About MosquitoesWith warmer weather comes more time outside gathering with family and friends, kids playing in the yard, grilling and relaxing and enjoying fresh air and sunshine. This is also the time mosquitoes also come out to feed and breed. Mosquito bites are typically itchy and can leave a red mark or welt. Even worse, some mosquitoes carry and spread disease.
There are around 3600 species of mosquito world wide. They have a pair of wings, 6 long legs, and an elongated mouth, also known as a proboscis. The life cycle of a mosquito includes the egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. Because they lay their eggs on the water’s surface, just a small amount of water is all that is needed for a female to lay her eggs. Mosquito larva and pupa also live in water. Once in the adult stage, mosquitoes will begin to fly and look for food. Each individual has a fairly short life span. Eggs can survive in dry conditions for up to several months. Once water floods them they will hatch. The larva stage lasts about five days and the pupae stage lasts about 3 days. Adult mosquitoes typically live between two to four weeks, with females living a little longer than males, which gives them more time to reproduce. Male mosquitoes do not bite as their proboscis is not strong enough to pierce skin. Males feed on nectar and fruit juices. The proboscis of female mosquitoes are straw-like and strong enough to pierce through human and other animal skin. They feed on blood which gives them the protein they need for reproducing. When a mosquito bites its host, it transfers some saliva to the host. This typically creates an itchy rash. In doing so, mosquitoes can transmit diseases to their hosts. These diseases include: malaria, yellow fever, West Nile virus, dengue fever, and the Zika virus, and more. All together, mosquitoes cause over 700,000 deaths each year world wide. Although mosquitoes will bite anyone, they are more attracted to humans that have blood type O, are pregnant, are heavy breathers, have a high body heat, and plenty of skin bacteria. Female mosquitoes hunt by detecting carbon dioxide which is exhaled in the breath of the host. What to do if you’ve been bit: When bitten by a mosquito, the female also injects some of her saliva which causes it to itch. If bitten, you should wash the area with soap and water and can apply an ice pack to help numb the area which will reduce the itching and swelling. Over-the-counter anti-itch creams may also help to reduce itching. If you develop a fever, body aches, headache, or any signs of infection after a bite, make sure to seek out medical treatment. Ways to prevent mosquito bites: Keep skin covered Apply insect repellant Treat boots, hiking gear, tents with permethrin Use mosquito netting when camping How to Control Mosquitoes: Small sources of water in your yard can act as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Females will lay eggs anywhere that water collects. To keep your yard free from mosquitoes, it is important to regularly remove any standing water. Examples include:
If your home or yard is filled with pesky mosquitoes, Newark Pest Control can help. Don’t get chased indoors on those warm summer nights! We offer one time or recurring treatments to help keep mosquitoes at bay so you can safely and comfortably enjoy your time outdoors. Call us Today! |
Mosquito Control in Newark Delaware |