw the mosquitoes and "zap" them. There are sprays for the inside and sprays for the outside. There are sprays that are used by cities and communities to do massive spraying to cover large areas of space that are prone to harbor mosquitoes or their larvae.

Don't Let Mosquitoes Ruin Your Night

Parraffin combustion and candles that are specifically designed to repel insects are two other ways of mosquito control. It takes different kinds of treatment to rid the environment of these pests. It all depends on what kind of area it is. For widespread swampy areas or places where water sets for long periods of time, it takes a real concerted effort from homeowners, city workers, and other environmental agencies to accomplish adequate mosquito control.