Summer in New England is a time to enjoy the outdoors, but the warmer weather also brings the arrival of our Pest of the Month: Mosquitoes. If you live in the Greater Boston area, you already know how quickly these buzzing nuisances can drive you indoors. However, beyond being a simple backyard annoyance, mosquitoes are widely considered "public enemy number one" in the fight against global infectious diseases.​

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The Dangers of Mosquito-Borne Diseases

According to the National Pest Management Association (PestWorld), mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on the planet due to their role as disease vectors. While diseases like malaria and yellow fever aren't common in Massachusetts, local mosquitoes are known carriers of severe regional threats like West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), alongside other pathogens like Zika, chikungunya, and dengue.

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Mosquito Facts: What Boston Homeowners Should Know

Did you know that mosquitoes hunt their prey by detecting body heat and the carbon dioxide humans exhale? Interestingly, only female mosquitoes bite. Females require the protein from a blood meal to produce fertile eggs, whereas male mosquitoes feed exclusively on flower and plant nectars.​

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Worldwide, there are more than 3,000 species of mosquitoes. In North America alone, there are about 170 different species, with approximately 50 mosquito species found right here in Boston. The two most common offenders in Massachusetts include:

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• Culex Mosquitoes: Often called the common house mosquito, these breed in stagnant water or soft soil, typically feed at dusk and dawn, and are primary carriers of the West Nile Virus.
   

• Asian Tiger Mosquitoes: Easily identified by their black and white striped legs, this invasive species is unique because they aggressively bite during the broad daylight hours.

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Prevention Tips from the Experts

According to PestWorld experts, a female mosquito can lay a "raft" of up to 300 eggs in as little as a half-inch of stagnant water. Because all mosquitoes require water to breed, eradication and population control must start with eliminating standing water sources.

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• Inspect Your Yard: After a heavy New England rainstorm, empty water from flowerpots, birdbaths, baby pools, clogged gutters, grill covers, and old tires.

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• Protect Yourself: When enjoying the outdoors, wear long sleeves and use an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

Organic Mosquito Control in Boston by Heritage Pest Control NE

Getting rid of mosquitoes requires more than just bug spray—it requires a targeted, property-wide approach. If you are concerned about mosquito populations on your property, Heritage Pest Control NE is here to help.

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Based right here in Boston, we specialize in safe, effective, and organic mosquito control. Our expert team is dedicated to providing the Boston and broader New England communities with environmentally friendly solutions that work. You don't have to rely on harsh chemicals to take back your yard.

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Don't let mosquitoes ruin your summer. Contact Heritage Pest Control NE today for expert advice on how to get rid of mosquitoes naturally and enjoy a safe, mosquito-free season! 

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