With Fall underway and temperatures dropping, it's almost time to say goodbye to ticks for the winter. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, I say!
But before that glorious day comes, we'll probably be seeing a whole lot more of them terrorizing our precious woods and gardens. Or, perhaps more accurately, what we think are a whole lot more of them. Let me explain.
Ticks are just another thing to worry about, right? Well, yes. But the more you know about them, the more equipped you'll be to prevent tick bites and not worry about them while enjoying yourself outside.
Here are 10 quick facts about these tiny terrors.
There are people out there who are scared of bears, sharks, alligators... my partner even has an irrational fear of horses. The bigger the beast, the scarier it is. That's usually how it goes.
But what about something you can't always see from a distance, that literally inflates with blood after puncturing a tiny hole in your skin? And what if, after piercing said hole, they can send a disease swimming through your bloodstream?
Just when you thought skeeter season was over, your property appears to have been invaded by mammoth mosquitoes. But don't be fooled; these look-alikes are actually nothing like the real deal.
To the untrained eye, these might look like GIANT mosquitoes. But don't stress - these guys are European Crane Flies, and they've been out in force for the last few weeks.
Canadians from coast to coast look forward to Summer all year long. We can't wait to ditch the gloves and scarves, bask in the sunshine, and get outdoors. What's not to love about Summer?
Ah, yes. Mosquitoes. There isn't much to complain about in Summer, but mosquitoes have got to be one of those few irritations. Canada boasts the largest number of lakes in the world (and they're pretty spectacular), but unfortunately with those bragging rights comes a fair amount of mosquitoes.
Unless you'd prefer to be a recluse all Summer long, you're probably gonna get a few mosquito bites. Unfortunately, it's an inevitable part of life.
While some things you've heard about avoiding mosquitoes are true, such as wearing certain clothes or using an outdoor fan, there are a bunch of other ideas that are just baloney.
Here are 8 common mosquito myths, debunked.
Mosquitoes... they're the worst. Just when you've gotten comfortable in your favourite chair enjoying the fresh Summer air, along comes Miss Mosquito, on a mission to completely kill your vibe.
It's all in a days work for Miss Mosquito. Female skeeters require a blood meal in order to lay their eggs, so they use 3 special senses to track us down from a distance.
Using olfactory, visual, and thermal cues, female mosquitoes circle their prey, sniffing you out and sensing your body heat... before going in for the almighty bite.
Summer is in full swing here in Canada. Hooray! The Great White North is subject to a notoriously short summer, so it's no surprise to find local hangouts swarming with people relishing the warm weather at this time of year.
But for those that aren't too fond of long lines and crowded chaos, there's plenty of fun to be had in the comfort of your own home. Here's a list full of fun things to do in your backyard that'll keep you outside whenever the weather permits.
Wouldn't cottage country really be heaven on earth if not for biting insects?
While mosquito and tick populations can be significantly reduced around cottage and residential properties, black flies are a little more difficult.
Just like mosquitoes, female black flies do the biting, since they require a blood meal to develop their eggs. Unlike mosquitoes, black flies are strong fliers, so can fly longer distances without the requirement of landing frequently. This makes them better at avoiding barrier control strategies used around properties, and all the more difficult to control.
While some home owners may see a reduction in black flies after a barrier control application, the service isn't going to eliminate them like it does for mosquitoes and ticks, so it's important to have a back up plan.
