Understanding Mosquitoes - Their Diet and Breeding
The mosquito is an annoying insect that plagues outdoor activities and leaves itchy bumps on your skin. Knowing more about this pest can help you understand why it does what it does and how to avoid getting bitten.
An Overview of the Mosquito Mosquitoes have been around since the time of dinosaurs. They have evolved into over three thousand species and have continuously adapted themselves for survival throughout the ages. Climates of all types harbor these resilient bugs, and every species has a preference as to which animals are their primary prey, including birds, frogs, or other mammals. With so many different variations, not all of our efforts to keep them away work effectively on each species. Mosquitoes have developed a dangerous reputation for transporting deadly diseases such as yellow fever and malaria. They may even prey on your pets, sometimes giving cats or dogs heartworm. Despite their reputation, mosquitoes do not actually feed on blood all the time; blood acts as an aid for female mosquitoes to produce their eggs. The Mosquito Diet and Breeding Adults feed on juices, nectar and decaying matter, and their larvae filter feed off of organic bits. In the larval stage, these insects are found in small pools of water, so it is important to reduce the number of objects outside that may catch rain or hold water in a small puddle or pool. These include things like rain gutters, toys left outside, or any vessel shaped object. A mosquito may produce about 200 eggs at a time, averaging 2500 during its life.While the rapid production of eggs may be surprising, consider that mosquitoes are fully developed after just four days! Most adults remain within one mile of their birth place and spend their lives in a small surrounding area, with a lifespan of up to 100 days for the biting females. These insects don't actually see very well, so when they are swarming around the yard, they use their thermal receptors to detect body heat. Humidity enhances the ability of these receptors, and mosquitoes can attack quite accurately as a result. Mosquitoes can be a frustrating pest. While many solutions can be found to protect humans and repel these pesky insects, be careful to select an insecticide that won't kill beneficial insects like butterflies, ladybugs, or earth worms. Many professional mosquito control systems are available that use a natural, biodegradable insecticide that will keep mosquitoes at bay without harming your family, pets, or useful insects. Mosquito control experts offer you many traditional mosquito control solutions and services that include larvicide, granular and liquid pesticide applications. Visit Mosquito Tek of Northern Virginia to know more about their services. |