Mosquitoes
What do mosquitoes look like?
Mosquitoes have a narrow body, very long thin legs, and one pair of transparent wings. They are gray in color; and their bodies are covered in scales that are silver, green, or iridescent blue. Adults grow to between ¼ and 3/8th of an inch in length. Their most distinctive feature is their long proboscis (nose) that both females and males use for feeding on the nectar of plants and that the females use to suck blood from their hosts.
Mosquito larvae have a large head and thorax; their body is worm-like in appearance. Mosquito larvae live and develop in areas of standing water, and they move throughout the water in a unique wiggly manner.
What attracts mosquitoes?
One of the main things that attract mosquitoes to properties is standing water; this is because female mosquitoes lay their eggs on the surface of standing water. Wading pools, bird baths, pet bowls, trash piles, tires, wheel barrows, clogged drains, and low lying areas can all collect water and draw in mosquitoes to a property. Mosquitoes also feed on the nectar of flowers so a property with a lot of plants, flowers, and other landscaping may also attract mosquitoes.
People and what they are wearing can attract mosquitoes. They are drawn to dark colored clothing and floral scented perfume or cologne. Mosquitoes are attracted to people who are sweating and/or have increased body heat. Carbon dioxide attracts mosquitoes, and people with higher metabolic rates and pregnant women produce more carbon dioxide than others. An interesting fact is that mosquitoes are more attracted to people who have consumed alcohol recently.
Why do mosquitoes bite?
Female mosquitoes bite in order to extract blood from their victims. They require a blood meal in order to get the necessary proteins that they need to create their eggs. Female mosquitoes will feed on any vertebrate animal, but usually prefer to feed on warm-blooded species.
Are mosquito bites dangerous?
Mosquito prevention tips from Big Blue Bug Solutions
While controlling mosquitoes may seem like an impossible task, there are several steps you can take around your property to help control their numbers in addition to acquiring professional control solutions.
Mosquito prevention tips include:
- Reduce areas of standing water on your property. Clean out gutters, fill in low lying areas, make sure that garbage is removed on a weekly basis, shake out water that collects on tarps, and turn items like wheel barrows and kiddy pools upside down when not in use.
- Reduce the amount of flowering plants and other landscaping that are located on your property, especially close to the exterior of your home.
- Keep your lawn trimmed short; mosquitoes like to hide during the day in tall grass.
- Keep any drains or culverts that are located on your property free from debris.
- Make sure that screens in doors or windows are completely intact to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside. Don’t leave windows or doors open that do not have screens in them.
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