Central Mass Mosquito Control | Mosquito Protection

Central Mass Mosquito Control | Mosquito Protection

Author Archive: Dave Macchia

Central Mass Mosquito Control | Mosquito Protection > Articles by: 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.

Great Ways to Improve Health & Well-being in 2021

January 4, 2021 Central Mass Mosquito Control, Mosquito Control , , ,

New year, new goals.  Just like the turn of every year before, 2021 comes with promises of a fresh start. It is reported that about half of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, but only about 10% follow through with them.  Instead of holding yourself to stringent resolutions this year, why not set simple goals each month instead?  There is no better time that 2021 to try to focus on our own self-care.  Perhaps at the beginning of each month, we could try a new method of improving our own health and well-being.  Here are some great ideas to achieve health and happiness now and throughout the year.

Mosquito Bite Relief: What really works?

December 30, 2020 All-Natural Mosquito Bite Relief, Mosquito Bite Relief, Mosquitoes , , ,

There is no surefire 100% protection from mosquitoes.  You might find that it is more difficult to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites away from home.  Hiking, camping, vacationing…all these outdoor scenarios present a potential for mosquito bites. Non-infectious mosquito bites can result in a skin reaction.  This skin irritation comes from toxins in mosquito saliva.  If you have been bitten by a mosquito, you are probably familiar with the bump, redness, and itching a bite can cause.  If not properly addressed, your scratching can lead to a skin infection.  It’s better to be safe than sorry.  The good news is, there are more than a few options for mosquito bite relief.

3 Great Reasons to Give Mosquito Control for Christmas

December 4, 2020 Mosquito Control, Mosquito Control Central Mass , ,

Like every year, in some ways it’s hard to believe that 2020 is nearly over.  Holiday shopping is in full swing.  It’s a great year to give the gift of mosquito control. It might be difficult to imagine the utter nuisances that are mosquitoes, now that the weather has cooled.  When you think of giving the gift of mosquito control, consider it an investment into your loved one’s future health and happiness.  We plan ahead for vacations this time of year, and anticipate home improvement projects in the springtime.  Why not consider mosquito control too?  Here are three great reasons to give mosquito control for Christmas this year.

Science is abuzz with new mosquito identification app!

November 27, 2020 mosquito surveillance, Mosquitoes , , ,

These days, there is an app for everything.  In times past, you might have photographed a mosquito to identify it.  Scientists are readying a new identification app, which doesn’t require you phone camera.  It uses your phone’s microphone. Ingenuity has delivered a crowd-sourced method of mosquito identification, which can help determine the type of mosquitoes that are in your backyard.  Over the years, mosquito studies have proved costly and time-consuming.  Scientists usually trap and study mosquito species.  A phone app is about to be released, which will allow us to help identify the types of mosquitoes we have flying around your home, by sound.

Mosquito Taste Buds: The key to reducing mosquito-borne illnesses?

October 14, 2020 Mosquitoes, Mosquitoes Have Taste Buds , , ,

A new study on the Aedes aegypti could hold the key to reducing mosquito-borne illnesses.  Mosquitoes have taste buds.  Who knew? The Aedes aegypti is a nasty blood-sucker.  Known as the yellow fever mosquito, this thirsty aerial invader is also responsible for the spread of dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika virus.  Scientists have found that mosquitoes have taste buds, making the female mosquito able to differentiate between salty and sweet.  What does human blood taste like?  We are sweet and savory to the Aedes aegypti, which makes us much different from nectar.  Human blood to mosquitoes, could be likened to a salt-rimmed margarita or a salted caramel cappuccino.

Mosquito-Borne Illnesses in 2020

September 18, 2020 EEE in 2020, Mosquito-Borne Illnesses, Mosquito-Borne Illnesses in 2020, West Nile virus in 2020, Zika virus in 2020 , , ,

Summer is coming to a close.  The most active mosquito season is also nearing its end.  What has 2020 looked like for mosquito-borne illnesses? There has been such focus on COVID-19 in 2020, mosquito-born illnesses might not have been at the front of your mind.  Even so, they remain a great threat to our health.  We have seen Eastern equine encephalitis make an appearance again in 2020.  As of September 9, the CDC reports there have been five confirmed cases of EEE in the United States.  Three of those cases were in Massachusetts. 

Is malaria still a threat?

September 11, 2020 Is Malaria Still a Threat?, Malaria , , , , , ,

Malaria is a potentially fatal mosquito-borne illness with a long history.  The parasites responsible for malaria infection were first identified around 1880.  Since then, mosquitoes carrying these parasites have been found preserved in amber, believed to be 30,000,000 years old.  Is malaria still a threat? Even though malaria was eliminated in the United States in the early 1950’s, it remains a threat in other parts of the world today.  There were more than 400,000 known malaria deaths throughout the world in 2018.  More than 90% of malaria deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.

Do all mosquitoes bite humans?

September 4, 2020 Do all mosquitoes bite humans?, Mosquitoes , , , ,

Mosquitoes!  We go to war with these tiny blood suckers every warm season.  Are all those annoying mosquitoes only females, or do all mosquitoes bite humans? Male mosquitoes do not bite humans or animals. They feed on nectar alone.  If a male mosquito is close to you, it will simply be annoying. That said, male mosquitoes typically avoid contact with humans. They don’t need us after all.  If you are experiencing swarms of mosquitoes, they are likely all female.