Texas has one of the longest mosquito seasons, and it’s getting longer.
The ideal mosquito conditions are warm, humid weather. Once the temperature is consistently above 50°, mosquitoes become active. In some parts of Texas, mosquitoes can be active year round. Mosquito season can start in earnest as early as February and last until November. The peak season for mosquito activity is June, July, and August.
The heavy rains in June only helped the mosquito population boom. Female mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water. The rain from the storms created more mosquito breeding grounds.
What Parts of Texas Have More Mosquitoes?
West Texas arid conditions are as favorable to mosquito populations. There is not as much water. East and Central Texas have much larger populations of mosquitoes.
Furthermore, mosquitoes thrive in urban settings. The four biggest cities San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Forth Worth, and Houston all have ideal climate conditions for mosquitoes.
Mosquito Borne Diseases in Texas
Not only are mosquitoes a nuisance, but they are also a threat to your family and your pets!
Mosquito Borne Diseases:
- Chikungunya
- Dengue
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)
- Malaria
- St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE)
- West Nile
- Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE)
- Zika
As the climate becomes more conducive to mosquitoes, the risk of mosquito diseases infecting people can increase too. In Texas, there have been confirmed human cases for malaria and West Nile Virus.
How to Protect Yourself from Mosquitoes in Texas
It varies on the mosquito, but most mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. Make sure you are protected during those times.
Use Insect Repellant. The following insect repellants are EPA registered, and have been proven safe and effective:
- DEET
- Picaridin
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
- Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
- 2-undecanone
Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants. You can also treat your clothing with 0.5% permethrin, for added protection. Permethrin should not be applied directly to skin, however.
Take steps to control mosquitoes inside and outside.
- Use screens on doors and windows, and repair holes in them to keep mosquitoes at bay.
- If outside, a simple electric fan can help keep mosquitoes away, as they are very weak flyers.
- Stop mosquitoes from laying eggs in water by emptying items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, and trash containers. Do this about once a week.
Mosquito Control in Texas
Most of the time, mosquito bites are annoying but virtually harmless. However, you’ll never know if a mosquito is carrying a disease or not. Therefore, it’s best to try and remove them from areas you frequent to the greatest extent possible. At MissQuito, our all-female team of trained experts targets mosquitos throughout their entire lifecycle using a variety of eco-friendly repellants. With same to next-day consultations, and the ability to work around your schedule, our mosquito control is as convenient as it is effective.