Life Cycle of Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are pesky insects. When you think about them, you likely think about the itchy annoying bites that they leave behind. There are over 3500 species of mosquitoes, with about 175 species living in the United States. In order to prevent mosquitoes, it is important to understand the different stages in their life cycle.

Eggs

Mosquitoes begin as eggs, and the eggs only hatch when exposed to water. Mosquitoes will look for standing water to lay their eggs, but they may also choose a swampy area that will become wet after they are laid. The time that the eggs take to hatch is dependent on the current conditions. Some mosquitoes lay a raft of eggs, where the eggs stick together, while others will lay single eggs.

Larvae

When mosquitoes are larvae they are water insects. They spend their time feeding and swimming in the water. Some will come to the surface to breathe. During this time, the larvae will molt several times until they become pupae.

Pupae

During this stage, the mosquito will swim around the water and not eat. They are inside a cocoon and changing into an adult mosquito. This stage can take between two to four days.

Adult Mosquito

Once the adult mosquito hatches from the cocoon, they will rest on the water until their wings dry. An adult mosquito has two wings, a thorax and six legs. The male mosquitoes have a lifespan of about ten days. They do not feed on the blood of animals or humans. Female mosquitoes have a longer life span and can live between 42-56 days. They may also hibernate if the water gets too cold. Others will lay their eggs in freezing water.

The key to eliminating mosquitoes is to prevent them from developing into adults. Addressing the standing water around your property can help, but using larvicide is another option that will prevent the mosquitoes from developing into adults. If you truly want to stop mosquitoes, you can contact the experts at Mosquito Tek to learn about the treatment options available to you.

Learn more about mosquito extermination from Mosquito Tek of Virginia Beach: https://virginia-beach.mosquitofreeliving.com/services/mosquito-control/

Comments

Hurricane Florence increases Mosquitoes in Raleigh

Although the Research Triangle was spared the devastating winds of a Category 3 or Category 4 storm when Hurricane Florence made landfall on Friday 9/14/2018, heavy rains have caused widespread flooding throughout southeastern North Carolina and has drenched the Raleigh area. Even though the main effects of the winds and rain have diminished in Raleigh, the saturation of the rain has left the area prone to mosquitoes that normally breed where water is prevalent and both heat and humidity are extreme. Raleigh is already listed at #6 in the top 20 worst mosquito cities in the United States , and with the current conditions left from Hurricane Florence, it's predicted that there will be a major increase for mosquitoes not only in Raleigh, but in most North Carolina cities and towns. Saturated Ground Makes Uncommon Locations Perfect for Mosquito Breeding Most Raleigh based mosquito control companies will typically address mosquito breeding locations where water tends to collect nat

Will the East Asian Tick Spread to the Arlington Area This Year?

The East Asian tick has made the news in the last few days because it is a new tick species that was identified as being in the United States this year. It was first identified last fall, but efforts were made to eradicate it. Unfortunately, scientists have determined that those efforts did not work, and the species has been established in New Jersey. Why Are People Concerned About the East Asian Tick? It is an extremely invasive species that originated in Asia. When it first spread to Australia it causes significant problems for farmers there. The ticks are often found around farms animals, but they can also be found on large animals like deer. The East Asian tick does carry the SFTS virus, which is a new virus that was first discovered in 2009. It has potential for serious complications and scientists worry about a potential outbreak. How Does the East Asian Tick Spread? The experts are not sure how the East Asian tick made its way to the United States. However, once it is

Norfolk Flooding from Florence Increases Mosquitoes

Norfolk residents were spared the brunt of the damage when Hurricane Florence made landfall along the North Carolina coastline, but unfortunately the storm was so large that the rain bands extended well into the Virginia Beach and Norfolk area. Flooding in Norfolk has not only made some of the low-lying areas impassable for traffic, but the excess water is also proving to be a haven for mosquitoes that thrive by breeding in water when temperatures and humidity are high. Increased Mosquito Breeding Locations Even though Norfolk is already surrounded by water, the saturation of rains has opened up new areas for mosquitoes to breed that normally remain dry around homes and businesses. Most mosquitoes tend to lay their eggs in areas where water collects naturally such as ponds and along the edges of lakes and streams, but now they can reproduce within wet yards that are closer to buildings. Professional Mosquito Exterminators can Lessen Breeding Cycles Normally a mosquito control technici

Mosquito Tek

Search This Blog