Do you know that there are over 3,500 mosquito species worldwide?
Mosquitoes are small insects with long, sharp, thin mouths like needles, which they use to effectively suck nectar and blood as their food. They are mostly gray or black in color with silver, white or green scales. Mosquitoes have a pair of wings that beat 300-600 times per second. They are one of the deadliest insects in the world and the carriers of different diseases such as the Zika virus, chikungunya, malaria, and dengue fever. These diseases kill millions of people per day all around the world. They spread these diseases through their bites.
The Life Cycle of a Mosquito
All mosquito species go through four different stages during their life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult (or imago). These stages typically last from 5 to 14 days.
- Egg - These eggs are not easy to find. They are so small that you need to use a microscope or magnifying glass to see it. Female mosquitoes extract blood in order to develop and nourish eggs. Most of their kind lay eggs directly in the water while others lay eggs near bodies of water but not exactly within them. A female mosquito can lay up to 100 to 200 eggs every three days after mating once.
- Larva - As soon as these eggs hatch in water, they become mosquito larvae. Mosquito larvae are small hairy worms who live in the water. Wigglers is the other name for them. They can live and stay in the water for up to 14 days.
- Pupa - Pupa—also called tumblers—live in the water for 1-4 days. The pupa does not eat and just floats on the water's surface, but this does not mean that it is not an active stage for them. They are lighter than water so they just float at the surface. They breathe through their tubes called trumpets.
- Adult - Fully developed mosquitoes are called adults. A male mosquito can live for a couple of weeks while female mosquitoes can last up to a month. Not all mosquitoes suck blood. Female mosquitoes suck blood to get protein which they need to produce eggs, while male mosquitoes are strictly vegetarian. They don’t feed on the blood so they will just avoid you and will go for the flowers instead. They take sugar from the nectar or honeydew of plants. There are also mosquito species that do not feed on the blood of humans. These mosquitoes specialize in animals.
According to studies, the body heat we produce attracts mosquitoes, the carbon dioxide we exhale, and the lactic acid, salt, and potassium that our body releases. If you'll notice, there are some people who are more attracted to the mosquitoes than the others.
To better understand mosquitoes’ behaviors, here are some factors that make them more attracted to some people:
- Potassium and salt - People who eat salty food and are rich in potassium are whom these mosquitoes usually target. People who love bananas, avocados, potatoes, etc are more attracted to these creatures.
- Alcoholic drinks - mosquitoes love the chemicals that our body releases.
- Pregnant women - Pregnant women exhale more carbon dioxide than everybody else which is one of the things that attract mosquitoes.
- Body temperature - Mosquitoes easily find humans with high body temperature.
- Dark clothing - Based on research, mosquitoes seem to be more attracted to dark colors, so if you love wearing dark clothes and you are in a place where there are lots of mosquitoes flying around, it is better go with lighter colors.
- Blood type - As we may already be aware, mosquitoes love sucking blood for food. Studies show that people with blood type O are more prone to being a victims of mosquitoes. The reason for this is that blood O types are found to be twice as attractive as the other blood types.
How Do They Get Inside Your House?
Mosquitoes find their way inside your home through open windows and doors. Once they are in, they will hide in dark places like in the closet, under the sink, or other hidden areas in the house. They normally come out at night to search for a blood meal.
How Do We Get Rid of Mosquitoes?
Control Mosquitoes Outside Your Home:
Mosquitoes lay eggs in water so be sure to clear water sources outside the house. Throw away empty containers as well as anything that holds water like bottles, pots, plant saucers, old tires, and other similar items. These things can collect and hold stagnant water after the rain and attract mosquitoes.
Grow plants that are natural repellents. It is a good idea to grow a garden full of natural repellents because they do not just make your garden beautiful, but they could also help keep these mosquitoes away. Know the kinds of plants you could use as repellants:
- Lemon balm - It is a herb that comes from the same family as mint. People do not just use this to shoo away insects like mosquitoes but it is also an effective traditional medicine that serves as a sleep aid and digestive tonic.
- Basil - A plant that cooks use for many delicious dishes. It is one of the easiest herbs to keep alive.
- Lavender - Lavender is a beautiful flower and is believed to have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that help heal bug bites and burns. Mosquitoes hate the scent that lavender gives off.
- Citronella - This is a well-known mosquito repellant. However, it’s not the plant itself that repels mosquitoes but the oil obtained from it.
- Catnip - The oil that comes from catnip is known to be ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET.
- Marigolds - This plant does not just produce beautiful flowers but it’s also an effective mosquito repellent as it produces Pyrethrum which is an ingredient found in many insect repellents.
- Rosemary - A herb that is perfect not just for keeping bugs and mosquitoes away but also a plant that is rich in flavor so many cooks use this for sumptuous dishes.
Attracting bats in your backyard or garden is also a good idea. Mosquitoes do not stay where bats are since they are mosquitoes' number one or most feared predators.
Control Mosquitoes Inside Your Home:
- Mosquitoes stay in dark and humid places so it’s best to check all corners of your home from time to time. Areas like the laundry room, closets, under the sink, and furniture.
- Electric fans help deter mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are not that strong to be able to fly through the wind.
- Kill mosquitoes by using indoor insect spray or indoor insect foggers.
- Use store-bought mosquito traps
Can Pest Control Get Rid of Mosquitoes?
Pest control companies offer different kinds of mosquito control treatments. They offer either seasonal service or a one-time service to clients. To get started, these companies conduct a thorough investigation to identify what kind of mosquitoes they will be dealing with. After inspection, your pest control company will then assess and recommend the treatment needed to completely get rid of these pests. They will prepare the treatment plan and discuss the types of chemicals or solutions that will be used for treatment.
Is It Safe to Hire a Pest Control Company?
Getting rid of pests, particularly mosquitoes may seem easy as there are so many natural ways to do this nowadays. However, getting help from the experts is still the best idea not just because it will help you save time, money, and effort but also because they are well-trained and can surely provide good results after the job.
Protect your family from the threats of these creatures. Hire a professional to get the service done for you.
For the best pest control company in Greensboro that can help you treat all kinds of pests, call Go-Forth Home Services.
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Go-Forth Home Services is a family-owned commercial service solutions provider of modern pest control services and techniques, using the latest and most advanced technology in the business, making our service to you more efficient, safer, and more convenient. Our team of professionals can provide the best pest control services to residents and business establishments throughout the Triangle region.
We bring in a fresh approach to the pest control industry. We use family-friendly and pet-friendly methods of extermination that cater to your specific needs. Our expert experience in exterminating pests like cockroaches, wasps, weevils, mosquitoes, mice, flies, termites, ants, and spiders can make you say goodbye to these pests in your home. You may check us on Facebook or Google us to see what our satisfied customers have to say about us.
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