Description: 

There are over 85 species of mosquitoes in Texas! The most common mosquitoes are long legged insects with 2 wings. They are identifiable by 3 major characteristics: long, many segmented antennae, an elongated piercing and sucking mouthpart (almost beak-like), and scales on the wing veins and margins. 

Lifecycle:

The Mosquito life cycle has 4 stages: egg, larvae, pupa, and adult. The adult stage is the only stage where the mosquito lives on land. The first 3 stages are aquatic. Under favorable conditions, mosquitos can develop from eggs to adults in 8 to 10 days. The length of time varies on weather conditions, mosquito species, and food availability. 

Habitat:

The mosquito breeding habitat can be any place with standing water, including natural habitats such as ponds, swamps, marshes, plants or trees, as well as artificial water containers like abandoned tires, clogged gutters, flowerpots, buckets, or discarded toys. During the day, adult mosquitoes will find cool shady places to hide areas such as bushes, the underside of leaves on trees, or even umbrella canopies in the backyard. 

Risk and Prevention:

Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on earth because they carry a range of harmful diseases. They are known to transmit malaria, Dengue fever, West Nile Virus, Zika Virus, heartworm in dogs, and other diseases that affect livestock.

To prevent mosquito bites inside your home, be sure any door or windows frequently opened have screens installed. Don’t leave standing water for more than a day without draining it – think pet water bowls, potted plants, and unused guest bathrooms.  

There are several things that can attract mosquitoes to you personally! Eating fruits, drinking alcohol, and even floral soaps can all cause mosquitoes to specifically find you in a crowd. There are studies that also suggest the colors red and black increase the likelihood of attracting more mosquitoes.  

When outside, be sure to use an effective mosquito repellent, containing either picaridin or diethyltoluamide (DEET) on all exposed skin. If removing stagnant water from the property doesn’t solve the issue (since mosquitoes can visit from neighbors properties too), there are several methods to help reduce the activity. Thermal foggers are available online and can provide a good solution for a 4-6 hour reprieve. There are also bucket bait stations that can provide ongoing protection without a spray or mist application to the yard. 

Need professional help? Give BBK Pest Control a call and let us get the issue under control.