Got A Mosquito Infestation On Your Property? 5 Facts To Know About The Insects

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There are few things that can spoil a relaxing day in your yard more than a group of mosquitoes attacking you. While the hated insects are a food source for birds, dragonflies and other creatures, they can make you feel as if you are under siege when several of them bite you within a few minutes. As you get ready to take action against the pests, you may want to learn a little bit more about the biting insects and their behavior.

Mosquitoes Are Actually Flies

While common house flies are annoying pests, they generally do not cause the panic that accompany a swarm of mosquitoes that infiltrate your personal space. House flies do not bite or spread potentially deadly diseases. However, mosquitoes and house flies belong to the same insect order, Diptera. Approximately 16,900 species of Diptera exist in North America.

Both house flies and mosquitoes have a single pair of wings and experience four stages of development. Females lay eggs that develop into larva. Next comes the a pupa stage before the insects become adults. A physical characteristic that sets mosquitoes apart from house flies is that the biting insects have scales.

Only Female Mosquitoes Bite

When a mosquito bites you, the culprit is always female. The mouthparts of female and male mosquitoes differ. Females have piercing mouthparts that can puncture skin and suck blood. They need the nutrition provided by the blood for their eggs.

If you examine the mouthparts of a male and female mosquito up close you can actually tell the difference between the two genders. While both genders have a long needle-like antenna that extends from the mouthparts, the male antenna is also surrounded by bushy growths.

Females also have the sensory skills to seek out and find blood. The males use the bushy features of their antennas to seek out females for breeding.

Mosquitoes Breed at a Blistering Pace

If you have ever wondered why it is so hard for you to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard, the answer lies in the insect's breeding prowess. Some species have females that can lay up to 200 eggs in one batch.

The female mosquito does not even need standing water for her eggs. If no standing water is available, she will deposit the eggs in moist soil. If the soil dries up, the eggs can last several years. The eggs will hatch when the soil becomes moist again.

Some People Are Allergic to Mosquito Bites

In many cases, a mosquito bite will only cause a raised, itchy bump with a reddish appearance. However, if you are actually allergic to the insect's bite, your symptoms will be more severe.

In addition to developing lesions and bruises around the bite, you may also suffer common symptoms of a severe allergic reaction such as hives on your body, inflammation of your lymph system, a swollen throat and wheezing.

Effective Mosquito Control Requires Integrated Pest Management

While you can purchase off the shelf pesticides and traps to kill mosquitoes, if you have a serious infestation, those products will do little to deter the insects in the long run. In addition, products like bug zappers and electronic repellers are ineffective against the pests.

You need to eliminate all the breeding grounds in your yard and mosquito-proof your house. This includes repairing damaged screens and sealing cracks around windows.

As part of your integrated pest management efforts, hire a professional exterminator to find out what type of mosquitoes are on your property and if they pose any serious health risks such as West Nile virus or dengue fever.

A reputable pest control service, such as Cavanaugh's Professional Termite & Pest Services, may also conduct a thorough inspection of your property to find mosquito breeding grounds. They can also use professional-grade bait and spray pesticides to reduce the mosquito population in a short period of time.

15 June 2016