Mosquito Identification & Prevention Alabama & Florida

Frequently Asked Questions About Mosquitoes

What are mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes are short-lived, fly-like insects. They are a significant pest problem throughout the United States and especially in the South, where the hot, humid weather allows these pests to thrive.

Mosquitoes are famous because of the bites they dish out to people and animals, but did you know that only the females bite? Males do not require a blood; they only live about one to two weeks and feed on plant juice and nectar. Females too feed on plant nectar and juice, but they also require the protein found in blood to lay eggs. Females live longer than males, about a month or so.

Are mosquitoes dangerous?

Mosquitoes make people’s lives miserable by delivering relentless bites that are itchy and unpleasant to deal with. Mosquitoes can ruin any outdoor activity. In addition to being one of the most annoying animals on the planet, they are also one of the most dangerous.

Mosquitoes feed on many different human and animal hosts. As they feed, mosquitoes can transmit many dangerous diseases that make people and our pets ill. In the U.S, some mosquitoes carry many serious diseases, including the following:

• Eastern equine encephalitis
• West Nile virus
• Parasitic heartworms (This affects dogs and cats and is a major concern in the southern United States.)

Why do I have a mosquito problem?

Yards, wooded areas, fields, ponds, lakes, and marshes are all places people run into biting mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can become a problem in almost any outdoor space. Hungry mosquitoes find their targets by sensing body heat, scents, movement, and the carbon dioxide we produce while breathing.

Mosquitoes like to live on properties offering plenty of standing water to use as breeding sites. They also are drawn to properties offering plenty of areas to rest during the extreme heat of the day. In order to escape the mid-day heat, many mosquitoes rest in tall grass, under trees, in brush piles or other debris, and under other structures like decks.

Where will I find mosquitoes?

You will find mosquitoes wherever there is standing water. Females lay their eggs in standing water, and the larvae develop into adults in standing water. The more standing water, the more mosquitoes there will be.

Many adults stay near the areas where they hatched, while others may travel several miles searching for food or standing water — their ability to travel is one reason these pests are so difficult to control and keep out of our yards.

If you have any of the following on or near your property, you will likely experience problems with mosquitoes: