Your exposure to ticks and mosquitoes heightens when you’re spending time outdoors. Their populations increase during the spring, summer, and early fall. These pests are capable of transmitting serious illnesses, that’s why it’s crucial to understand the risks and take preventative steps to avoid getting bitten.
Ticks are responsible for transmitting illnesses such as:
- Lyme disease
- Ehrlichiosis
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- Alpha-gal syndrome (red meat allergy)
They are commonly found in wooded areas, tall grasses, and brush.
Mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting illnesses such as:
- West Nile virus
- St. Louis encephalitis
- La Crosse encephalitis
They typically come out during warm evenings and early mornings in Columbia, Missouri.
Tips to Prevent Tick Bites
How to dress to protect yourself
Long sleeves, long pants, and sneakers that cover exposed areas of the body are best to protect yourself from tick bites when walking through wooded or grassy areas. Tucking your pants into your socks can also help prevent ticks from reaching your skin.
Use of EPA-approved repellents
Apply insect repellent containing any of the following:
- DEET
- Picaridin
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus
Stay on marked trails
Ticks usually wait on tall grasses and vegetation. Walking in the middle of the trail should help reduce direct contact with them.
Check for ticks after outdoor activities
Check your body, clothes, pets, and items when returning home. It’s important to pay careful attention to the scalp, behind the ears, underarms, waistline, and behind the knees.
Take a shower after coming indoors
Taking a shower within two hours of outdoor activities can help remove ticks that haven’t attached themselves to you yet.
Tips to Prevent Mosquito Bites
Remove any stagnant water
Mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water. These are regularly empty containers such as:
- Flower pots
- Birdbaths
- Gutters
- Buckets
- Outdoor toys
- Old tires
Maintain your yard
Maintaining your yard can help keep mosquitoes away. In addition to removing stagnant water, you should trim shrubs, regularly mow grass, and reduce shaded areas where mosquitoes may rest.
Use outdoor repellents
Mosquito repellents, citronella candles, and fans can help hinder mosquitoes from any biting temptations when you’re having outdoor gatherings.
Avoid peak mosquito activity times
Peak mosquito activity times are usually around dawn and dusk. It’s best, if possible, to schedule any outdoor activities outside of these hours to reduce encounters with mosquitoes.
Why you should hire a professional like SETGO Pest Control
Ticks and mosquitoes often originate from dense vegetation, shaded areas, and stagnant water, resulting in breeding and hiding grounds for these pests.
Our pest control services at SETGO can help you:
- Identifying mosquito breeding areas
- Treating yards and perimeter zones
- Applying targeted tick control treatments
- Creating a longterm prevention plan
Don’t wait until pests take over—call us today for same-day service: 1-573-801-3961. We can inspect your property, recommend the best plan, and get to work immediately.
