How much do you know about mosquitos? Here are five facts about these unpleasant pests:
- Mosquitoes can mate in mid air, sometimes in as little as 15 seconds. Males have pincers or claspers on their abdomens, which they use to grab onto females. Females then lay eggs, which develop into larvae, the pupae, then adult mosquitos. The adult mosquito lives from one week to one month before death.
- More deaths are caused by mosquitos than any other animal on the planet. Mosquitoes carry many deadly diseases, including malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, Zika, and encephalitis. Mosquitoes also carry heartworm, which can be lethal to your dog. Some people are not affected at all by mosquito bites, and some people have severe reactions to them. Mosquitos prefer to suck the blood of birds, cattle and other mammals, leaving humans low on their list of preferences.
- Mosquitoes can be found in every type of habitat and inhabit every part of the world except Antarctica. The greatest concentration can be found in warm tropical environments, closer to the equator. Northern populations of mosquitos tend to survive the winter by taking shelter in buildings or hollow trees.
- Mosquitos lay eggs in standing water. Bird baths, clogged gutters, kiddie pools, and ponds are all prime areas for mosquitos to lay eggs.
- Only female mosquitos bite humans for blood to develop eggs. Male mosquitos primarily feed on nectar from flowers. The mosquitos that bite are attracted to body heat, carbon dioxide, and sweat.
If you would like to learn about mosquito control for your home, please contact us for a free inspection. We offer residential pest control and commercial pest control for the greater Capital District area including Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga and Rensselaer Counties.