Mosquitoes are flying insects found all over the world, most prevalent in warmer, humid climates. They are the deadliest animal on the planet, responsible for more deaths than any other insect by spreading serious diseases through their saliva when they bite.
Over 3,500 species exist globally, but not all spread disease. Mosquitoes must bite an infected host first to transmit illness. Otherwise, they are simply nuisance pests causing red, itchy welts.
Mosquitoes are invertebrate insects in the Culicidae family (same as gnats). The sex determines their diet:
Feed on blood of humans and animals. Need proteins in blood to produce eggs.
Feed on nectar from flowers. Do not bite humans or animals.
Are mosquitoes parasites? No. Parasites live on or inside a host. Mosquitoes simply feed on blood without needing to live on their prey (unlike fleas or ticks).
A mosquito has 3 primary parts: head, thorax, and abdomen.
Professional mosquito control disrupts breeding cycles.
Call (866) 326-2847Mosquitoes cause millions of deaths yearly. Three species are primarily responsible for disease spread: Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex.
Mosquitoes are a primary food source for many animals: dragonflies, spiders, lizards, frogs, birds, rodents, bats, and fish (which eat eggs and larvae).
Mosquitoes are carnivorous and hunt warm-blooded animals using their sensory organs:
Females use their proboscis to inject an enzyme that acts as an anesthetic and anticoagulant, then suck blood until engorged. They need blood proteins for egg production.
The itchy, red welts are a minor allergic reaction to the injected enzyme.
Like many flying insects, mosquitoes go through 4 phases. They spend ~75% of their lives as aquatic creatures. Each phase lasts 1-2 weeks depending on conditions.
Female lays eggs in water
Aquatic development
Transition stage in water
Emerges, flies to find food
Getting rid of mosquitoes is difficult since their food source is humans/animals. The best approach is integrated pest management combining multiple strategies:
To effectively treat mosquitoes, professional exterminators are recommended. Mosquito treatment requires ongoing control and maintenance, with return visits every two weeks to treat newly hatched eggs. Only by disrupting the life cycle can populations be controlled. EcoGuard has licensed, experienced mosquito control experts to create a customized strategy.
Mosquitoes qualify as both since the insect class is part of the animal kingdom. They kill millions of humans yearly by spreading diseases like malaria, dengue fever, encephalitis, and West Nile virus.
Mosquitoes are an important part of the food chain, serving as food for dragonflies, spiders, lizards, birds, and fish.
Female mosquitoes are technically predators since they hunt prey for blood meals. Males feed on nectar. They are not parasites because they do not live on or inside host animals.
Mosquitoes are attracted to standing water and dense foliage for breeding and shelter, plus CO2 from respiration, pheromones, lactic acid in sweat, body heat, and certain odors from food like beer.
