14 Jul Mosquitoes: Everywhere from my head to mo(squi)toes!
Summertime is here, and with it comes those annoying pests with a taste for blood. Mosquitoes, despite their small size, can pose a great threat to our health. This is because they can sometimes transmit more than just an itchy red bump. Their bites may transmit viruses like Zika and West Nile. Let’s take a more in-depth look at these cretins so that we can get a better understanding of how they function.
Life of a Mosquito
Mosquitoes undergo four stages of life, which are egg, larvae, pupa, and adult. This transition from egg to adult can take between 10 to 14 days, giving you little time to react! One thing to keep in mind, however, is that mosquitoes require water for the first three stages of their life before becoming adults.
Mosquito eggs are generally laid in standing pools of water. These can include natural bodies of water (streams, ponds, lakes), natural containers of water (puddles, tree holes, footprints), and artificial containers of water (bird baths, tires, flower pots). Mosquitoes stay in the egg stage for roughly two days before they hatch into larvae.
The larvae stage for mosquitoes lasts about a week. During this stage, they feed on small organic matter like algae, bacteria, and protozoa. They feed enough so that they can develop into the pupa stage.
In the pupa stage, the mosquito cannot eat. Instead, it is more similar to the process of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Unlike a butterfly cocoon, the mosquitoes in their pupa stage can move. They are called “tumblers” in that they move in a somersaulting fashion when they are disturbed. This is the final stage of the mosquito’s life before it becomes an adult, and lasts between one to three days.
The Adult Mosquito
It is during this stage of the mosquito’s life that poses the most threat to us. In order for female mosquitoes to be able to lay eggs, they need a huge supply of protein. As you may have guessed, this protein comes in the form of blood. It is common for female mosquitoes to drink up to two and a half times their weight, and in some cases, up to 15 times their own weight in blood! Because mosquitoes need so much protein, it’s natural for them to feed off of many different sources. This is how diseases are spread. Mosquitoes can safely drink infected blood without any harm to themselves, and in doing so, serve as incubators for potentially life-threatening diseases.
Fortunately, our Mosquito Mist Away System can prevent mosquitoes (and numerous other biting and stinging insects) from ruining your summertime fun! This discreet system automatically sprays a fine mist throughout your yard that is safe for humans, but intolerable for mosquitoes. For more information about mosquitoes and our Mist Away System, give us a call today at 817-834-3121!
Sources:
Mallis, Arnold. (1997). Handbook of Pest Control (8th ed.)