Should You Worry About Ticks and Mosquitoes in Winter?

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.



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Source- consumerreports