FLEA FREE ANIMALS
Whether you enjoy backyard barbecues or backpacking, cycling or just sitting by the
pool, summer means it's time to get outside. But nothing spoils the fun faster than
one very tiny creature: the mosquito. Not only are mosquitoes a nuisance, leaving
people peppered with itchy red welts and driving them indoors, but they can also
carry diseases that pose a threat to your family's and pet's health.
Prolific pests
Mosquitoes are scientifically classified as True Flies. Just like their relatives -- the ommon housefly, gnats and horseflies -- mosquitoes have two wings. Mosquitoes thrive in moist and relatively warm environments, and typically feed on nectar or other sugar sources. Most female mosquitoes also require a blood meal from time to time.
About 200 mosquito species occur in the United States, with more than 2,500 species thriving worldwide, according to a study by Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. These species are classified into a number of generic groups such as Aedes, Culex, Anopheles, and Ochlerotatus. Mosquitoes can live anywhere from salt marshes to stagnant water, and they are often found in urban areas.
Mosquitoes go through three life stages before most of us realize they're around. First, adult females lay eggs on the surface of shallow water or on damp soil subject to flooding. Depending on the species, some eggs will hatch within 48 hours while others will survive subzero winters.
When the environment is suitable, mosquito larvae emerge from the eggs. Commonly called "wigglers," larvae survive by eating microorganisms in the water and breathing oxygen from the surface through a breathing tube. This stage of development typically lasts from four to 14 days.
Next, the mosquitoes become pupae, or "tumblers." This non-feeding stage, which lasts one to four days, is similar to the cocoon stage before caterpillars become butterflies. After emerging as an adult, the mosquito rests on the surface of water for about two days, allowing the body and wings to dry before flying off to mate and feed. Adult mosquitoes usually live two weeks to a month, meaning that generations of mosquitoes occur over the season. Subfreezing temperatures will kill most existing adult mosquitoes at the beginning of the cold weather season.
Why mosquitoes bug us
While all mosquitoes feed on nectar and other sugary sources, most female mosquitoes also require blood meals, and some will fly for miles to find it. Most biting mosquitoes prefer horses, cattle, birds or small animals, but humans, unfortunately, are also on the menu. Mosquitoes use carbon dioxide, moisture, colour, and movement to help locate their prey. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is studying hundreds of naturally occurring chemical compounds on human skin to try to isolate which ones appeal to mosquitoes.
Mosquito Facts
