Why Mosquitoes Are Dangerous Around the World

Bug Slayer Mosquito Systems • July 29, 2024

Every outdoorsman has a story about being stuck somewhere in being mauled by bloodsucking mosquitoes. They always claim needing a blood transfusion after the incident, but there's never been a record of a mosquito attack that's taken that much blood, even though a female mosquito can consume 10 times her body weight in one blood meal. The dangers of mosquito bites is the potential disease that the mosquito carries: malaria, dengue fever, West Nile virus, equine encephalitis, etc. in the list goes on. In the Tampa Bay area, you are susceptible to anyone of these mosquito borne diseases through the bite of one infected insect.

Mosquitoes Inject Saliva

With the mosquito, is not that they spit on you, they spit in you. When the female mosquito bites you, she injects saliva into you in order to take your blood. The contents of her saliva are: anticoagulants, certain enzymes, and possible pathogens that carry disease. For mosquito it's quite a cocktail she injects, she opens the wound, injects her saliva which gives her the ability to draw more blood more quickly, and in the aftermath leaves her host with either a welt from her visit, or a disease that may kill the host.

Disease Bearing Mosquitoes

Dengue fever, also known as the yellow fever may be carried by the Aedes aegypti or the Asian Tiger mosquito. Both mosquitoes are prevalent in the Tampa Bay area.

West Nile virus, is transferred from area to area by infected birds that are bitten by the Culex nigripalpus mosquito. Mosquito bites the birds, the birds carry the disease around, mosquito carries the disease, the mosquito bites us. This mosquito is a resident of the Tampa Bay area .

Eastern equine encephalitis, is a disease that infects both horses and people. The Culiseta melanura mosquito carries this disease, from infected birds, to horses, to mosquitoes, to people. This is an extremely dangerous mosquito borne disease and has a history of death in the Tampa area.

Parasite Bearing Mosquitoes

The Anopheles mosquito is the primary carrier of the malaria virus. Malaria kills millions of people around the world annually. This mosquito is primarily a nighttime hunter, and those in tropical and subtropical environments. The disease was thought to be eradicated in the state of Florida around 1935, however there have been cases of the disease in 1990, 1996 and in 2003. There have been no known cases of malaria reported in the Tampa Bay area.

Death and Illness from Mosquito Bites

In the state of Florida we have had many cases of mosquito related illness and death reported in the past few years. In 2012, two Tampa residents died from Eastern equine encephalitis. The dengue virus reappeared in Florida after almost 60 years of being dormant in 2009. Last year, there were 28 confirmed cases of dengue fever in Florida. In 2012, there were 1118 cases of West Nile virus reported in the United States with 41 deaths resulting. There were 12 cases of West Nile reported in Florida.

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Mosquitoes swarm near green leafy bushes

Special Purpose Applications for Bug Slayer Mosquito Control Systems

By Bug Slayer Mosquito Systems • December 3, 2024

Specific needs, that may need to be addressed, may not be appropriate for use of an automatic mosquito misting system. Each property, has a specific need, with a specific intended outcome for mosquito control. At BugSlayer , we identify the specific needs, and may need to address the problem in a unique way.

Bug Slayer Kills Mosquitos, No See-Ums, Flies and Spiders

By Bug Slayer Mosquito Systems • November 8, 2024

The bug slayer mosquito control system kills and repels mosquitoes all over your property. Since 2002, bug slayer has installed over 1000 systems in the Tampa Bay area and over 3000 systems have been sold through authorized dealers throughout the United States. The basic premise of the system is to strategically place high pressure misting nozzles around your property in areas that harbor nuisance insects: mosquitoes, no see ums, midges, wasps, spiders and biting flies. The nozzles are fed from a reservoir tank that carries a solution that is pumped out on an automatic timed basis. A blast of 60 seconds of this solution, two or three times a day, at specific times, in strategic locations, will eliminate the target past and create a controlled environment for you to enjoy. The concept is a simple one, to preemptively ambush, the unsuspecting target past, before they have the opportunity to take your blood involuntarily. When only the best will do, it's a bug slayer system.

Bug Slayer Mosquito Control Systems in Tampa

By Bug Slayer Mosquito Systems • November 5, 2024

In 2002 bug slayer mosquito systems began business, as the first and only mosquito misting company in the Tampa Bay area. We were the first, we are the largest mosquito control company on the West Coast of Florida. We have over 50 authorized dealers throughout the country that purchase the equipment we manufacture right here in the Tampa Bay area. We manufacture, sell, installed and service over 1,000 mosquito misting systems. We have been and are totally focused on mosquito control applications for your home and business in the Tampa Bay area. When only the best will do, it's a bug slayer.

Mosquito Bites and Treatment

By Bug Slayer Mosquito Systems • October 22, 2024

Aside from the potential of having a deadly virus transmitted to you by mosquito bite, there can be many side effects and allergic reactions to the bite itself. Many of the mosquito saliva proteins can cause allergic reactions, however most people display only swelling and itching at the bite area. Basic first aid measures usually suffice for the average mosquito bite. Usually some type of antiseptic white should be applied to the bite seen. If additional swelling occurs use ice were some type of lotion the contains a hydrocortisone cream to reduce the swelling and potentially stop itching. Caladril or calamine lotion are seem to work for me with a bad bite. Never scratch a bite location, easier said for adults than little kids, but it can increase the potential for infections. Common sense should be the rule of thumb for mosquito bites. There are extenuating circumstances where severe allergic reactions may take place, see medical advice in these situations.

How We Can Control Mosquitos

By Bug Slayer Mosquito Systems • August 25, 2024

Over the past few years as the economy slowed down, so did the tax revenues for many of the counties in the Tampa Bay area. With the reduction in monies available, many of the mosquito control districts have had to curtail their efforts somewhat to more reactionary mosquito control treatments than continuous ongoing mosquito management efforts of the past. Individuals that are concerned about the health and well-being of their families and pets need to be proactive in their personal mosquito control efforts. Integrated pest management systems need to be implemented by individuals through private companies to control mosquitoes and other biting pests around your home. The bug slayer system would do nicely.

What Attracts Mosquitos to Feed

By Bug Slayer Mosquito Systems • July 4, 2024

Your breath is a dead giveaway. Female mosquitoes have an acute sense of smell. Female mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide, because they instinctively know that he warm-blooded host exhales this byproduct. A female mosquito can sense carbon dioxide from as far away as 50 to 75 feet. She will fly in a zigzag pattern, through the plume of carbon dioxide that you give off until she pinpoints her target for a blood meal. All warm-blooded creatures give off carbon dioxide when they breathe and all warm-blooded creatures are targeted by mosquitoes in the same way. The volume of carbon dioxide you give off is also be a factor in the targeting mechanism for the female mosquito.

Mosquito Feeding Habits

By Bug Slayer Mosquito Systems • May 12, 2024

Mosquitoes are always hungry, and as long as they can fly, they will feed. Mosquitoes tend to be more active at certain times of the year based in the environment. Mosquitoes also tend to feed more often from dusk to dawn, evening hours. There are certain species of mosquitoes that are daytime feeders, you've probably seen those little black ankle bitters attack even in daylight hours. Many of the species carry disease also. Mosquitoes have a constant need to replenish their energy source on an ongoing basis, with the females also needing protein for a reproduction.

Types of Mosquitos

By Bug Slayer Mosquito Systems • April 12, 2024

There's great truth way mosquito breeds has an impact on that environment. Most mosquitoes don't travel more than 100 yards from where they emerge as adults during the lifetime. If your yard is prone to holding stagnant water in any significant quantity your is greater risk for breeding generations of mosquitoes is living in the Everglades. Most homes in the Tampa Bay area provide great shade cover for mosquitoes to harbor due to the tropical landscape that we all enjoy. Because of frequent watering, many areas tend to hold small amounts of water perfect for the laying of eggs. Many man-made drainage areas, including gutters stagnant water that will allow multiple generations and mosquitoes to breeding mature. Without some type of protection, our yards can become a significant breeding ground for growing mosquito population.

Mosquito Life Cycle

By Bug Slayer Mosquito Systems • March 11, 2024

Mosquito eggs don't sound very exciting, but the ability of a mosquito to reproduce and the areas in which they can lay eggs is almost mind-boggling. Here in Florida, the environment is perfect for mosquito reproduction and laying eggs. After a mosquito egg is laid, it can lie dormant for up to several months, even a year are more, until a time when water washes over them. Mosquitoes can lay eggs year round, and all it takes is the introduction of water and the lifecycle of the mosquito takes off. Adult mosquitoes mate within the first few days after emerging. The male locates the females by listening for the sounds of their wings, which run flap up to 500 beats per second. The mosquitoes join in-flight; the male passes sperm to the females, perpetuating the mosquito lifecycle. The male dies shortly after mating occurs. Female mosquitoes have the capability of laying up to 100 - 300 eggs every 7-10 days after mating only once, and will typically lay 3 to 5 groups of eggs in their lifetime. Mosquitoes lay their eggs on the surface of fresh or stagnant water and damp ground. The water can be in tin cans, barrels, a hole in a tree, horse troughs, ornamental ponds, swimming pools, puddles, creeks, ditches, catch basins or even saltwater marsh areas. Mosquitoes prefer water sheltered from the wind with grass and weeds. Some mosquitoes have the ability to lay their eggs on just damp soil; with some eggs being able to resist drying out, until the areas are flooded by water from rains or tidal flow. The Florida Department of Agriculture, in a study to count the number of mosquito eggs in a Central Florida pasture, estimated 100,000,000 eggs per acre in sod samples that were taken. Mosquitoes usually lay their eggs at night. They lay their eggs one at a time, sticking them together to form a raft of 100 to 300 eggs at a time. The raft of eggs looks like a speck of soot floating on the water and is about a quarter inch long and an eighth of an inch wide.

The Impact of Mosquitoes on Outdoor Living: How to Protect Your Family and Property

By Bug Slayer Mosquito Systems • February 9, 2024

Outdoor living is one of the great pleasures of owning a home or business, whether you’re entertaining guests, enjoying a quiet evening, or simply taking in the natural beauty of your surroundings. In Florida, with its warm, humid climate and abundance of outdoor amenities, many people spend much of their time outside, particularly in the evening hours when the weather is at its most pleasant. Unfortunately, the presence of mosquitoes can quickly turn a peaceful moment into an uncomfortable, frustrating experience. Beyond their irritating bites and constant buzzing, mosquitoes are also vectors for various serious diseases, including West Nile virus, Zika virus, and Eastern equine encephalitis. Given the health risks and the inconvenience mosquitoes present, it’s important to take proactive steps to protect your outdoor spaces from these unwelcome intruders. In this article, we’ll explore the impact mosquitoes have on outdoor living, why it’s crucial to address mosquito problems, and the various solutions available to homeowners and businesses to ensure that their outdoor environments remain safe, comfortable, and enjoyable.