The Tampa Bay area is a slice of paradise for many people, including the over three million who live here and the millions more who visit each year. Unfortunately, it’s also considered a paradise to a less desirable population- mosquitoes.
Unlike more seasonal locations, Tampa Bay’s weather allows mosquito activity to last throughout the year. These pests may slow down in the coolest months of the year, but never disappear. Beyond their itchy bites, mosquitoes pose a serious health risk. Let’s break down the diseases they can spread and how you can protect your family from mosquitoes.
In the Tampa Bay area, mosquitoes aren’t just a nuisance—they can also spread several serious diseases, including:
The most common mosquito-borne disease, West Nile virus, often causes no symptoms in people who contract it. However, some individuals can experience flu-like symptoms that can develop into a much more severe illness.
This mosquito-borne disease is extremely rare but also extremely dangerous to those who contract it. It causes swelling of the brain and other symptoms that prove fatal in nearly 40% of the people who contract it.
Like West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis can cause mild, flu-like symptoms or develop into a far more serious illness. Anywhere from 5-20% of people who contract this disease die.
Not every mosquito-borne disease is present in the Tampa Bay area. Many common mosquito-borne diseases are more likely to occur when you travel to other locations. These include:
This illness has been found in Florida in limited local cases but is usually contracted in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia. Symptoms include a high fever, rash, and joint pain.
The Zika virus was all over the news when it was first identified in Florida. Thankfully, it’s still rare here, but it is a concern, especially to pregnant women, due to the risk of congenital disabilities.
While not widespread in Florida, chikungunya can be contracted in many tropical areas. It is a mosquito-borne virus that causes intense joint pain and fever.
With Tampa’s subtropical climate, mosquito breeding can continue through mild winters, meaning there’s never truly a time when you are free from the threat of a mosquito bite or a mosquito-borne disease.
A single female mosquito can lay hundreds of eggs at a time, and will typically lay eggs two or three times during its two to three-week lifespan. Without consistent mosquito control, it’s easy to see why mosquito populations can explode with just a few warm days.
Protecting your family from mosquito-borne illnesses doesn’t end in the summer. Anytime you see a mosquito buzzing around, it is a time when a mosquito-borne disease can be transmitted. Year-round mosquito prevention means year-round mosquito protection.
You can do a few things to discourage mosquito activity on your property and protect your family from mosquitoes and the diseases they spread.
Once you’ve done everything you can to make your yard less conducive to mosquito breeding and harborage, it’s best to leave the rest to the professionals at Anti-Pesto. Our professional mosquito control targets the mosquito resting areas and breeding sites you can’t get rid of to deliver quality treatments that significantly reduce mosquito populations and disrupt reproduction.
Our mosquito control services provide ongoing protection with treatments that occur every other month. During each service, we’ll provide a treatment that focuses on the areas where adult mosquitoes spend time and where breeding occurs. By targeting both adult and larval mosquitoes, we significantly reduce their numbers. And since we’re providing routine treatments, we ensure those numbers remain low all year.
For the best results, now is the perfect time to implement a routine mosquito control program for your home in Tampa, Largo, or elsewhere in the Tampa Bay area. As irritating and dangerous as mosquitoes can be, mosquito control from Anti-Pesto ensures both comfort and protection. Protect your family and enjoy your outdoor spaces again with year-round mosquito control from Anti-Pesto. Contact us today to request your mosquito inspection and treatment.
From the first contact call the staff was very professional, courteous and informative. We discussed the issues and set a plan with an appointment within a couple days. Shane, our technician, was very prompt and courteous. Very informative during the inspection process and strategically put a deterrent plan in place. I would highly recommend Anti-Pesto Bug Killers.
Jim J.
Largo, FL
We had a wasp infestation in our backyard shed. Anti-Pesto responded immediately and were out to our place within about two hours and took care of everything thoroughly. They will even follow-up again within two weeks to be sure that the problem does not recur. They are awesome!
Daniel Z.
Largo, FL
Amazing quality work. I’ve had a few pest control companies spray and ants would still enter our home and act as roommates. Sam Hurtado is our technician and he answers everything with knowledge and always brings quality work. Even if there was recent pest work they always arrange if I have issues. Thank you!!
Trish N.
Tampa, FL
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