The warmer weather is here! Combine that with “April Showers” and subsequent mugginess that inevitably happens in Central Virginia at this time of year and you’ve got MOSQUITOES! Mosquitoes require a temperature between 50-80 degrees to survive and will usually bug us from March through November. They are most active around sunrise and sunset because direct sunlight may dehydrate them during the day. (However the times of day that mosquitoes come out vary depending on weather, temperature, and species.) 90% of the time, if you’re bitten by a mosquito in Virginia, it will be from an Asian tiger mosquito. Before we tell you how we can help get rid of mosquitoes around your home, Holistic Pest Solutions has even more interesting mosquito facts to share.
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- Mosquitoes prefer warm and humid climates. As mentioned before, mosquitoes can survive in temperatures ranging from 50-80 degrees. Research shows that the number of mosquitoes has increased, which is likely due to increasing temperatures in our climate.
- Asian Tiger Mosquitoes are considered to be “container breeders”. This is because they have aquatic breeding habits. Adult female mosquitoes will lay their eggs on the inner wet wall of containers (such as buckets, plastic plant trays, and trash can lids) above the waterline. They can lay up to 100 eggs at a time and only need a small amount of water to do so. Some can even breed in less than a teaspoon of water.
- They can transmit deadly diseases. Infected mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as the Zika virus, West Nile virus, Dengue, and Malaria. About 1 in 5 people who develop West Nile Virus will develop a fever, and about 1 in 150 people will experience more severe symptoms, some of which may be fatal.
- Only female mosquitoes bite. Both male and female mosquitoes feed on nectar and plant sap but only females bite because they need the protein from blood to produce their eggs.
- Mosquitoes have a short life span. The entire cycle from an egg to an adult is about 8-10 days.
- Mosquitoes prefer to bite some people over others. Some mosquitoes may prefer the blood chemistry of one over the other. They are also attracted to body heat, odor, and the carbon dioxide that humans admit. They also seek dark places to hide and digest their meal, so those who are wearing dark clothing may attract more.
- Mosquitoes are weak flyers. They do not fly for long periods of time and will stay within a several hundred feet from where they hatched (as long as they can find food). While flying, they will stop often to rest.
While it may be tempting to try to treat a mosquito infestation on your own, using store-bought products can be ineffective and expose your family and pets to potentially harmful chemicals. Holistic Pest Solutions will treat the root of the infestation with long term solutions designed to keep them from coming back. To reduce mosquito populations on your property, reach out to the mosquito control professionals at Holistic Pest Solutions! CONTACT US today.
Environmental Commitment: Holistic Pest Solutions is committed to the preservation of our environment. Our goal is to nurture the soils and plant life of lawns and landscapes. Utilizing holistic pest control practices that cause the least amount of impact on the environment.
