Mosquitoes

 

Latin Name: (Family Culicidae)

​

What do they look like?

Mosquitoes belong to the same group as the true flies, Diptera. As such, they have a single pair of wings. They typically have long, thin legs and a head featuring a prominent proboscis. Mosquito bodies and wings most often are covered in tiny scales. Adult sizes may range from 3 to 9 mm.

​

A mosquito is a tiny flying insect known for their diet of blood and the fact that they leave itchy little bumps on the people they bite. What people might not know is that mosquitoes are considered one of the deadliest creatures on the planet thanks to their notorious habit of carrying and transmitting disease.

Mosquitoes are all over the world and there are approximately 3,000 known species. They first start to emerge during the spring months when things start to warm up and continues through to the fall. However, in some areas where it remains warm year-round there can be mosquitoes all the time. Their favorite time to dine is during dawn and dusk hours, when mosquito control can be prove most effective.

​

Contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes do not require blood to live, as they actually feed on nectar. The males are not blood drinkers; however, the female of the species requires it in order to lay eggs. Once she lays her eggs, a female mosquito will seek more blood in order to produce more young. She will continue this cycle during her short life span of about two weeks.

Though some may consider them an unpleasant nuisance, mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths than any other insect. Mosquitoes feed off both humans and animals, thereby easily infecting host upon host.

A single mosquito bite can transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and encephalitis. The well-known and well-publicized West Nile Virus (an Encephalitis virus) first appeared in the Western hemisphere in 1999 and quickly spread to infect people.

​

As a result, mosquito control is vitally important to human health and well-being. There are many varieties of mosquitoes, some of which carry more deadly diseases than others. Mosquito insecticide is often used on a wide-scale basis to combat mosquitoes and is generally very effective. If your property is prone to attracting and breeding a mosquito population, contact a professional pest control company to assess and manage the situation.

​

How Did I Get Mosquitoes?

​

Mosquitoes in the House
When these pests find their way inside through open doors or windows, they usually rest in dark, hidden areas within the house, but will come out at night to take a blood meal. Homeowners sometimes find mosquitoes under sinks or in closets and laundry rooms, but they are most common in backyards. Some species of mosquitoes like to rest in thick vegetation and wait for a suitable host to come near.

 

Mosquitoes in the Yard
Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so properties near ponds, marshes, and depressions that collect rainwater are at risk. Some mosquito species are active at different times of the day, but most emerge just before dusk and are active at night.

​

How Serious Are Mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes can transmit several dangerous illnesses to humans, including Zika virus. This rare disease affects pregnant women and may lead to birth defects. More common in the U.S. are West Nile virus and several kinds of encephalitis. These mosquito-borne diseases may also have serious side effects. According to a recent CDC statement, the number of illnesses caused by mosquito bites tripled between 2004 and 2016.

 

Signs of a Mosquito Infestation

Annoying signs of mosquito activity include the buzzing of the females and their bites. People have differing reactions to bites, ranging from mild irritation to intense inflammation and swelling. Learn more about Mosquito Bites

Breeding in Water
Signs of mosquito nymphs are their presence in standing water, such as watering dishes of potted plants.

​

Ten Interesting Mosquito Facts

1. Only Female Mosquitoes Bite. Both Male and Female Mosquitoes feed primarily on fruit or plant nectar, but the Female Mosquito needs the protein from blood to help her eggs develop. Once the Female Mosquito has found enough blood, she will rest for a day or two before beginning to lay her eggs.

2. Mosquito is Spanish for "Little Fly". The term "Mosquito" originated in the 16th Century. In Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, Mosquitoes are commonly referred to as "Mozzies".

3. A Female Mosquito Can Drink Up to 3 Times its Weight in Blood. No need to panic here! It would take 1.2 million bites to drain the body of blood from Mosquito bites!

4. Mosquitoes Do Not Have Teeth. Even though Mosquitoes tend to "bite", they actually aren't biting at all. Mosquitoes actually use a long, pointed mouth part called a proboscis. They use the serrated proboscis to pierce the skin and locate a capillary. At that point, they draw blood through one of two tubes.

5. Female Mosquitoes Can Lay Up to 300 Eggs at One Time. Usually, the eggs are deposited in clusters, which are also know as "Rafts", on the surface of stagnant water. They are also laid in areas that flood regularly. Eggs can hatch in as little as an inch of standing water. Females will lay eggs up to three times before the end of their life cycle.

6. Mosquitoes Spend Their First 10 Days in Water. Water is necessary for the eggs to hatch into larvae. Larvae will feed on the organic matter in stagnant water and breathe oxygen from the surface. They then develop into pupae, which do not feed and are partially encased in cocoons. Over several days, the pupae change into adult mosquitoes.

7. Mosquitoes DO Hibernate. Mosquitoes are cold-blooded, and prefer temperatures over 80 degrees. At temperatures less than 50 degrees, they tend to "shut down" for the winter. The adult females of some species find holes where they wait for warmer weather, while others lay their eggs in freezing water and die. The eggs will keep until the temperatures rise, and they can hatch once the warmer weather returns.

8. Male Mosquitoes Locate Female Mosquitoes by the Sounds of Their Wings. Females can beat their wings up to 500 times per second! The males then pick out the higher frequency of those beats when seeking a mate.

9. Mosquitoes Can Smell Human Breath. Mosquitoes have receptors on their antennae that detect the carbon dioxide released when we exhale. Those plumes of CO2 rise into the air, acting as trails that the mosquitoes follow to find the source.

10. The Bumps Left From Mosquito Bites are Caused by Saliva. While one tube in the proboscis draws blood, a second pumps in saliva containing a mild painkiller and an anti-coagulant. Most people will have a minor allergic reaction to the saliva, causing the area around the bite to swell and itch.

​

​