MOSQUITO CONTROL PRODUCTS: INSIGHTS ON INSECTICIDES

bee pollinating flower safe mosquito control products Stokes Mosquito and Outdoor Pest Service Augusta GA

MOSQUITO CONTROL PRODUCTS: INSIGHTS ON INSECTICIDES

Insecticides are a valuable source of mosquito control, but – more is not necessarily better. Here are a few reasons why.

First, overuse or misuse of an insecticide can cause insects to develop a resistance to the insecticide, resulting in bugs that available insecticides won’t kill. This applies to both indoor and outdoor insecticides. If you purchase a chemical to treat some type of insect in or around your home, it’s very important to follow the label. For example, if the label calls for “one ounce per gallon", don’t mix at higher concentrates. Often, our thought process is “more is better”. However, this approach instead encourages resistance.

Second, applying insecticides in inappropriate quantities can lead to overspray, meaning that chemicals land where you don’t want them in addition to where you do. If your landscape includes flowering plants that attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, overspray can be detrimental. Similarly, insecticides should not be applied haphazardly near koi ponds or other small bodies of water, because insecticides negatively impact aquatic life.

Third, certain insecticides are not safe for children or pets. As nice as it is to eliminate mosquitoes and other biting insects, it’s crucial to do your research prior to using any product in a yard used by children or pets, and, after choosing a product, follow all manufacturer’s directions to ensure proper application.

The technicians at Stokes Mosquito and Outdoor Pest Service can help rid your yard of mosquitoes and other biting insects safely. A technician develops a custom mosquito treatment plan for every yard, to ensure that appropriate amounts of insecticides are used to lessen the likelihood of resistance in an outdoor space. Stokes also rotates our chemical formulations so that mosquitoes specifically don't develop resistance. If a client has a pond or vegetable garden, the technician will customize your treatment plan to keep them safe. All treatments are sprayed on shrubs, low lying trees, your foundation, mulch beds, etc, with sensitivity toward pollinators, vegetables, and other wildlife. Any insecticides used at Stokes are EPA-approved based on extensive research. The Stokes team is committed helping you get rid of mosquitoes without having a negative impact on the rest of the environment. Children and pets will need to stay inside during treatment, but after 30 minutes, they can head back outside safely!

Say goodbye bugs and hello to spending time outside again. Stokes Mosquito and Outdoor Pest Service is a full-service outdoor pest control company, specializing in mosquito, fire ant, flea & tick control. Our custom treatment plans include all-natural, plant-based options and are bee and pollinator-friendly. We proudly serve the greater Augusta, GA, area, including Evans, Martinez, Grovetown, North Augusta, Edgefield and Aiken. Ask us about our 21-day mosquito “bite free” guarantee!

May 19, 2021May 19, 2021

HOW FIRE ANTS WORK – AND HOW TO GET RID OF THEM

fire ant mound in CSRA fire ant control Stokes Mosquito and Outdoor Pest Service Augusta GA Fire ants are a challenging foe in most CSRA yards. Our seasonal humidity and landscape offers fire ants the moisture and food they need to thrive. At a minimum, their stings are uncomfortable, and, in more serious cases, they can cause a life-threatening reaction, with children, elderly adults and immuno-suppressed individuals most likely to be impacted. You want to get rid of them, but how? First, let’s talk a bit more about fire ants.

Fire ants live in colonies, led by one or more queens. Each colony features an extensive network of tunnels located underground. The depth of the tunnels is influenced by the type of the soil and the moisture level. As you might hypothesize, tunnel systems are typically deeper in harder soils, such as clay, than in softer, sandy soils, which are more commonly found in our area. The mounds – or nests – you see in your yard are created by pushing soil up from underground, and unless conditions are too hot or dry, they are home to sterile female worker ants, all capable of stinging when threatened.

While the mounds you see above the ground are the clearest indicator of a fire ant colony, they aren’t the exclusive home of the ants, nor are they even necessary for a colony to survive. When conditions are unsatisfactory, the colony may move entirely underground and only come out at night to forage for food. Fire ants prefer to build their nests in sunny, open spaces, but we’ve all most likely seen nests in less common – but no less frustrating places – such as near trees or fallen logs or along the foundation of a home or building. (Or in a recent client case, an ant mound built adjacent to their pool pump caused bearing damage to the pump, resulting in the necessary replacement of both the pump and the motor.)

And fire ants can be challenging to keep up with. Their mounds are important to their reproductive life cycle, and as such, fire ants will move a mound to help ensure optimum conditions for the development of their brood. According to the Ant Pest Community of Practice, fire ant colonies will frequently migrate from one site to another, building a mound as far as several hundred feet away from a previous location in very short periods of time, such as overnight. Flooding, whether from rain or intentional effort, simply causes the colony to leave one mound and float until they can reach land suitable to establish a new mound.

To eliminate a fire ant colony, you must kill the queen(s) and address the full scope of the mound and underground activity. Don’t waste your time or money on fire ant treatments that are ineffective or insufficient. The experts at Stokes Mosquito and Outdoor Pest Service can help you address active mounds and discourage further ant activity in the treated areas – all with a satisfaction guarantee. Contact Stokes Mosquito to learn more about affordable and effective fire ant control in the CSRA.

Source: https://ant-pests.extension.org/fire-ant-habitat-and-food-sources/

April 12, 2021April 13, 2021

SHOULD I BE WORRIED ABOUT THIS MOSQUITO BITE?

close up mosquito bite on mans hand Stokes Mosquito and Outdoor Pest Service Augusta GA Aiken SC

SHOULD I BE WORRIED ABOUT THIS MOSQUITO BITE?

Virtually no one enjoys getting a mosquito bite. When a mosquito bites, the result is an itchy bump or bumps that appear where the mosquito has punctured the skin in order to draw blood. Fortunately for those affected, the typical mosquito bite will usually clear up in just a few days. Conversely, there are cases where a mosquito bite can cause an allergic reaction that results in redness, soreness and swelling. This is more commonly seen in children who are more susceptible to these itchy bites.

Mosquitoes are attracted to their victims through the exhalation of carbon dioxide, body sent and even the chemicals in an individual’s sweat. Note that it is only the female mosquito that actually bites. This is due to the fact that the female is in search of protein rich blood that will help with the reproduction process and the production of eggs. The real question is: should you be concerned by your mosquito bite?

Life-Threatening Disease
Perhaps most concerning of all is the fact that mosquitoes are known to carry a number of different types of viruses or parasites. These viruses or parasites can result in serious illness. In fact, mosquitoes that are infected do reside in many parts of the world and can quickly spread life-threatening disease. From malaria to yellow fever and other types of viruses such as the West Nile virus, mosquitoes are a real concern to public health. Ultimately, many of the viruses spread by mosquitoes result in serious brain infections or encephalitis.

Appearance of the Bite
Symptoms associated with a bite include the development of a white or reddish bump that is puffy and itchy. In most instances this type of symptom will appear within just a few minutes of being bitten. There are also cases where a bite will result in an itchy, hard reddish-brown bump that appears up to a day or more after the initial bite. Some people also experience blisters rather than hard bumps. Even dark patches that look like bruises can develop once there has been a mosquito bite. More severe reactions include swollen lymph nodes, fever or hives. It is important to note that any time there is a question with regard to a mosquito bite that may be causing an adverse reaction, it is essential to visit with a healthcare provider soon as possible. This is especially important when it comes to symptoms such as severe headache, fever, body aches or any sign of infection.

Mosquitoes are a serious concern because of the diseases that they may carry. When a mosquito bites an infected individual the insect obtains the virus or parasite that is then passed along to the next individual that it bites. That is why it cannot be over emphasized how important it is to seek out medical attention anytime there is an adverse reaction to a mosquito related bite.

It is possible to lessen your chances of being bit in the first place. Stokes Mosquito and Outdoor Pest Service can help! Contact Stokes Mosquito to learn more about affordable and effective mosquito control in the CSRA.

September 10, 2020April 13, 2021

HELP GET RID OF FLEAS AND TICKS IN YOUR YARD

Living in the South means that flea and tick season is year-round. Typically, ticks are more active in the warmer months, beginning in March and April, and they become less common after nighttime temperatures begin to drop below freezing.

You need to be aware of fleas and ticks in wooded outdoor areas, but they can also invade your own yard, especially if you have pets or see a lot of wildlife.

Here are a few ways to fight back:

Remember to consistently treat your pets for fleas and ticks. Your vet offers a variety of both preventative and remediative flea and tick treatments. Ticks can cause diseases in both humans and animals.
Maintain your lawn and outdoor areas. Take time to trim back bushes and plants, and clean up clippings and yard waste that may harbor moisture. Overgrown grass and bushes provide shady spaces for fleas to avoid the heat of the sun and more homes for ticks. It’s also an incentive to keep your yard clean and free of stacks of old flower pots, logs, bricks and other debris, that may provide a home for fleas and ticks.
Discourage other wildlife from visiting your yard. Animals like squirrels, deer, rabbits, raccoons and mice can transport fleas or ticks to your yard. Take the time to patch up holes in your fence. Keep your garbage cans fully closed, and clean up scattered bird seed and pet food. If you are planting, ask an expert which plants are deer-resistant.

Stokes Mosquito and Outdoor Pest Service can also help. Our flea and tick treatments are customized for your property and come with a satisfaction guarantee. The misting treatment used also helps prevent mosquitoes!

Ready to get started? Contact us online or call (803) 474-0002 today.

April 6, 2020April 13, 2021

MOSQUITOES DO NOT TRANSMIT NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

WHO information regarding Covid19 mosquito bites Stokes Mosquito and Outdoor Pest Service AugustaGA

MOSQUITOES DO NOT TRANSMIT NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters

Many of us have questions about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it spreads, and it can be difficult to sift through information. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 cannot be transmitted through mosquito bites. Instead, “the new coronavirus is a respiratory virus which spreads primarily through droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose.”

However, as mosquito season begins, it is important to remember that mosquitoes are known to transmit other diseases that impact both humans and pets in Georgia and South Carolina, including: West Nile virus, Zika virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, La Crosse encephalitis, Saint Louis Encephalitis virus, Chikungunya virus, dog heartworm, and cat heartworm.

During this unprecedented time, our homes are feeling more important than ever. At Stokes Mosquito and Outdoor Pest Service, we continue to offer our full suite of mosquito, flea & tick, fire ant, and outdoor pest control services in areas where it is safe and responsible to do so. In light of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), our employees are careful to remain a safe distance of 6 – 10 ft from all customers, including children. We will greet you with a wave, and, if preferred, we are happy to communicate entirely via phone or text. While we wish we could do more, we are ready and able help you protect your family from mosquitoes and other biting insects, so your outdoor spaces can truly serve as an extension of your home, at a time when being home is the best thing we can do.

Ready to get started? Contact us online or call (803) 474-0002 today.

February 24, 2020April 13, 2021

ARE MOSQUITO CONTROL SERVICES WORTH IT?

Mosquitoes are prevalent in Georgia and South Carolina. As any southerner knows (or any southern transplant quickly learns), they can make your time outside very uncomfortable. Mosquitoes eggs and larva require water to survive, but as adults, female mosquitoes take flight and bite us and feed on our blood, obtaining critical nutrients to develop their eggs. They find us in many ways, including perfumes and other scents, our clothing colors (darker colors typically draw mosquitoes) and through just being a human (They may catch wind of the carbon dioxide, lactic acid or sweat your body produces.). However, beyond the nuisance of mosquito bites and the ongoing family debate regarding “who mosquitoes like best”, the reality is that the Center for Disease Control links mosquitoes to a variety of diseases, including the West Nile virus, Zika Virus, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, that affect both humans and our pets.

mosquito biting human Stokes Mosquito and Outdoor Pest Service Augusta GA Aiken SC In the CSRA, area cities are establishing mosquito abatement programs in response to the health threat mosquitoes may carry. These programs focus much of their efforts on larval control through water management and source reduction in public areas. In other words, the programs address the mosquito population where eggs are laid and mature. Homeowners should practice similar efforts – be on the lookout for areas of standing water in your yard and drain the source. When deemed necessary, the city may apply EPA-approved insecticides that are distributed in public areas and city-maintained streets, usually sprayed from trucks, that are formulated to kill adult mosquitoes.

The real question is – in light of such programs, can a professional mosquito control service help?

The answer is yes. Public mosquito control initiatives address public areas, and depending on the location of your home or business, may address a small portion of your property. However, it’s not a complete solution. This is where a mosquito control service steps in. A consistent, misting treatment completed by a mosquito control professional is like establishing a mosquito abatement program for your own property.

Upon arriving at your property, a qualified mosquito control expert should first survey your property to determine both where adult mosquitoes are resting and larvae are maturing, including the underside of foliage and areas of where standing water may occur (including drains, downspout areas and household items that can hold water (such as buckets and wheelbarrows). Only after completing this step can a technician effectively treat for mosquitoes, while limiting impact to pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

At Stokes Mosquito and Outdoor Pest Service, each client treatment is customized. Our misting treatment uses a solution that sticks to the underside of the foliage to address adult mosquitoes, as well as an all natural granular larvacide, creating protection that lasts 21 days. Not only that – it is 100% biodegradable so leaves no active residues. We recommend treatment every three weeks, and relief from mosquitoes is guaranteed for all 21 days. We also treat standing water, drains, and downspout areas to clear them of larvae and adult mosquitoes.

If you’re still not convinced, look at what our clients are saying.

Ready to get started? Contact us online or call (803) 474-0002 today.

June 22, 2019April 13, 2021

DANGERS OF MOSQUITOES

mosquito on skin close up Stokes Mosquito and Outdoor Pest Service pest control company Aiken SC Augusta GA

DANGERS OF MOSQUITOES

Everyone's first thought about mosquitoes is that they are annoying, and that all they do is pester for a taste of your blood. However, do you actually know much about what mosquitoes are capable of besides a painful little sting and some itchiness? You would be surprised to find out that mosquitoes are one of the most dangerous creatures that roam the earth. It is incredible what effects this small flying insect is capable of unleashing on human beings. While a great white shark or a poisonous snake can kill you instantly, your chances of running into them are very small. The chances of being bitten by a disease infected mosquito are significantly higher, as mosquitoes live in just about every corner of the human populated areas of the earth.

Female mosquitoes feed on the blood of humans and other animals at a rate of up to 0.01 milliliter per feeding, so it would take trillions of them to suck up all of your blood if that were possible. The real danger of mosquitoes lies within the fatal diseases they can transmit to the other animals and humans they bite. Diseases carried by mosquitoes spread quickly across geographical locations because typical mosquitoes can fly up to 7 miles from its original breeding location and reproduce there. Some breeds of mosquitoes have been known to fly up to around 100 miles from their original breeding site, so it's easy to see how a location can become saturated with disease infected mosquitoes quickly. This is why it is extremely important to hire a professional and reliable pest control service provider like Stokes Mosquito and Outdoor Pest Service to do routine mosquito spraying.

Here at Stokes Mosquito, we have compiled important information about some of the most common mosquito-transmitted diseases in the United States to help you gain a better understanding of the risk that mosquitoes pose to you and your family.

West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus is the most prominent mosquito transmitted disease in the United States as of the year 2016. 2,150 cases of West Nile were formally reported to the CDC- Center For Disease Control and Prevention in 2016, and 70 percent of those cases required hospitalization. 106 deaths were attributed to West Nile in the US in the year of 2016 which means West Nile was fatal in 1 out of every 200 people infected, and 2 out of every 25 people that were hospitalized died of the disease. West Nile is carried by birds and mosquitoes alike and often begins with little to no symptoms in humans. When symptoms do appear, they are flu-like and mimic the same symptoms of numerous other diseases, which is why the reported statistics are most likely lower than the actual number of West Nile cases. West Nile reproduces in the bloodstream where it is taken to the brain and starts to have negative effects on the nervous system. It can also cause dangerous inflammation conditions such as meningitis and encephalitis. The only way to treat West Nile is to treat the symptoms it is causing while the human body works to fight it off.

Malaria

Dating as far back as 1700 BC, Malaria is still very present in our world today, infecting around 300 to 500 million people every year. This can be a fatal disease, however, usually severe illness and fatalities due to it can be prevented. Annually around 1,500 cases are reported to the CDC- Center For Disease Control, and out of those only about 5 of them are fatal. Occasional outbreaks in the United States do happen, but aggressive measures to prevent mosquitoes from breeding and spreading the disease typically keep the outbreaks local. Unlike the other diseases that can be spread through the bites of mosquitoes, there are medications approved in the United States to treat cases of this disease.

Zika

Zika Virus is a relatively new headline in regards to mosquito transmitted disease in recent years. It has not been reported to have any locally transmitted cases within the continental area of the United States, it is highly present in other US territories and South America. The 426 cases that were reported in the United States were caused by travel to areas where the disease is more prevalent. Because the virus does not present with severe symptoms in most cases of healthy individuals, it is most likely under-reported in the United States as it usually does not require any medical treatment. The virus is, however, very dangerous for pregnant women, as it can cause fatal congenital neurological defects in newborns if the mother contracts the virus while the baby is in utero. Similar to West Nile and other diseases, this virus also has no cure or treatment other than treating the symptoms until your body can fight it off.

Chikungunya

Another pathogen that can be transmitted via mosquito bites, Chikungunya is of the lesser known viruses that are present in the United States. There have been 497 cases related to individuals who traveled to disease saturated areas reported in the US. Several locally transmitted cases have been reported in Florida and may have spread to the other Caribbean bordering states. It is not usually a disease that causes death in those infected, however, it does cause weeks of excruciating joint pain that can be very debilitating and requires strong painkillers to manage. Currently, no vaccine is in place to prevent this virus, and there is no treatment for the virus itself aside from pain management and bed rest.

Mosquito Prevention Measures

Luckily, as a home and or business owner, you can take certain precautions for mosquito control to protect your family members, pets, and community from becoming mosquito bit transmitted illness statistics. By hiring professionals like Stokes Pest Control to implement a good pest control management program that includes mosquito spraying for population control and removal of breeding areas, you can reduce your chances of running into the dangers of mosquitoes. Here at Stokes Mosquito, we are the most knowledgeable and experienced Augusta mosquito control and Aiken mosquito control team out there, and we specialize in mosquito prevention. Our Stokes Pest Control team know exactly how and what it takes to get the job done and keep your home safe by providing quality mosquito control measures.