Mosquito Facts and Life Cycle There are over 3,000 different species of mosquitoes throughout the world; currently 176 species are recognized in the United States. The mosquito, houseflies and fruit flies are considered part of the same family as they each have two wings that are both clear and veined. Mosquitoes are well-known as summer pests and they develop from egg to adult in 10 to 14 days. Mosquitoes belong to the order Diptera, the "True Flies". True Flies have two wings, but uncommon with other flies, mosquitoes have wings with scales. Female mosquitoes have a long needle-like beak they use for eating as well as "biting". Males differ from females as they have a feather-type antennae and mouthparts that are unable to pierce skin. Nectar or any sugar source is a male mosquitoes main source of food. Female mosquitoes depend on food (blood) from animals (horses, cattle, chickens, deer, rabbits, etc) or humans so they can get enough blood in order to develop eggs. If the the female is unable to get her meal of blood, she will die before laying any viable eggs.

Mosquitoes are usually pale brown with white stripes across the abdomen and anywhere from 1/4" to 3/8". They fly with their two front wings and their hind wings are small, club-shaped and are called halteres. These halteres vibrate when they fly and assist in maintaining balance. Mosquitoes tend to live and breed in soft, damp soil or stagnant water areas like storm drains, old tires, wading pools, birdbaths and any standing water. Mosquito Life Cycle Stages Mosquitoes have four life cycle stages: Egg, larva, pupa and adult. Here are the stages in more detail: Egg: Eggs are usually laid one at a time and these eggs float on the surface of the water. Most eggs will hatch into larvae within 48 hours. (Some species' eggs are stuck together in rafts of many eggs, while some lay their eggs separately. The different species vary.) Larva (floaters): Larva live in the water and breathe by coming up to the surface. They will shed their skin at least four times and grow bigger after each shedding.

Most larvae, but not all, have siphon tubes for breathing and tend to hang from the surface of the water. The Anopheles do not have a siphon and usually lay parallel to the surface. They all feed on micro-organisms and various organic matter in the water. The larva changes into pupa on the fourth molt or shedding.backpack national geographic kaskus Pupa: This is more of a resting, non-feeding stage. kumo backpack reviewIt takes the pupa roughly two days to become a fully-developed adult. dcshoecousa backpackOnce developed, the pupal skin splits open and the mosquito appears as an adult.pedlars backpack

Adults (fliers): This new young adult, must rest on the water's surface to dry, allow it's parts to harden and give their wings a chance to spread out with time to dry before it is able fly. The stages depend on many variables and each species' various characteristics. The life span of the adult mosquito most often depends upon many factors like temperature, humidity, time of year and if the mosquito is female or male. pewdiepie backpack cheapMales quite often only live for one week, while females have been known to live around one month.polaris rbs back pack cover The four most common and annoying types of mosquitoes are the Aedes, Culex, Culiseta and Anopheles. The Aedes are painful and persistent biters and prefer to attack during the day. They usually feed on animals not humans. The Culex can also be painful and persistent biters but are dusk and after dark attackers.

They prefer domestic and wild birds instead of humans. The Culex tarsalis is known for transmitting encephalitis, or sleeping sickness, to both man and horses. They quite often only live a few weeks during the summer months. The Anopheles are the only mosquito that transmits malaria to man. The Culiseta mosquitoes have a tendency to attack at night or in the shade during the day. To Learn More About Specific Mosquitoes Visit - Mosquito Identification - Mosquitoes by Species Pro Tip #1 - Use mosquito dunks and/or liquid Insect Growth Regulator (IGR's) to overspray standing or shallow bodies of water. Pro Tip #2 - Use mosquito sprays, ULV's (Ultra Low Volume) sprays, misting systems, repellent granules to kill and repel adult mosquitoes. Mosquito Control Insecticides & Sprays A high pressure pump (up to 250 PSI) is attached to high pressure tubing (1/4" in most cases), and connected to a series of nozzles (every 10' - 15') that completely encircles the yard or area to be misted.

The high pressure pump is connected to a a large tank (55 gallons in most cases) that holds the chemical. Pyrethrin is the most common chemical solution that is used by Mosquito Misting Companies. The chemical is then pumped through the high pressure pump and into the tubing and out through the nozzles at a very high PSI to create a "mist". This mist is designed to cover the entire area within the confines of the tubing and nozzles within a few seconds. This process repeats itself automatically through a timer (in some states manual) process 3-4 times per day. The constant "misting" of chemical throughout the day and evening provides instant control of airborn mosquitoes and also provides a buildup of chemical that creates a barrier to repel others. One of the advantages of a mosquito misting system is that it is automatic. The timer and in some systems a (handheld) remote switch similar to a garage door opener provide continous control as long as the system is working and the tank has chemical in it.

The disadvantage is that if the system fails for some reason, runs out of chemical, etc, mosquitoes will be back almost immediately. For a more detailed explanation of the MISTER MOSQUITO SYSTEM installed by Dallas Ft. Worth Pest Control in Dallas, Texas, click here. Hand, Blower or Back Pack Spraying Ways to Reduce and Prevent Mosquito Bites Why Mosquitoes Bite You Most of us have been "bitten by a mosquito." The truth is, mosquitoes don't actually bite. The female mosquitoes feed on plant nectar and blood. In order to reproduce, they need protein. To get to the blood, they pierce our skin with their proboscis or "a tube-like organ used for feeding, defense, or touch around the mouth," and suck our blood. Male mosquitoes feed only on plant nectars. Mosquitoes are at their peak at night and will sometimes fly up to 14 miles for a meal of blood. They hunt for their food by detecting body heat and the carbon dioxide (C02) we breathe out. To a mosquito, we appear to be an infrared "red" object (heat) with a halo of blue (C02) encircling us.

To make matters more attractive, certain people tend to have a "mosquito attraction pheromone" that attracts mosquitoes. Certain colognes, perfumes, soaps and fragrances can also attract them. Bottom line on this is that if you don't want to take a chance on getting bite, use a mosquito repellent containing deet on you, your family, even your pets before you go outside and enter their hostile environment. When trying to reduce or prevent mosquito bites, do your best to avoid places and time periods when mosquitoes are prone to feed. Generally, the peak feeding periods occur just before and after sunset and again just before dawn. Unfortunately, each species has its own peak period of feeding. Tree-hole and Asian tiger mosquitoes, for example, feed in daylight hours and usually, in or near shaded or wooded areas. Here are some tips for reducing and preventing mosquito bites: Ensure that your door and window screens are tight-fitting and in good repair. Wear appropriate clothing that are less likely to attract mosquitoes.

Long-sleeved shirts and slacks made of tightly woven materials are more likely to keep mosquitoes away from the skin. Be sure that your clothing is light colored and not too loose. It will help to keep your shirt and pants tucked away. Don't wear strong perfume or cologne before going outside. If camping, use a non-scented soap when showering or bathing. Mosquito netting really helps when sleeping outdoors. If nothing else, use a 1 man screened tent to sleep in while camping or when sleeping in outdoor areas. ALWAYS use a MOSQUITO REPELLENT containing DEET before going outdoors. The more DEET a product contains, the longer the repellant can protect against mosquito bites. Although, concentrations higher than 50 percent do not necessarily increase the length of protection, 10 to 25 percent DEET is adequate. DEET disorients mosquitoes so they will look elsewhere for food. Products with the active ingredient, picaridin, are also providing an excellent degree of protection minus the odor and adhesion of DEET.