Mosquito Control in Georgia

The Southern House Mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus) is an important pest in Georgia and is known to transmit West Nile Virus.

Mosquitoes are members of the family Culicidae, a diverse family of biting insects that is further divided into two subfamilies and numerous tribes, genera, and species. There are approximately 3,500 species of mosquitoes in all, and about 56 of them are known to live in Georgia.

Two of the most important mosquito species in Georgia are the Southern House Mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus), and the Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus). Both of these species are important because they're known to carry West Nile Virus.

They're also "container mosquitoes," which means that they can lay their eggs in very small bodies of water, including artificial containers such as kiddie pools, bird baths, and even buckets.

Mosquito Biology

All mosquitoes have a few things in common, and understanding these factors helps us more effectively reduce and control mosquito populations. The most important things to remember are:

• All mosquitoes undergo complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
• Mosquitoes must have water to exist. They start their lives as eggs laid in or near water, and they must complete their larval and pupal stages in water.
• Only female mosquitoes bite. They must consume at least one blood meal in order to produce eggs. (Male mosquitoes feed on plant juices.)

In keeping with our Integrated Pest Management approach to pest control, our mosquito control program emphasizes non-chemical control, elimination of breeding areas, and source reduction as the first steps in a comprehensive mosquito abatement program.

Public Health Importance of Georgia Mosquitoes

Most mosquito bites are just an annoyance, although they can sometimes become inflamed and infected by scratching. But mosquitoes are also important arboviral disease vectors.

Mosquitoes in Georgia are known to transmit several serious diseases. The most common by far is West Nile Virus (WNV), which can be spread by mosquitoes to humans and animals, including domestic animals, horses, and livestock. WNV is a serious, sometimes fatal disease, but most people who contract WNV do eventually recover. WNV is often fatal in horses, however.

Mosquitoes are also vectors of the parasite that causes dog heartworm. Larval parasites are deposited onto a dog's skin by infected mosquitoes, and burrow into the skin, where they grow for several months. When the parasites reach a certain size, they enter the dog's bloodstream and eventually make their way into the right ventricle of the dog's heart, where they continue their development into adults. Heartworm is common in Georgia, and if left untreated, can be serious or fatal to dogs.

Georgia mosquitoes can also transit several less-common but serious diseases, including Easter Equine Encephalitis (EEE), LaCrosse Encephalitis (LAC), and Dengue Fever. The Georgia State Department of Health has a helpful pamphlet about these and other vector-borne diseases, which can be downloaded here.

Mosquito Control in Georgia

Habitat reduction and localized pre-emergence treatment is our preferred approach to reducing mosquito populations because it's the most environmentally-friendly way to do it. Of course, this can only be done early in the season, so the sooner you contact us for mosquito control, the better.

Because all mosquitoes need water to breed, our comprehensive mosquito control program begins with inspection of your property for potential breeding areas. We find and remove as many breeding areas as possible, and we treat breeding areas that can't be removed to control larval mosquitoes before they have a chance to become adults.

When needed, we can also treat mosquito resting areas such as ivy, shrubs, trees, tall grass and heavy tree lines with a residual insecticide product that will reduce the mosquito populations in those areas, and we can apply treatments around window and door frames of homes and commercial buildings to help prevent mosquitoes from getting inside the buildings.

Mosquito Control for Outdoor Events

Rid-A-Critter can also help reduce mosquitoes at your outdoor wedding reception, family reunion, barbecue, church function, birthday party, or any sort of outdoor event. Short-term mosquito treatments for one-time events provide mosquito control at a specific site, for a few days. This inexpensive service can help make your outdoor event a success by reducing the annoyance of mosquitoes buzzing around and biting your guests.

We do need a bit of notice for these jobs, however, so please contact us well before the event.

Man vs. Machine

One thing we don't do is install automatic mosquito misting systems. Why? Because we believe that it's irresponsible. Mosquito misting machines apply insecticide whether it's needed or not. They don't know the difference between sunny and rainy days, and they may apply insecticide when children or pets are playing in the yard or when wind conditions favor drift onto sensitive areas. That's not how we do things. When insecticides are needed to control mosquitoes, they will be applied only by professionals who have been trained, tested, and are state-authorized to do so.

For prompt, professional control of mosquitoes, or for any general pest control problem, please call us today.