Mosquito Facts & West Nile Virus Update
Mosquito,
the name is Spanish for little fly. There are 3000
different kinds of mosquitoes and a worldwide population of 100
trillion!! Most are in tropical
climates, but there are mosquitoes in arctic and desert regions.
They can fly up to 10
mph, dart between raindrops and even fly backwards. Most live and
die close to where they hatch, but some are strong flyers that travel
many miles in search of a victim.
Only female
mosquitoes bite. They require a blood meal in order
to develop eggs to make more mosquitoes. Most female
mosquitoes lay their eggs on standing water.
Stagnant ponds, ditches and fresh or salt water wetlands are
favorites, but even a few tablespoons of water in a flower pot
or old auto tire will do. The eggs hatch, become swimming
larvae, then pupae and finally flying adults. Mosquito
larvae are an important source of food for certain fish, birds,
bats and other animals. To reduce Mosquito infestation we
recommend using the following products Mosquito
Bits or Mosquito
Dunks. A SkeeterVac is a long term and highly effective solution for eliminating mosquitoes . SkeeterVac's
patent pending scientifically proven technology creates an atmosphere
biting mosquitoes can't resist: warmth, water vapor, carbon dioxide and
odorants. Then it finishes off the job by trapping and killing those
biting pests so your outdoor experiences are safer and more enjoyable.
What's
being done about Mosquitoes and what you can do.
In their quest for blood,
mosquitoes may bite birds, frogs, snakes, and mammals, including people.
Some, called peridomestic mosquitoes actually live and breed
around homes just to be near us.
24 hours or so after
hatching, a female mosquito flies off in search of a meal. She
homes in on body warmth, odor, moisture and the carbon dioxide we
exhale. When she bites, the mosquito
injects a bit of saliva that slows coagulation so blood flows freely. It's your body's allergic reaction to the saliva that caused the welt
and itching sensation.
Mosquitoes can
also transmit canine heartworm, which is fatal to dogs once
contracted. For protection, pet owners can purchase a
preventative medicine from their veterinarian.
Generally, the trend in
the U.S. is away from spraying adult mosquitoes with chemicals.
Whenever possible, government health authorities control large tracts of
mosquito breeding land by larviciding. They use low
toxicity biopesticides like B.t.i. (Bacillius thuringiensis subspecies israelensis), a live bacteria that's deadly to mosquito larvae,
harmless to other living things.
The mosquito that bit you
last night may have hatched in the birdbath right in your own back yard.
At home or with school or community groups, you can effectively reduce
mosquito problems using common sense and environmentally-conscious
methods.
Organize
a neighborhood cleanup. Its great community project that
will eliminate lots of potential mosquito breeding spots and
improve the view! Look for places where rainwater collects and
stands. Old car tires, drain flower pots, children's wading pools and tree
holes.
Goldfish
and fresh water minnows (Gambusia affinis) will
both eat mosquito larvae. Microbe Lift is
an ideal supplement to protect pond areas for excessive mosquito hatchlings.
Check with your local mosquito control agency about availability and local
regulations. Flush birdbaths and fountains weekly. Clean clogged gutters and
drains, cover cesspools.
