Truly Nolen Pest Advice Blog » Mosquitoes

Mosquito Madness in Charlotte

Truly Nolen of Charlotte NC — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 18:14:38 +0000

Charlotte, NC is nationally ranked one of the worst cities for mosquitoes. High temperatures and moist conditions attract mosquitoes, and standing water allows them to breed. Mosquitoes can be identified by their slender bodies and long legs. Adults can live from 10 days all the way up to 6 months. With summer in full force, taking a proactive approach against these pests is key to preventing bites. Do Mosquitoes Favor Some More Than Others? An article from Smithsonian magazine explains that some individuals are more prone to mosquito bites than others. Individuals who have type O blood type are especially favorable to mosquitoes. Larger individuals who emit more carbon dioxide when they breathe are also on this list. This group includes tall people and the obese. Elevated body temperatures, excess sweat and bacteria on the skin are also contributing factors. Prevention and Types of Mosquito-borne Illnesses Families in the Charlotte area should take precautions against mosquitoes, mainly during the months of June, July and August, to reduce chances of the transfer of mosquito-borne illnesses. Mosquito bites are known to spread diseases and cause allergic reactions. Some mosquito-related illnesses that have been reported are Zika, Malaria, Encephalitis, Chikungunya Virus and West Read More

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Keeping Blood Suckers Away During the Summer

TrulyNolen — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 13:24:44 +0000

Mosquitoes are a true sign that summer has arrived and theyre likely to ruin your afternoon of outdoor fun if youre not prepared. The American Mosquito Control Association says mosquitoes are the deadliest animals According to The American Mosquito Control Association, or AMCA, Mosquitoes cause more human suffering than any other organism – over one million people worldwide die from mosquito-borne diseases every year. Mosquitoes are responsible for outbreaks of malaria, throughout history, as far back as 2700 BC, according to the AMCA. Contained to tropical climates today, malaria obstructed the settlement of the US east coast colonies and wasnt effectively controlled until the 1940s. Mosquito-borne illnesses afflict animals as well as humans To make matters worse, mosquitoes carry diseases and parasites that afflict our four-legged friends, as well, especially dogs and horses. While weve learned to protect ourselves from mosquitoes with bug repellants, proactive prevention measures and the help of a professional pest control company, such as Truly Nolen, mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths than any other insect, rodent or animal. In addition to the ancient diseases, malaria and yellow fever outbreaks and the current Zika Virus scare, mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting many other diseases, including: Chikungunya Read More

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What You Need to Know About the Zika Virus

TrulyNolen — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 14:21:50 +0000

Over the last few weeks, the Zika virus has been in the news as it continues to spread around the globe. The Zika virus initially appeared in Brazil in May of 2015 and has since affected more than 1 million people in over 30 countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a global emergency as experts agree that the disease has explosive pandemic potential and could affect more than 4 million people by the end of this year. Here is what you need to know about the Zika virus: What Is the Zika virus? The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. It was named after a forest in Uganda where it was first discovered in 1947 from blood drawn from rhesus monkeys that scientists were testing for yellow fever. The first case of a human being infected wasnt until 1952 when it was reported in Uganda and Tanzania. Since 1947 no large scale outbreaks have been reported until now. Micronesia in 2007 had 49 confirmed cases but no hospitalizations were reported from that outbreak. In 2013-2014, 19,000 suspected cases were reported in French Polynesia. The current outbreak has already passed 1 million suspected cases making Read More

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Summer Household Pest Control Checklist for Columbus, OH

Truly Nolen of Columbus OH — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 16:00:32 +0000

The transition from spring to summer is peak time for household pest activity. Truly Nolen of Columbus, OH wants to make sure that Columbus homeowners stay pest free this summer, giving you more time to spend outdoors without worrying about pests indoors. To ensure that Columbus residents are prepared for an increase in pest activity, Truly Nolen has created a checklist to help homeowners remain pest free this summer. Summer Pests Checklist Summer Lovin- Common Pests Found in Ohio Although homeowners should be watchful of pests all throughout the year, it is important to keep an eye out for pests that may have kept a low profile during winter. Pests who go into hiding in winter months to stay warm, are now emerging, eager to reproduce and expand their habitats. Here, we take a look at a few pests that Columbus residents may start to see more of than they might like during the summer! Spiders Most of the species of spiders found in Ohio are not poisonous and are considered more of a nuisance rather than a threat. However, where there is one bug, there are two, three or more and spiders are usually a sign of bigger pest Read More

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Back to School Pesky Critters

Scott Svenheim — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 15:17:27 +0000

By Scott Svenheim, ACE Spokesperson and Associate Certified Entomologist, Truly Nolen of America With the back-to-school season nearing, parents have already started to think about preparing their kids and how can anyone forget that the start of school is looming with commercials already airing! With pesky critters like bed bugs, head lice and mosquitoes becoming more prevalent in our communities, parents need to take the necessary precautions to avoid infecting their homes. Bed bugs are nocturnal and have the capabilities to climb softer surfaces such as that duffle bag you sent your children to camp with. Here are some tips to avoid allowing a possible bed bug infestation in your home: Leave luggage outside, in a garage or a secluded area away from other soft materials where they cant find a way to transfer to another item in your home. Wash and/or Dry possibly infected clothing separately and with hot water, or medium temperature at least 20 minutes. Head lice is one itchy problem and another pest that can easily hop from one head of hair to another. When your child arrives back from camp, make sure to conduct a thorough screening of his/her scalp with a fine-tooth comb. Read More

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Florida Pest Alert: Outbreak Mosquito-borne Virus Chikungunya

Scott Svenheim — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 15:53:47 +0000

Part of Truly Nolens commitment to the homes and businesses of the areas we serve is to inform residents of potential threats to health caused by insects and rodents. Florida residents can expect to see a dramatic increase in mosquito activity. There has been a recent outbreak of Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne disease prevalent in India and Southeastern Asia. Recently however, the disease has infected tens of thousands of people in the Caribbean and a handful of southern states in the US, prompting the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and public health officials to issue warnings about the disease. Although Chikungunya is rarely fatal, symptoms of the illness include high fevers in excess of 102 °F, severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, conjunctivitis, and severe joint pain that typically lasting for about two weeks. Cases of Chikungunya infection in the US are believed to be transmitted from the Yellow Fever Mosquito, Aedes aegypti, which is common in warmer states like Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Although Chikungunya may be relatively new to the United States, the mosquito that transmits the disease is not. Mosquito bites may seem minor, as they usually only cause a slight rash or bump. However, mosquitoes are Read More

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Keeping Mosquitoes in Check

Scott Svenheim — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 19:10:26 +0000

They say April showers bring May flowers, but there’s something else all of that water brings — mosquitoes. These bloodsucking insects are known for an annoying bite that itches and causes a small rash. Mosquitoes are disease-carrying insects that can spread the potentially deadly West Nile Virus and other illnesses. Residents in most states should expect to see a large surge in mosquito activity in the coming months. Truly Nolen is already experiencing increased calls from around the country from residents, offices, and restaurants experiencing problems with mosquitoes. Mosquito Repellants Are Not the Answer For people who are frequently plagued by mosquito bites, bug sprays and candles containing chemical repellants may seem like the perfect solution to keep these insects in check. Unfortunately the chemical in these repellants — DEET — does not actually make mosquitoes leave the area. Instead the chemical is designed to block the mosquito’s ability to smell humans and therefore prevent them from landing on someone to bite and feed. While chemical repellants may save you from the occasional mosquito bite, they do nothing to address where the mosquitoes are coming from, causing you to spend more money in mosquito repellant products without really addressing the Read More

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More Bugs: The Unwelcome Impact of Climate Change

Scott Svenheim — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 21:07:19 +0000

What does the ever-changing weather patterns have to do with pest control? Quite a bit, actually. As northern parts of the country are experiencing extremely low temperatures, and other areas are oddly warmer than usual, the change in our typical seasonal patterns raises a red flag for changes in pest activity. Irregular changes in the weather, such as spikes in cold temperatures, have the potential to significantly diminish a pest predators population, affecting the balance of the ecosystem and allowing pests to thrive and flourish as they take advantage and adapt without anyone to threaten their livelihood. As the populations of predators decrease, pests are able to recuperate from the weather change significantly quicker. The impact of climate change on insects and humans is far reaching forest and food crops could be affected and diseases spread by insects could have a wider range. Nature has a delicate balance and it doesnt take much a slight temperature variation, or even a movement in the course of a river to cause changes that move throughout an ecosystem. Since mosquitoes are the most common carriers of malaria and yellow fever, dramatic increases in these diseases would be likely. Moreover, both Read More

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Excluding Mosquitoes from your Outdoor Event

Scott Svenheim — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:31:29 +0000

Mosquito populations are known to increase with warmer temperatures. Outdoor events are frequently crashed by the pesky pests, who are attracted to the congregation of people.

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Survey finds West Nile concern among Americans, pest control companies affected

Scott Svenheim — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:37:08 +0000

West Nile virus has come on strong this year, leading to an uptick in business for pest control companies.

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