NPMA examines "common wisdom" and real risks as summer pest season begins in earnest FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As summer pests are a natural part of the outdoors and typically viewed simply as a nuisance, many believe that they have a full understanding of the risks associated with such. Yet, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) warns that there are a multitude of myths about summer insects that homeowners subscribe to – most of which wrongly minimize the threats of stinging insects, mosquitoes and ants. Consider the myth of stinging insects, which many believe must be physically provoked to attack and sting. However, stinging insects, especially wasps, do not have to be physically touched/provoked to attack and sting. Rather, these pests must only feel that they or their colony is threatened, which can simply happen when a human gets too close. Stinging insects send over half million visitors to hospital emergency rooms every year. Another prominent pest myth is that mosquitoes are only active at dawn and at dusk. Although most active then, mosquito activity is not limited to these times of day. Mosquitoes feed on blood, which means that they will be seeking out meals whenever they prepare for reproduction. Although known for causing itchy, red welts, today, mosquitoes pose a much different threat due to their ability to transmit West Nile virus.
