Mosquitoes are one of the worst pests around. They swarm, they bite, they can spread disease and they are difficult to get rid of. They can lay eggs in inconspicuous places and even if the live population dies off in colder weather, it won’t necessarily affect the next generation waiting to hatch when it warms up again. So how do you approach the problem if you have a mosquito infestation in your yard? Two of the most common methods of controlling the mosquito population are mosquito fogging and mosquito misting. If you think these sound very similar, you are right, so let’s take a look at what the differences actually are.

What is Mosquito Fogging?

Mosquito fogging uses a machine to pump out a “fog” of mosquito control substances over your yard, concentrating on areas where mosquitoes are likely to congregate and breed, such as bushes, grass and areas of stagnant water. The droplets are tiny and, while blanketing the area, they might not target the affected areas as accurately as misting. Fogging treatment is effective at eliminating mosquitoes for a short period of time.

What is Mosquito Misting?

Mosquito misting uses a similar technique to mosquito fogging but a different substance is used which is more effective at eliminating the mosquito eggs. While fogging will be effective against any live populations of mosquitoes, misting will also target the eggs before they have hatched. The droplets in the mist are larger than those used in fogging, so will hit their targets more effectively. Misting systems can also be set up in your yard to regularly spray mosquito control treatments, in a similar way to water sprinklers. These can be set to go off whenever the mosquitoes are out in full force, however, it will only affect the bugs within reach of the nozzles.

Which Mosquito Control Service Should I Use?

Good question. There are pros and cons to both misting and fogging but the general rule is that mosquito fogging is great for short-term mosquito elimination: think outdoor event or party. Mosquito misting is more effective as a long-term mosquito prevention and elimination service so it really depends on the time-frame and reason why you might need the mosquito control service.

If you need any advice, just call the professionals at H2 Pest Control. We can assess your individual situation and help with any mosquito control issues you may have!

Utah is home to many species of spider, including the venomous Black Widow. Yards and properties across Utah can become the home for spiders large and small and sometimes you need professional help to keep them under control. Just the thought of a spider being nearby is enough to terrify some of us, so what should you do if the worst happens and you are actually bitten by a spider?

Don’t Panic About Getting Bitten by a Spider

Thankfully, this is not a problem that should occupy a lot of your thoughts for two reasons:

• Spider bites are a very rare occurrence. A spider may bite you if you accidentally stumble into its habitat or it feels very threatened but they will not attack a human just for the sake of it.
• Even if a spider does bite you, the amount of venom it carries is not generally harmful to humans who are many thousands of times larger than the prey of a spider. Even a bite from a Black Widow will not necessarily cause much of an issue, however, nobody knows how their body will react until it happens so here are some signs and symptoms of spider bites.

How to Recognize a Spider Bite

It’s difficult to tell the difference between a spider bite and any other insect bite as it will normally appear a bit red and itchy. If this is the extent of the symptoms, just put some antibiotic or anti-itch cream on it and don’t give it any further thought. In some cases, though, more extreme symptoms can occur. These include:

• Swelling at the bite location
• Muscle cramps or pain
• Fever or chills
• Vomiting or feeling nauseous
• Headache
• Muscle spasms
• Difficulty breathing

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to contact a doctor right away. Spider venom can be treated by healthcare professionals so it might be helpful to take the spider or a picture of the spider with you if you can. The sooner you get treated, the quicker your recovery.

Venomous Spiders in Utah

Most spiders are venomous but only a couple are actually dangerous to humans:

• Black Widows are commonly found in Utah yards so if you want to avoid a bite from this potentially dangerous spider, wear gloves when out gardening and give gloves and boots a shake before putting them on. If you are bitten by a Black Widow, any reaction will happen quite fast so make sure you seek medical help if your symptoms worsen.
• The jury’s out on whether the Brown Recluse can be found in Utah or not, as it’s commonly confused with other types of spider, such as the Hobo spider. If you are bitten by a Brown Recluse, however, you may not realize it immediately. Over time, the bite might turn into a blister and in rare cases, tissue death, or necrosis, can occur. Hobo spiders can also bite humans but recent studies have shown that their venom is not actually toxic to us.

If you’re unsure if you have a spider bite or not, the best thing to do is to keep an eye on it, and if you start experiencing symptoms like those described above, get in touch with your doctor. H2 Pest Control can remove and treat your home and yard for any type of spider so give us a call if you need spider control services anywhere in Utah County or Salt Lake County. You can also check out our comprehensive guide to all things spidery in Utah!

Myth 1: Spiders Bug You While You Sleep

You may have heard the statistic that you eat on average 5 spiders a year when you’re asleep, or that spiders crawl on your face in the night or that they drink tears from your eyes or drool from your mouth. While this all sounds horribly creepy, there is just no basis for any of these stories. Maybe occasionally someone has a spider land on them in the night but it’s not a regular occurrence and wherever you look you’ll find different numbers because it’s really just an urban legend. Sleep tight and don’t worry about it!

Myth 2: Spiders Can Come Up Through Your Drain

It’s somewhat of a nightmarish thought that anywhere in Utah, large, hairy spiders or a thousand tiny ones can come crawling up your pipes and through your drains into your sink, baths, showers or basins. Luckily, you consider this myth completely busted. Spiders in Utah do not come up through the drain, rather, if you spot one in the bath or your basin, they have come down from the wall or ceiling, looking for water and can’t climb out again. If you wash them away they might be able to climb back but spiders cannot access your drains through exterior pipework.

Myth 3: All Spiders in Utah Spin Webs

Spiders are synonymous with webs but do all species actually use them? It turns out that in reality, only about 50% of spider species spin and use webs for trapping prey. There are other species in Utah that hunt their prey down, such as the Wolf spider, which can live happily in burrows, meadows or your lawn. Wolf spiders live up to their name by chasing down and pouncing on their prey before eating it.

Myth 4: Female Black Widows Kill Their Mates

Utah is home to the Black Widow, a notoriously venomous spider with a bad reputation. But is it justified? Everyone knows that after mating, female Black Widows rip off the male Black Widow’s head, right? Well, not really. While this behavior has been observed, it was only under laboratory conditions where the male was in an enclosed space with the female. In the wild, it seems that there is often plenty of space and time for the male to beat a hasty retreat. While the murderous behavior does occur, scientists now think it only happens in a mere 2% of Black Widow encounters. If you see any Black Widows in or around your Utah property, though, get in touch with H2 Pest Control as Black Widow bites can be potentially dangerous to humans.

Myth 5: Spiders are Insects

Did you know that spiders are not insects? The spiders you find in Utah range from the Jumping Spider to Orb Weavers to Wolf spiders to Black Widows but they are classed as arachnids, a separate group to insects, that also includes creatures such as scorpions and ticks. As well as having eight legs to an insect’s six, insects have antennae while arachnids don’t and insects are made up of three body segments while arachnids are only classed as having two.

Now that you’re a spider expert, take a look through our comprehensive guide to find out more about the types of spiders found in Utah, and the best way to keep them off your property.