Educate Yourself

ABOUT MOSQUITOES

A quiet sunset, a comfortable rocking chair on the back porch and warm still air that surrounds you like a cozy blanket – life cannot get much better! But, then the annoying buzzing and the stinging bites as mosquitoes attack and force you to retreat inside. Unfortunately, mosquitoes are not likely to disappear anytime soon given that mosquitoes have been identified as existing as far back as the Triassic Period, which was 400 million years ago! There are over 2500 different species of mosquitoes throughout the world and about 200 species occur in the United States.

Mosquitoes have a four-stage life cycle - egg, larvae, pupae and adult. The adult male feeds on nectar and is important only for mating. The female usually must have a blood feast in order to produce viable eggs and that is where the problem begins. They feed on mammals, and unfortunately humans are a favorite meal. Mosquitoes lay eggs on the surface of stagnant water and once the egg hatches, mosquito larvae live, feed and develop in the water. The third stage, the pupa, also lives in the water until finally the adult female mosquito emerges ready to bite.
The more rainfall per season, the more numerous are  mosquitoes. With mild winters and excessive rainfalls the possibility of a troublesome mosquito season is more likely. Complete development from egg to adult varies with species and temperature, but usually takes from 10 to 14 days. The male dies after six or seven days, but the female, depending on the species, lives from two weeks to 3 months during the summer. Once she has had a blood meal she will lay her first and largest brood of 50-500 eggs. Subsequent broods will be smaller but there will be 8-10 broods. Consider an average brood of 200 eggs per brood and that this insect can complete its development in less than two weeks, we can obtain in only five generations some 20 million of these pests!

What can you do in your own backyard to go on the offensive against this dreaded invader? Start by eliminating the areas where mosquitoes live and breed such as discarded tires, tree stumps, rain gutters, old tires, tin cans, buckets, bottles, plant saucers, toys, birdbaths, trash containers, wading pools and any other object that could collect water. For those areas, like birdbaths, dog bowls and wading pools, in which you want water to be present, you should change the water regularly. For ornamental ponds, add fish that specifically feed on mosquito larvae. You should fill in low-lying areas in your lawn because even these areas can become mosquito breeding grounds. Keep your shrubbery trimmed and your lawn mowed regularly. Mosquitoes love to hide in tall vegetation until they become active around dusk just when you are ready to spend time outside in the evening.
      
       Of course, there are many common sense steps to take to protect yourself from mosquitoes such as wearing insect repellant, staying inside when mosquitoes are most active and wearing hats, long sleeves, long pants and socks. The problem, of course, is that in the spring and summer, you want to be outside at precisely the time when mosquitoes are most active. Outdoor living is one of the reasons we love living in the South. On most days, it is certainly too hot and humid to wear long sleeves and long pants.

       While all of the above measures will help reduce mosquito populations, taking all of these measures will not stop mosquitoes from impacting the quality of your outdoor living. However, taking the above steps in conjunction with the consultation and assistance of a professional pest control operator will substantially improve your results so that living in your outdoor environment is paradise once again.