Mosquitoes are definitely unpopular insects, but it’s still worthwhile to know as much about them as possible, because they’re not going away any time soon. Let’s take a look at some essential facts about these insects.
The mosquito bite
Mosquitoes are drawn to two things – body heat and CO2. The presence of CO2 in particular is a big draw, since living organisms exhale CO2. Only female mosquitoes will bite, and they are the only ones that need blood to take care of their young, with the males feeding on flower nectar. Most mosquito bites are painless, but they leave behind a swollen, itchy wound.
The dangers posed by the mosquito
The main threat posed by the mosquito is the transmission of diseases. These diseases include dengue fever, encephalitis, malaria, West Nile virus, and many others, with several of these diseases being dangerous. However, most of these diseases have been exterminated in the US, but there is still a lingering risk that any one of these diseases will enter an endemic stage due to mosquitoes.
The habitat of the mosquito
Mosquitoes can live in a wide variety of climates, but most mosquito species will require standing water in which they can lay their eggs. Standing water provides the eggs, the larvae and the pupae with a safe, food-rich environment, and if the water dries out, not only will the eggs die, but the larvae and pupae will as well.
This is why mosquito control efforts target the bodies of standing water that are on or near your property. Sometimes these bodies of standing water are small, even tiny, and a mosquito infestation can be removed by simply throwing away or draining the water.
At other times, the bodies of water can be large and located in communal or public spaces. In this situation, the control procedure can be more complex, involving either the treatment of the water, or the creation of canals that will get the water moving in order to prevent organic detritus from forming and sustaining mosquito larvae. A pest control pro will be able to identify the source of the infestation during an inspection and then recommend the appropriate course of action.
For more information on mosquito infestations and how they are controlled, or if there currently is a mosquito infestation on your property, contact us today and we will gladly help you out.
