Monthly Archives: April 2022

Your next vacation is a time to escape from work, relax with family or friends, and recharge. If you arrive at your vacation destination ready for fun, it can be quite discouraging to be greeted by a barrage of mosquitoes instead. So, while you’re planning your trip, doing a little more research about possible destinations and the insects that inhabit the area can help you avoid a buggy situation.

Are There Any Places Without Mosquitoes?

Unless you’re planning on traveling to Antarctica or Iceland, you’ll likely encounter mosquitoes, especially if it’s during the summer months. However, there are some virtually mosquito-free areas where you would be less likely to encounter many of those nagging pests. In North America, the state with the least number of mosquitoes in West Virginia, you will still encounter some in the more densely wooded areas. And even the state with the least number of mosquitoes has a lot.

When it comes to determining whether your vacation spot will have lots of bugs, consider two things: temperature and humidity. The “swampier” the climate, the more likely you’ll encounter a lot of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes also love standing water, so you may decide to avoid areas with swamps, ponds, or small lakes. For example, lakeside camping is going to involve bug bites. But a cruise or a water park vacation offers more controlled environments likely to be itch-free.

Related Topic: How Mosquitoes and Ticks Spread Disease

Hot Places Without Mosquitoes

If you’re up for a little adventure, visit the tiny island of Montserrat in the Caribbean British West Indies. It’s one of few very hot spots in the world that allows you to essentially live a mosquito-free life. Scientists aren’t exactly sure why this location doesn’t have mosquitoes, since it has all their usual requirements: tropical temperatures, humidity, and plenty of water. The constant volcanic activity that the island is known for is likely a big factor.

The islands of French Polynesia also have fewer mosquitoes than most islands with similar climates. Tahiti is one of these islands and is a beautiful place to vacation. It’s known for its picturesque beaches and lavish resorts. French Polynesian vacation spots attract thousands of tourists every year.

Mosquito-Free Life Is Rare, But You Can Get Close!

Even if you travel to places with no mosquitoes (or very few), those annoying pests will be faithfully waiting for you when you finally return home—because they never take a vacation.

To make help make your backyard an infestation before it begins by contacting our experts at Mosquito Joe. We can make your yard more enjoyable all year long by spraying for mosquitoes and helping you eliminate their habitat. Request an estimate or call us at 1-855-275-2563 to get started.

Invasive bugs are a huge problem in the United States. According to Entomology Today, the economic impact of invasive insects is more than $30 billion each year. These pests can degrade, change, or even displace native habitats and cause all kinds of disruptions for other wildlife.

And when it comes to you and your yard, invasive bugs are a big inconvenience. While some invasive insects like stinkbugs are harmless, they can end up everywhere­—including your underwear drawer! Other invasive bugs, like termites, could do real damage to your home. Any kind of invasive insect is a nuisance. By learning more about them, you can better take control of your space.

Common Types of Invasive Bugs

These are some of the most common invasive insects in North America:

• Several types of moths, like the leek moth and cactus moth
• Wooly adelgids
• Asian tiger mosquitoes
• Several types of fruit flies, black flies, and sawflies
• Termites
• Earwigs
• Stinkbugs
• Mealybugs
• Spotted Lantern Flies

There are so many other invasive bugs in the states, including many types of beetles, borers, scale bugs, wasps, flies and ants. It’s worth researching an insect if it seems to be destroying plants and trees on your property, or your house.

Wait … Are Mosquitoes Invasive?

When you’re thinking of bugs that are a nuisance, mosquitoes are probably the first ones to jump to mind. But are mosquitoes invasive? Actually, yes, there are species of invasive mosquitoes. The Asian tiger mosquito and the yellow fever mosquito are both examples of invasive mosquitoes that have snuck into North America in hiding spots like used car tires. Typically, these types of invasive mosquitoes prefer warmer areas like southern California.

The mosquitoes that most US households deal with are the Aedes mosquito, the Anopheles mosquito, and the Culex mosquito. Since an invasive bug is defined as a species that was introduced to an area where they don’t naturally occur, these mosquitoes are not technically invasive. But they sure are annoying!

Related Topic: Preventing and Eliminating a Basement Insect Problem

Tick Invasion: What to Look For

While it’s normal to find a tick from time to time while you’re outside, finding them consistently could point to a problem. Ticks are tiny, parasitic bugs that generally live in wooded areas and fields. They need human or animal blood to survive and can be carriers of serious diseases, like Lyme disease. When you suspect you have a tick invasion (because they are frequently showing up on you or your pets), act fast so they don’t get inside of your house, where they could survive for a while. An effective way to get rid of these creepy creatures is to have your yard professionally sprayed for ticks during their most active months. You can also keep your grass and trees trimmed and try to weed your garden regularly to deter ticks.

While ticks often burrow under hair before biting their victims, they also attach themselves to other areas of the body, like:

• Under the knees
• Under the arms
• The groin area
• Inside or around the ears
• Inside the belly button
• The base of the neck

During tick season, which is any time of year when temperatures stay above 45 degrees Fahrenheit, be sure to check these areas on yourself and your kids. And don’t forget to check your pets regularly too!

Professional Invasive Species Control

As a homeowner, there isn’t much you can do to prevent invasive insects from migrating to your area. What you can do is prevent them from taking up residence in your own backyard and jeopardizing the safety of you and your family. At Mosquito Joe, our mission is to help homeowners take back the outdoors. Our traditional and natural barrier sprays effectively keep pests away for up to thirty days, which can make the time you and your family spend outdoor fun again! To learn more, or to get started, give us a call at 1-855-275-2563or request an estimate online today.

There are nearly one million positive cases of Lyme disease in dogs every year. Lyme disease is transmitted through bacteria from a tick bite, which your dog could get in grassy or wooded areas. If Lyme disease is untreated, it can lead to damage to the kidneys, nervous system, and heart, and can even be fatal.

So, pet owners go to great lengths to prevent tick bites on their dogs. For many dogs, the ideal topical tick preventative may be the synthetic, topical formula recommended by veterinarians. It contains fipronil, a powerful chemical used to kill adult fleas and ticks on animal fur. But just like people, some dogs have very sensitive skin. So, those harsher chemical tick repellents can cause itching, irritation, and even skin lesions on pets. For this reason, many dog owners choose to use gentler, natural products. But which options work?

Related Topic: What to Do If a Tick Head Is Stuck in Your Skin

Four Natural Tick Repellents for Dogs

Don’t forget to consult your veterinarian before using any of these products on your pet. They may suggest testing a product on a small portion of your dog’s skin before using it all over.

1. Store-Bought Formulas: There are many pre-mixed natural tick repellents for dogs on the market, all with differing ingredients. Many of these contain essential oils. Be sure to read the instructions, as some products may require dilution before you apply them to your pet.
2. Homemade Essential Oil Tick Repellent for Dogs: Essential oil tick repellent for dogs is also a popular choice of pet owners looking to keep their dogs protected in the warmer months. The essential oil commonly used to repel ticks on dogs is lavender oil. It has a sweet, calming scent that is attractive to humans and dogs but loathed by bugs like fleas and ticks. Amazingly, lavender oil also prevents tick eggs from hatching. You may have heard that lemongrass is a good tick repellent for dogs, but it could upset your dog’s stomach if they licked it, so it’s generally not recommended as a topical treatment.
3. Natural Tick Spray for Your Yard: One of the best ways to prevent ticks on your dogs—and on your other family members—is to keep ticks from coming to your yard in the first place. Mosquito Joe can help with that! Using our natural tick treatment on strategic areas of your yard, we’ll make sure no pesky ticks can bother your fur babies.
4. Reduction of Tick Habitat: Eliminate tick breeding grounds in your garden and lawn by cleaning up debris they might hide in. Mosquito Joe will provide some guidance for this if you’re already having us spray for ticks outside.

So, those are the four major ways to repel ticks that might bother your pets. Here are more details about the homemade option.

How to Make Your Own Tick Repellent

You may think a DIY tick repellent for dogs would be tricky, but it’s quite easy to make your own! Here’s a method you can try at home with the approval of your veterinarian:

• Thinly slice a lemon into a large glass jar.
• Boil a quart of water, and slowly pour it over the sliced lemon. Let the mixture steep overnight.
• Strain the lemon water into a glass spray bottle, filling it about half-full. Save any remaining water for later.
• Add 1 cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
• Add ten drops of lavender oil. Shake it up and put it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
• To use it, lightly spray the mixture on your dog’s fur, using your hand to work it in. Avoid spraying it around your pet’s eyes and mouth. Apply the spray every two hours when your dog is outside.

Pull Out All the Stops to Keep Ticks Away

Your dog is a member of the family, and you want to protect your whole family from ticks. While you might try any of these natural methods for tick repellent, the most effective plan is to use a combination of all these things: a topical (vet-approved) treatment, a professional yard treatment, and tick habitat removal. You can trust Mosquito Joe for professional yard treatment and advice about habitat removal. We’re experienced and equipped with a proprietary, all-natural formula that works for weeks. To get started, give us a call at 1-855-275-2563 or request a quote online.