The summer vibe lasts all year in Singapore. While you can enjoy the warm sun and vitamin D whenever you want, the humid weather attracts a slew of insects – especially mosquitoes. No matter where you go, you will find some mosquitoes buzzing around you when you are outdoors. But if you have mosquitoes hovering around you while you are in your house, you might have a serious mosquito infestation that needs to be tackled.
A mosquito or two is not very concerning, but it is important to investigate whether there is a mosquito infestation. So, how can you know whether what you are dealing with is a mosquito infestation? Well, there are a few telltale signs.
In this article, we will share with you some of the most common signs of mosquito infestation. So keep reading and find out how you can distinguish between a few wandering mosquitoes and a concerning pest infestation.
Common Signs of Mosquito Infestation
Mosquito Bites
It is difficult to evade mosquito bites when you live in a summer paradise like Singapore. A few occasional mosquito bites do not indicate much. However, there may be a mosquito problem if you get bitten too frequently.
Of course, the bites do hurt, so you might realise you are getting bitten. However, if you do not notice, you will definitely find bite marks on yourself after that. So beware if you see multiple bite marks on yourself or your children; you might have a mosquito infestation.
In a swarm of mosquitoes, it’s only the female ones that bite. This is because the females require the protein in your blood for healthy egg development; hence the males do not need blood. So, if you are getting bitten a lot, it is a sign that the female mosquitoes are producing eggs around you.
Some people might not know this, but it’s actually unlikely that a male mosquito will bite you. Male mosquitoes generally feed off of flower nectar or other sweet things. It’s the female mosquito that’s the number one culprit of mosquito bites.
Physical Sightings of Mosquitoes
Not getting bitten, but seeing swarms of mosquitoes? That’s concerning too! Like most pests, mosquitoes hide well. So whenever you start seeing many of them around you, you must be cautious. This means there are too many mosquitoes in or around your house.
Physical sightings of mosquitoes are more common after sunset. This is because they usually leave their hiding spots after dark to hunt for food. You can find them in dark or shady regions of your property if it’s during the day.
If there is a severe mosquito infestation, you might see them during the daytime as well. Seeing them during the day and also at night means you are surrounded by thousands of mosquitoes. In that case, call a mosquito expert immediately!
Itchy Mosquito Bite Marks
When you are out and about, mosquito bites can go unnoticed. Even if you did not realise it while you were bitten, mosquito bites often flare up later at night. The wounds will itch and can flare up like pimples.
Are you scratching yourself a lot? Are there multiple swollen bite marks all over your body? Then, you could be having a mosquito infestation. These bites can itch for 3 to 4 days. The redness or pinkiness will also take about four days to subside. Any swelling can last up to 7 days.
Children are more prone to nighttime itching as they get bitten by mosquitoes often during outdoor play times and carefree naps. So when you notice mosquito bites on your kid’s tender skin or if they cannot stop itching, it is time for you to start investigating.
Buzzing Sound of Mosquitoes
Another telltale sign of a mosquito infestation is the sound of mosquitoes. If you listen carefully, you will notice that a swarm of mosquitoes often has a buzzing sound. However, the sound is not very evident when you only have a few mosquitoes in your home.
Nearby swarms make a high-pitched buzzing noise. This is the sound of hundreds of mosquitoes moving their wings. Unfortunately, this constant buzzing is a strong indicator that there is a massive swarm of mosquitoes nearby. So when you hear the buzzing sound of mosquitoes, consider yourself warned. It is time to take serious pest control measures to limit the nuisance caused by these tiny pests.
Mosquitoes Around Food
Many people do not know that mosquitoes are not only after your blood. They are after your food too! Yes, mosquitoes like the food you eat. If you leave any food unattended on the counter, you might notice mosquitoes fluttering over it.
They love sweet things just as much as you do, if not more. So they indulge in fruits and flower nectar. Male mosquitoes especially enjoy sweet food, which is their first food choice. While females like to suck on blood, they can also survive on sugary treats for some time.
Generally, mosquitoes try to satiate their sweet tooth with flower nectar in your yard. However, if there is an infestation, they will find a way to enter your home and share your food too.
Mosquito Infestation in Shady Areas
Mosquitoes thrive in warm temperatures. However, even though warm temperatures are essential for their survival, mosquitoes do not enjoy hot places. Instead, they love the shade. Mosquitoes only come out at night because, during the day, the sun can dehydrate them.
This is a pest that prefers cool and dark places. If your property is shady, it could attract mosquitoes. Be careful about the maintenance of your property.
Don’t have a shady property? Do not start rejoicing just yet. Mosquitoes can find shade in your home too! Mosquitoes can hide in dark grass, wooded areas, patios, or anywhere with dim lights. Nevertheless, if you have too many mosquitoes breeding on your property, they will be active and visible no matter what time it is.
Availability of Stagnant Water
If you live in Singapore AND have standing water somewhere in your house, you do not even need to look for signs. You will definitely have a mosquito infestation. Female mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water, which is also an excellent place for the eggs to survive.
Female mosquitoes lay hundreds of eggs at a time. So, the standing water in your flower vase or pet dish can facilitate a mosquito infestation before you know it.
Conclusion
If you have a couple of mosquitoes in your home, there is no reason to be alarmed yet. However, you need to worry when you notice them buzzing around your property in swarms. You will have lots of itchy bite marks too.
If you have lots of shady areas in your house, chances are, that mosquitoes are lurking in the dark corners of your property. What makes matters worse is you have standing water too. Stagnant water helps mosquitoes reproduce and multiply rapidly.
Don’t worry; there are preventive measures you can take to keep mosquitoes from invading your home. If you already have an infestation, you can tackle that as well! The fastest and most effective way to manage mosquitoes on your premises is to get pest control done regularly. Engage a pest control agency that can not only help you manage the current mosquito situation but also ensure they don’t return ever again.