Mosquitoes - Facts, Identification & Infestation
Latin Name
Family
Culicidae
Appearance/Identification
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.
Behavior, Diet & Habits
Mosquitoes
are best known for the habits of the adult females which often feed on blood to
help generate their eggs. The lesser-known side is that mosquito adults, males
and females, also feed on nectar from flowers. Their immature stages usually
are located in standing, preferably stagnant, water. The larvae feed
on variety of materials, depending on species. Most consume organic flotsam and
tiny aquatic organisms. However, some species are predatory and will consume
other mosquitoes. Adult mosquitoes prefer to be most active from dusk until
dawn but can become active with sufficient cloud cover or in dark shady areas.
They do not prefer to be active in the sunshine since they may desiccate and
die.
Mosquitoes
or Flies?
Mosquitoes can be confused with flies. Mosquitoes have long legs, and a long proboscis or “nose” that female mosquitoes use to “bite” people and pets to draw blood, needed to lay eggs. Most flies won’t bite and even long-legged flies are usually much smaller than mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are pesky pests and can spread disease such as West Nile Virus, dengue and malaria. More commonly, though, mosquitoes threaten family events more than health.
Mosquitoes can be confused with flies. Mosquitoes have long legs, and a long proboscis or “nose” that female mosquitoes use to “bite” people and pets to draw blood, needed to lay eggs. Most flies won’t bite and even long-legged flies are usually much smaller than mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are pesky pests and can spread disease such as West Nile Virus, dengue and malaria. More commonly, though, mosquitoes threaten family events more than health.
Reproduction
Males
have feathery antennae they use to locate females. After mating, females
typically seek a blood meal to aid in egg production. She often lays them in
standing pools of water, but manmade sources can include bird baths,
buckets and even mud puddles. Egg numbers vary from species to species but
can be as much as over 100 eggs in a single laying. Wormlike larvae,
called wigglers because of their wiggling swimming motion, hatch.
They feed until ready to molt into pupae. The pupae are called tumblers, again
due to their tumbling motion in the water. Adults emerge from the pupae onto
the water surface where their exoskeleton hardens.
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, Signs of the immatures are their presence in
standing water, which also can include watering dishes of containerized house plants. #GuardianPestControl#GreenPestControl #Inspect #Treat #NoMosquitos
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