Not only are mosquitoes a nuisance, but they are also capable of transmitting diseases, including malaria, dengue, yellow fever, Chikungunya, West Nile Virus and Zika virus. It is important to know how to help control the mosquito population where you live and how to protect yourself from mosquito bites. By protecting yourself from mosquitoes and mosquito bites, you can prevent mosquito-borne disease.
Mosquito Biology
Mosquitoes have a complex life cycle with many changes in form. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs directly on the water surface or in an area that will be flooded or covered with water. A larva hatches out of an egg. The mosquito larva grows in the water and feeds on microorganisms and organic material in the water. It sheds its skin three times and has a total of four larval stages. This usually takes about a week. After the fourth larval stage, the mosquito larva turns into pupa. In the pupal stage, which is still in the water, the mosquito is not eating, but changing into the adult mosquito. This transformation occurs within a couple of days. After the pupal stage, the mosquito emerges as the more familiar flying adult mosquito. Although there are both male and female adult mosquitoes, only the female mosquitos’ bite. The female mosquitoes use the blood to help develop eggs and provide nutrition to the developing embryos.
Mosquito Behavior
Mosquitoes need standing water to develop. By eliminating standing water in containers from around your yard once a week, you can help reduce the number of mosquitoes in your yard.
Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. The majority of mosquito species are active at night, but the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is also active during the day.
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