Worcester Pest Identification: Mosquitoes

Comprehensive Mosquito Protection For Your Property Serving Central Massachusetts

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Mosquito Protection

Our mosquito protection program helps kill and repel active mosquitoes. Our state-licensed and trained technicians will focus on areas of harborage and breeding sites to reduce the population of mosquitoes on your property. The usual hotspots are trees, shrubs, leaf litter, under decks, planting beds, and any standing water or wetland areas. We offer both traditional and organic options for spray; however, the traditional will yield a much better result!

FHS is proud to provide the best coverage and protection by utilizing our high-pressure spray equipment. With rising concerns for diseases carried by mosquitoes such as EEE, West Nile Virus, and Zika, we are confident that you are in good hands!

Option 1: “Bite `Em Back” Program (Chemical Applications)

Our state-licensed and trained applicators will apply an insecticide spray to all areas of harborage on your property. Once the spray has dried, you are free to go out and enjoy your property again. Drying takes 20–30 minutes. This service provides a rapid knockdown/kill and residual protection. A minimum of 7 treatments is recommended to achieve good control over the population. These applications take place between May and September.

Option 2: The Green Alternative Program (Organic Applications)

We are proud to be in compliance with the USDA National Organic Program. This service is safe for kids and pets and requires no dry time after application to go back out onto your property. We use all-natural botanical rosemary and peppermint oils. This service also provides a quick knockdown/kill, but a shorter residual protection. This program will offer a quick kill/knockdown but a shorter residual than the chemical applications. Unless surrounded by water, marshes, or edible plants, we recommend the regular chemical applications to achieve the best results.

Mosquito & Tick Combo Program (Chemical & Organic)

Our state-licensed and trained applicators will apply an insecticide spray to all areas of harborage on your property. Once the spray has dried, you are free to go out and enjoy your property again. Drying takes 20–30 minutes (unless on the organic program). This service provides a rapid knockdown/kill and residual protection. A minimum of 7 treatments is recommended to achieve good control over the population. These applications take place between May and September.

Prevention Is The Best Medicine

Mosquitoes are extremely annoying and, at times, very dangerous. Here at Ford's Hometown Services, we continue to protect your family and pets against rising cases of Zika, West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEEV), and many more. We are confident that you are in good hands with our mosquito protection services. Our application equipment is the best in the industry. We are able to provide very high-pressure and powerful sprays, unlike our competitors, to keep those mosquitoes at bay.

Zika Virus

Zika Virus is a member of the Flaviviridae virus family. It is spread by Aedes mosquitoes that are active during the daytime. Since the 1950s, the virus has been known to occur in a small area between Africa and Asia. In 2007, however, the virus spread eastward to the Americas. Zika Virus often causes no or very mild symptoms. These symptoms tend to be similar to a very mild form of Dengue Fever. There is no current treatment for this dangerous virus, but doctors use paracetamol and rest to help with the effects of the symptoms. Zika Virus can be spread by mosquitoes, sexual contact with another infected person, unscreened blood transfusions, and pregnant mothers can transfer the virus to her developing child. Symptoms of Zika Virus can include:

• Fever
• Red eyes
• Joint pain
• Headaches
• Maculopapular rashes

Generally, symptoms last less than 7 days and, as of 2016, there have been no reported deaths during the initial infection. Infection during pregnancy causes microcephaly and other brain malformations in some babies. Infection in adults has been linked to Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). Diagnosis is by testing the blood, urine, or saliva for the presence of Zika Virus RNA when the person is sick.

West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus is an arbovirus in the Flaviviridae family. There are various kinds of mosquitoes that have the ability to transmit this virus, with birds being the most commonly infected animal. West Nile Virus has also been found in various different tick species. West Nile Virus has also been found in reptiles and some amphibians. There is currently no vaccine or medication for West Nile Virus. The best way to reduce the chance of getting this virus is by reducing the populations and breeding sites in your area. There are various different problems that can arise after being infected with West Nile Virus. They include:

• West Nile Fever – Occurs in 20% of cases. It is a febrile syndrome that causes flu-like symptoms. This fever tends to be a mild, acute syndrome lasting 3 to 6 days after the symptoms begin to show.
• West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease – This occurs in less than 1% of cases. WNND is when the virus infects the central nervous system, which leads to meningitis, encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, or a poliomyelitis-like syndrome. Many infected patients with WNND have normal neuroimaging studies; however, abnormalities may show in different cerebral areas including basal ganglia, thalamus, cerebellum, and the brainstem.
• West Nile Virus Encephalitis – This is the most common neuroinvasive manifestation of WNND. WNE has symptoms similar to other cases of encephalitis. These symptoms can include fever, headaches, and an altered mental state. Muscular weakness is also very common, with 30% to 50% of patients experiencing lower motor neuron symptoms, flaccid paralysis, and hyporeflexia.
• West Nile Meningitis – Symptoms of WNM usually include fever, headache, and a stiff neck. An increase of white blood cells, known as pleocytosis, can also be present.
• West Nile Meningoencephalitis – Inflammation of both the brain (encephalitis) and meninges (meningitis).
• West Nile Poliomyelitis – An acute flaccid paralysis syndrome that is less common than WNM and WNE. This syndrome is usually characterized by acute onset of limb weakness or paralysis. Pain in the limbs has been known to occur after paralysis. The syndrome can also affect the respiratory muscles, which can lead to acute respiratory failure.
• Nonneurologic Complications – These are very rare, but WNV infections can lead to pancreatitis, myocarditis, rhabdomyolysis, orchitis, nephritis, optic neuritis, cardiac dysrhythmias, and hemorrhagic fever.