Mosquitoes: The Scourge of man!

I remember as a kid the lovely nights of playing outside in the summer months (to us that meant any night we could run, play hide-n-seek without having to wear a coat and most of the time wear short pants.) Mosquitoes sure messed things up.

Our neighborhoods were safe little islands of fun. However, there was another issue: mosquitoes!

We have all seen little kids in the summer with multiple welts scratched raw on the legs of our children. We knew very little about mosquitoes, much less that only the female mosquitoes actually bite!

We tell the kids: "Don't scratch the mosquito bites, it won't help." Nothing seemed to help: we have hungry, vicious little bugs that seemed to have an endless appetite. I can remember one night when we were allowed to stay out far too late. When we came in the itching and scratching started; soon followed by the bleeding. Boy, oh boy, remember the good old days! Wow, mosquitoes sure made the night! Those days really were not that good.

Mosquitoes carry quite a few rather obnoxious problems with them. Which of the diseases those mosquitoes carry is the worst? No doubt: malaria! (Malaria is not in this area). Reality, says; however the worst disease is the one that you get! If one doesn't get malaria from a mosquito bite then take your pick: dog heartworm, dengue fever, yellow fever, SLE, LAC, WEE and West Nile Virus. There many more possibilities! When I was a child very little was known or communicated to the public about the dangers of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can, however; be somewhat controlled, sometimes eliminated and always reduced.

Last spring I was able to attend and outdoor party on a cove off of a river. We met in the evening. No mosquito bites! An absolute miracle had occurred! No itchy bites, no reaction whatsoever! What happened to the mosquitoes! Well, we had sprayed the area from the edge of the water up to and around the house. For nearly 4 weeks the property had very few problems with mosquitoes! A true miracle; particularly on waterfront property, the customer continues to have our services. As word has spread about our work with mosquitoes (no we do not use the fogging or misting systems), many a child has not been bitten by a mosquito. This coming spring promises to have some of the worst problems with mosquitoes that we have seen. Mosquitoes relish standing water. The female mosquito must have two things for her egg production: water to lay7 the eggs on and blood form a mammal to help with the actual making of the eggs.

Perhaps the most local dangerous problem is the West Nile virus. Birds become infected, the birds are bitten by the mosquito and the mosquito bites the human. If we are not careful we can expose ourselves and our children unnecessarily to disease.

Mark Leahy is the President of Blades of Green lawn Care and Pest Control, a family owned lawn care and pest control company. Mark has concentrated his efforts in Central Maryland as well as Maryland's Eastern Shore. Mark has over 20 years experience in the Lawn and Pest Control Industries.

As a member of PlANET, the Chesapeake Club, NPMA, Pest World, the Turf Grass Council and Quality Pro; Mark is well qualified in the lawn care and pest control industries. Certified by the State of Maryland; Mark can advise all Marylanders' in the areas of lawn care and pest control. Mark can be reached: Mark@bladesofgreen.com, 410.867.8873 or on the web site: Bladesofgreen.com

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