Mosquitos
Description:
Mosquitoes belong to the same group as true flies, diptera. As such, they have only one pair of wings. They usually have long, slender legs and a head with a prominent proboscis. The bodies and wings of midges are most often covered with small scales. Adult sizes can vary from 3 to 9 mm.
Habits:
Mosquitoes are best known for the habits of adult females that often feed on blood to help generate their eggs. The lesser known side is that adult male and female mosquitoes also feed on flower nectar. Their immature stages are usually found in standing, preferably stagnant, water. Larvae feed on a variety of materials, depending on the species. Most consume organic flotsam and small aquatic organisms. However, some species are predatory and will consume other mosquitoes. Adult mosquitoes prefer to be most active from dusk to dawn, but may become active with sufficient cloud cover or in dark, shaded areas. They do not prefer to be active in the sun as they may dry out and die.
Defense:
- Mosquito treatment is usually an integrated effort involving source reduction plus the use of chemical control products when necessary. Since mosquitoes thrive in water, source abatement reduces and eliminates water sources favorable for mosquito breeding. While source reduction is the most effective long-term approach to mosquito treatment, the mosquito treatment plan may require the use of chemicals to supplement source reduction.
- The mosquito treatment plan begins with your pest management professional conducting a thorough inspection of the property and identifying the type of mosquitoes causing problems.
You should contact a pest professional for assistance.