Mosquitoes

Life Cycle

• Egg, laid on the surface of a source of water
• Aquatic larvae, or wrigglers, hatched on the surface of water
• Pupal, or tumblers, that are active and free-swimming
• Adults, winged, flying and mating
• Each stage is between 5-14 days, depending on species

Habits

• Active at 60-80 degrees F, cannot survive at 50 degrees F or lower
• At the larvae stage they feed on aquatic algae
• Adult females feed on the blood of their host, gaining protein and iron to produce eggs
• Adult males feed on nectar or any other sugary substance

Mosquitoes Behaviors and Dangers

At the early stages of their life cycle, mosquitoes are largely aquatic. They lay their eggs on the surface of a source of water. Passing quickly from larvae to the pupal stage, they feed on organic matter and aquatic algae. Adult males usually mate within a few days after emerging from the pupal stage. They only have a lifespan of about 5-7 days, feeding on nectar and other sources of sugar.

Females fly into swarms of males to mate. They feed on the blood of their host and then rest to allow eggs to form. Female mosquitoes need the protein and iron from the blood to produce eggs. Once the eggs are developed, the female lays them and the process repeats. This process repeats until the female dies, usually within 2 weeks.

Mosquitoes are attracted to their host by detecting carbon dioxide and 1-octen-3-ol (found in exhaled breath). They also follow visual cues. 

Fun Fact: mosquitoes are particular about what hosts they are attracted to. Some people are more desirable due to certain compounds that make-up body odor. So, your friend may not be kidding when they say that mosquitoes love them while you remain relatively untouched!

During the feeding process, the saliva of the mosquito is transferred to the skin of the host, causing the familiar, itchy bump. This bump is caused by the histamines attacking the protein left by the mosquito. In addition to being a nuisance, mosquitoes are also known to carry diseases such as Zika Virus, West Nile Virus, and Encephalitis. Those diseases are only a small portion of the health risks that mosquitoes can pose. 

How can The Bug Man and Queen Bee help?

We now offer a Mosquito Control Service! On our first visit to your home, our skilled technicians will do a complete inspection of your property and create a customized treatment plan that caters to your specific needs. After the initial inspection, you can choose from multiple treatment frequencies with each treatment lasting about 21 days. For best results, we recommend signing up for a full treatment schedule which includes 7-9 applications for the season.

We also offer one-time, special event treatments to make your barbecues, graduation parties, or outdoor weddings mosquito-free. Contact us to learn more about our Milwaukee-area mosquito control services today!