Despite their small size, mosquitos evoke an antipathy that only a few animals can match. These pesky creatures inflict painful bites, and their ubiquitous presence can make the most anticipated hike in the forest or backyard barbecue a disaster. The creatures creep into our bedrooms, and their irritating, whiny hum won’t let you sleep.
Atop the irritating bites and nuisance factor, mosquitos also carry and transmit some deadly diseases. There are responsible for the transmission of illnesses such as Zika virus, malaria, dengue virus, West Nile virus, yellow fever, and dengue fever. Research indicates that mosquito-transmitted diseases are responsible for more deaths than historical wars.
Mosquitos thrive in stagnant water and are common during the summer months. Contrary to popular belief, not all mosquitos transmit diseases. It is only the female mosquitos that suck blood, and hence they are the super spreaders of diseases.
Like most insects, mosquitos have three body parts; head, thorax, and abdomen. However, they boast some unique features that you won’t find in other insects. Here are some distinguishing features:
Color: Because there are over 3000 species of mosquitos, color patterns can differ from one species to the next. However, the most common color combinations include gray, brown, black, silver, and white.
Size: Mosquitos measure around ¼ – 3/8th of an inch (6.35 – 9.5 mm)
Bodily Features: Mosquitos have slender, elongated bodies covered with scales. They also have lengthy fragile-looking legs and long proboscis (piercing mouth parts) that female mosquitos use to draw blood from animals and human beings. They also have feathery antennae, with the male ones being bushier than those of the female.
Habitat: Mosquitos are synonymous with any aquatic situation. They can be found in marshes, permanent ponds, woodland pools, temporary floodwaters, and drainage ditches. In most homes, mosquitos can be traced to backyard containers with stagnant water, including pots, toys, barrels, dumpsters, animal tracks, old tires, tree holes, and clogged rain gutters.
Diet: Mosquitos feed on nectar, plant sap, and other plant juices. However, female mosquitos need a blood meal to grow their eggs. This is the main reason why only female mosquitos spread diseases.
surface and flies away.
Mosquitos are the most dangerous insects in the world. They are the number one enemy in the global fight against infectious diseases and are vicious vectors that spread several diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, encephalitis, malaria, Zika virus, and West Nile virus.
These pesky creatures leverage body odor, exhaled carbon, movement, and temperature to locate their victims. When biting, female mosquitos stab two tubes into your skin, one for injecting blood-clotting inhibiting enzyme and the other for drawing blood into its gut. Besides humans, mosquitos also love sucking blood from birds, cattle, and horses.
Undoubtedly, the presence of mosquitos in your backyard can reduce the quality of life and pose serious threats. For this reason, you must take various precautions to ensure that your backyard remains a haven for endless fun activities and to avoid contracting infectious diseases. These include:
There are several DIY methods that you can use to control mosquitos, such as pesticides and repellants. However, it can be daunting to battle these creatures alone, so the best thing to do is to hire a professional extermination company. The professionals at Domain Pest Control have the experience and robust knowledge in dealing with mosquitos to exterminate them at each growth cycle.
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