Waterloo Times

Terminix Pest Control issued the following announcement on October 20.

Summer is a season of relaxation and fun, whether that’s executing a perfect cannonball in the pool or grilling out with friends. However, those sunny moments can quickly be interrupted by clouds of the least-welcome summer staples – mosquitoes.

To understand just how much mosquitoes get homeowners buzzing, Terminix surveyed* more than 1,500 Americans about what they think is more annoying than an itchy mosquito bite.

Key survey results include:

• Mosquito bites are more annoying than many gear-grinding features of modern life, including backseat drivers (67%), alarm clocks (71%), those who interrupt (67%) and even people who respond to text messages with phone calls (62%).
• The worst summer activities to encounter swarming, buzzing mosquitoes are backyard barbecues (31%), followed by outdoor weddings (18%) and camping trips (15%).
  • Male respondents were more concerned with keeping mosquitoes away from summer fishing and golf outings, while female respondents were likelier to worry about mosquitoes spoiling an outdoor wedding.
• Ten percent of respondents said they’d give up ice cream to avoid mosquito bites, 8% would cancel their summer vacations forever, and 13% are ready to give up summer altogether for a bite-free existence.

The survey also dug into how respondents feel about the bites themselves:

• About one in five respondents said the worst place to get a mosquito bite is where it is hardest to scratch — the middle of the back.
• Female respondents were twice as likely to believe the worst place for a mosquito bite is between the toes.
• While the most common home remedy for mosquito bites was rubbing alcohol, respondents have tried almost everything to alleviate the itch, including mouthwash, the inside of a banana peel, honey, dryer sheets, and “meat tenderizer paste.”

Beyond the annoyance factor, homeowners should know that these pests can be much more than a nuisance. They can transmit serious diseases including West Nile virus and encephalitis. That’s why homeowners rely on Terminix Quick Guard® Mosquito Service and One-Time Mosquito Services, for quick and effective treatment options that begin working immediately. And because Terminix services are backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, customers can purchase with confidence.

Full survey results can be accessed here.

Click here to learn more about how your family can beat the bite this summer.

*Data was gathered between July 17 and July 18, 2019 in an online survey of 1,514 randomly selected American adults who are Springboard America Community panel members, and was executed by Maru/Blue. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been weighted by education, age, gender and region to match the population, according to census data. This is to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of America. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

Original source can be found here.