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Mosquito Facts
Culicidae
CHARACTERISTICS
Size:
Mosquitoes are generally between 2 mm with a max length of 19 mm and weigh no more than 5 mg.
Color:
Can vary from brown to black to gray.
Mosquitoes are found all around the globe, but primarily in humid, hot areas somewhat near a large body of water or river. Locations with dry heat, though they may be near water, aren’t nearly as likely to experience a mosquito pest problem.
Behavior:
Mosquitoes, contrary to popular belief, do not only feed on the blood of other animals and insects. While mosquitoes do get much of their nutrition from blood, they will actually eat the nectar from fruits, plant matter and anything else high in sugar. When it comes to feeding on another animal, males tend to “bite” less as females need the nutrients found in blood for their eggs to develop for them to lay and will often seek out a blood meal before and after mating. Mosquitoes can detect a potential host up to 90 feet away in prime conditions through their ability of sight and smell, and research shows mosquitoes are more inclined to pursue a host already being bitten by other mosquitoes. Other research indicates your age, sex, diet and even blood type can determine your likelihood of being bitten by mosquitoes in relation to other potential hosts, such as lizards, fish, bats, birds, any mammal and even other insects.
Habitat:
While mosquitoes can be found outside, you generally won’t find them infesting an air conditioned building due to unfavorable air conditions. Outside however, mosquitoes can be found almost anywhere humid enough to support their tiny bodies, but especially around sources of water, from small ponds, to pools, to lakes and rivers and up to 2 km away from their initial birthing locations. Mosquitoes will also tend to stick around trees and bushes to rest on.
Tips for Control
Primary mosquito pest control methods revolve around dissipation of mosquito “nests” or large concentrations of mosquito populations wherever found. This is mainly done with insecticide designed to either kill or deter a mosquito presence. An increasingly popular control method is the installation of misters surrounding the property which occasionally disperse insecticide to help control and deter mosquito and other insect populations.
- In a study of pest repellents, nearly any repellent WITHOUT DEET performed significantly worse at masking a host than repellents WITH DEET.
- In research not yet backed by the EPA, ultrasonic solutions have also been tested using devices emitting ultrasonic frequencies to deter mosquitoes from an area.
- Mosquitoes cannot fly well in even slightly breezy weather. Often running outdoor fans to create airflow can help deter mosquitoes from the area.
- Regularly spray or smoke trees, bushes and other vegetation to help kill and control mosquito population in the area.
