When
and how to protect yourself from biting pests during the coldest months of the
year
With
winter weather already upon us, you might have decided to store your insect
repellent in the back of the closet until next spring. Well, you might want to
dig it back out. Some species of ticks can be active during winter. And if you
live in a warm enough area that goes for mosquitoes, too.
The
Ticks That Are Active in Winter
In
general, the species of ticks that transmit diseases to humans tend to become
inactive during the winter. The combination of cold weather and shorter days
triggers a kind of hibernation, known as diapause.
The
reason is that some of the adult blacklegged ticks may not have found a meal
before the end of the fall. Because the female adults need to feed in order to
lay eggs in the spring, those that haven’t found a meal don’t go fully dormant
during the winter. Instead, they can become active whenever the temperature
rises above freezing (to about 35° F) and when there’s no snow on the ground
And
blacklegged ticks may carry not only Lyme disease but also a “whole laundry
list” of other pathogens, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, the deadly
Powassan virus, and more.
What
About Mosquitoes in Winter?
In
the fall of 2019, you may have heard reports of a surprisingly high number of
human cases of dengue, a mosquito-borne
disease. Dengue cases have risen in the national capital, taking the total
number of people affected by the vector-borne disease this year in the city to
over 1,700, according to a municipal report released on Monday.
Residents
rent out rooftops to traders to store automobile parts and this is causing
rainwater to stagnate in these spaces turning them into a breeding ground for
mosquitoes
Protect
Yourself From Insects in Winter
Even
though blacklegged ticks bite during winter, the risk of contracting an illness
is lower than it is during the peak seasons for these pests, in the spring and
summer. Still, it’s important to take precautions against the ticks that are out
looking for a winter meal.
“The
nice thing about winter is you tend to wear more clothing anyway,” which can
help keep ticks away from your skin. You can also spray your boots and clothes
with an insect repellent, or treat your house and surroundings with pestcontrol service, which can disable or kill ticks on contact.
Don’t
forget to keep your pets protected as well, with a vet-recommended anti-tick
medication. If
you’re in an area where mosquitoes are still active during winter, it’s a good idea
to call pest control technician when you might be exposed to them—even though
the risk is low. Karthick Pest Control advises residents to keep up with
mosquito-control measures, including getting rid of standing water on their
properties, throughout the entire year.
For more assistance feel Free to call: 7200370320
Source- consumerreports
