It is the season where mosquitoes make it their life mission to ruin our outdoor plans, which makes this pesky insect the honorary bug of the month of July.
Mosquitoes:
Mosquitoes are small flies which are a part of the Culicidae family. Uniquely, Female mosquitoes are ectoparasites (parasites which live on the outside of the host) who will use their tube-like mouthparts to pierce their hosts’ skin and consume blood. The amount of blood which they consume is very small; however, the mosquitoes’ saliva will cause an irritating rash at the bite point. Consequently, mosquitoes are deadly because they can easily spread diseases such as: malaria, yellow fever, Chikungunya, Zika virus, and other similar infections.
Mosquitoes Lifecycle:
Mosquitoes go through 4 stage: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
Egg: A common female mosquito will fly over water, bobbing up and down to the surface to drop her eggs. Eggs are often laid one at a time or are attached together as a raft, which the female mosquito creates. Females can lay anywhere from 100-200 eggs during the adult phase of the lifecycle. Eggs will hatch into Larvae in about 48 hours (2 days). Also, it is necessary for them to have water as a part of their habitat.
Larva (plural Larvae): The Larvae are still living in water. However, they do need to go to the surface to breathe, and they breathe through spiracles (a respiratory opening). They shed their skin four times and they grow larger after each time. The Larvae will feed on algae, bacteria, and other microbes.
Pupa: Similar to the Larva, the Pupa also lives in water and must swim to the surface to breathe. It does not feed during this stage, but simply swims along the surface of the water until it undergoes a metamorphosis (similar to a butterfly) and becomes an adult mosquito.
Adult: Upon emerging, they will sit on the surface of the water to dry off and harden. Adult mosquitoes typically mate in the first few days after emerging. Males live for roughly 5-7 days, during which they feed on nectar and other sugars. The female, who typically lives for up to 2 weeks, will consume a full blood meal and begin developing her eggs, after mating with a male mosquito. Overall, the egg process takes around 2-3 days.
Preventing Mosquito Bites:
- Use insect repellent.
- Cover up with long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
- Treat any bites with some home remedies that include: Aloe Vera, crushed ice, or vinegar.
Contact us by calling (615) 220-1933 or visiting our contact page if you have any pest concerns.
If you need some more information about Mosquitoes, their life cycle, or home remedies for bites.