Central Mass Mosquito Control | Mosquito Protection

Author Archive: Dave Macchia

Dave Macchia is the owner of Mosquito Squad of Central MA and the author of 2 blogs about mosquito control and tick control in the Central Mass area.

When should I have my yard sprayed for mosquitoes?

As we near closer to the fall season in Massachusetts, you might be asking yourself when it’s time to stop having your yard sprayed for mosquitoes.  Since mosquitoes don’t come and go according to the seasonal calendar, it’s still time to have your yard sprayed. Mosquitoes actually operate on their own schedule.  Weather dictates when they come and go.  In Massachusetts, this means that the official mosquito season is April through mid to late October.  Though mosquitoes really thrive in temperatures above 80°F, they are active in temperatures above 50°F.  Even though the end of the summer season is in sight, mosquitoes haven’t gotten the memo.

EEE Mosquitoes Found in Massachusetts

The dreaded EEE mosquitoes are in Massachusetts.  Are you protecting your home and family from the threat of this potentially fatal disease? Earlier this month, Massachusetts health officials announced that they had found the first mosquitoes infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis.  Why is this so important to Central Mass residents?  The same reason it’s important for everyone.  EEE is here and with a 30% fatality rate, we must be aware.  If you have not yet started your essential mosquito control regimen, there is no better time than now.

Deadly Animals, Great and Small

When we think about the deadliest animals on Earth, usually scary animals come to mind.  Lions, tigers, bears…crocodiles! When it comes to deadly animals, don’t count the little guys out.  Fact is, while elephants and hippopotamuses account for a combined 1,000 deaths each year, when considering the most deadly animals on Earth, we need to think small.  Sharks are frightening and deadly, but how many of us actually have a shark encounter in our lifetime?  What are the animals that all humans come in contact with every day?

Who’s at risk for mosquito bites?

Everyone is at risk for mosquito bites.  Though, it has been said that some people are more susceptible.  One study showed those with type O blood were more attractive to mosquitoes.  They are also attracted to dark color clothing and lactic acid in our perspiration. If you are asking, “Who’s at risk for mosquito bites,” the answer really is, “Everyone.”  When it comes to avoiding blood-thirty mosquitoes and the potentially harmful diseases they carry, it takes action on all our parts.

Release of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Approved

On May 1, the EPA cleared the request to release genetically modified mosquitoes in the Florida Keys.  On June 17, Oxitec, the creator of these mosquitoes, received the state’s approval. This is not science fiction!  Genetically modified mosquitoes are a-go in the Florida Keys, a hotbed for the Aedes aegypti mosquito population, ground zero for potential mosquito-borne illnesses in the United States.  The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the carrier of West Nile Virus, the most prevalent mosquito-borne disease in the country.  Aside from West Nile, this nasty creature is responsible for other illnesses, such as Zika virus, chikungunya, and dengue fever.  What are genetically modified mosquitoes exactly?

Dragonflies for all-natural mosquito control?

Yes, dragonflies provide all-natural mosquito control.  These beautiful, colorful insects are gifts from Mother Nature, beautiful to look at, and a natural mosquito predator. You might have seen popular social media posts about dragonflies being an effective source for all-natural mosquito control. Who wouldn’t want to see these lovely insects flying around their yard, chomping on mosquitoes to protect our family from mosquito bites and the harmful illnesses mosquitoes carry?

Why Central Mass Dads Deserve Mosquito Control This Father’s Day

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21.  Have you chosen the perfect gift for your dad?  Central Mass dads deserve mosquito control this Father’s Day.  Here’s why! Per usual, some of the most popular Father’s Day gifts for 2020 pertain to the outdoors.  From grills to golf clubs, we often give our dads gifts that take them outdoors.  Father’s Day is in June, after all.  There’s no better time to be outside.

The Legend of the “Mosquito Hawk”

Sorry to say, when it comes to mosquito control, the mosquito hawk plays no part.  Also known as the “skeeter eater,” the crane fly simply gets a bad social media reputation.  It’s harmless to mosquitoes and humans.  If you see one, you will note its gigantic size, which is probably where the legend comes from.  Compared to mosquitoes, crane flies are enormous.  They look like they might like to devour a mosquito, but they do not.  As a matter of fact, the adult mosquito hawk rarely takes a meal.  If they do eat, they prefer sweet nectar, not mosquitoes.  Crane fly larvae feed on organic plant and leaf waste in wetland areas.

Coronavirus threat eclipses mosquito-borne diseases

Diagnosing, curing, and preventing COVID-19 is a worldwide priority.  The sudden prevalence of COVID-19 and movement to cure and eradicate it, have put mosquito-borne diseases on the back burner.  However, they persist. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, a mother living in Singapore recently thought that her children were showing symptoms of COVID-19.  It began with a fever for her six-year-old daughter, and continued on to two other children.  Of course, the first thing she considered was coronavirus.  Who wouldn’t?  Her children did not have COVID-19.

We have dangerous mosquitoes. Will we be invaded by murder hornets in Central Mass too?

The idea that an insect can land a deadly blow to a human with a venomous sting would strike fear in anyone.  If you live in Central Mass, you are already familiar with our high populations of potentially deadly mosquitoes.  Rare, but deadly diseases, such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis, are spread by a simple mosquito bite.  Late last year, Massachusetts had 12 of the 34 reported cases of EEE in the United States, resulting in three deaths.