Mosquitoes
Flying Insects—Mosquito
Size
Adult mosquitoes are about 1/4 to 3/8 inch long.
Characteristics
Mosquito color patterns are due to the wings, body and legs being covered with scales.
Color
Color combinations include brown, gray, black, white and silver.
Biology
Mosquitoes are commonly separated into 3 groups based on where and how their eggs are laid.
With water present, eggs hatch in a few days into larvae which are commonly called wigglers because of their jerky movements. All larvae live in water and go through 4 growth stages. With their 4th molt, the larvae become pupae which are commonly called tumblers.
The pupae live in water and are very active. The pupae of most species breathe through a pair of respiratory trumpets located on the dorsal thoracic surface which penetrate the water surface while they float just below the surface.
At the end of the pupal stage, while at the water’s surface, the pupal skin splits open and the adult works its way out and onto the surface of the water, dries briefly and flies away. Development time (egg to adult) is usually about 10 to 14 days: Eggs hatch in 1 to 3 days, although some remain viable for up to 5 years. The larval stage lasts one to several weeks and the pupal stage takes from 2 days to a few weeks. Adult females may live 1 to 2 months while males live about 6 to 7 days in the summer, or up to 6 months if they overwinter.
Mosquitoes serve as vectors of many important diseases affecting humans including malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, filariasis, encephalitis, and West Nile Virus. Some mosquitoes also transmit dog heartworm.
Habitat
Mosquitoes have adapted to almost every kind of aquatic situation such as permanent ponds and marshes, temporary flood waters or woodland pools, drainage ditches, and water contained in tree holes, leaves of plants, or artificial containers. The exceptions are flowing streams and the open waters of large streams, rivers lakes, seas, and oceans. The number of generations per year ranges from 1 where the eggs require cold before hatching to dozens in warm climates where most breed continuously.
The flight range of mosquitoes varies with the species, temperature, wind direction, time of year, and distance to blood meal sources. Normal flight ranges of mosquitoes are in the range of 1/2 mile to 10 miles, depending on species.
Control
Weekly emptying, or eliminating completely, containers which hold water on one’s own property can be of great help in reducing the number of local mosquitoes. This is especially true for mosquitoes that live in close association with humans and have short flight ranges. Discarded tires, old paint cans, unattended bird baths and children’s splash pools, upright wheel barrows, unpatched tree holes, clogged gutters, stagnant drainage ditches and low spots that hold rain water for days at a time are all susceptible and correctible mosquito breeding sites.